Vintage motels revive midcentury glamour on the American road

A wave of interest in midcentury design has travelers chasing retro stays along the American road, according to a new travel overview that surveys forty historic motels across the country. The book, Vintage Motels: America's Most Inspiring Motels Beautifully Restored With Respect For History by Ellie Seymour, catalogs properties that embody the glamour and whimsy of the 1950s and 1960s while offering modern comforts.

The collection includes standout properties such as Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs, a solar-powered desert retreat with a star-gazing deck and a vintage photo booth; Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, widely described as one of the longest-running family-run motels on Route 66; and Cuyama Buckhorn in New Cuyama, California, which nods to its 1950s roadhouse heritage amid a landscape once dominated by oil town activity. The book also highlights a cluster of 26 individual cottages known as Farmhouse, dating back to 1947 and remaining distinct with red roofs and white-washed walls. In Nashville, The Dive embraces a colorful, adults-only theme inspired by 1970s motel culture, while Trixie Motel in Palm Springs brings a high-glamour, Barbie-inspired atmosphere to a modern audience. The Pearl in Point Loma offers a laid-back historic vibe, and White Water in Cambria looks to Scandinavian and bohemian Californian design for its waterfront setting. Hotel Lucine in Galveston, first opened in 1963, has been renovated to blend luxury with its original architectural cues, and Cayucos’s The Pacific Motel presents a tranquil, cabin-like stay inside a historic seaside town. Ojai Rancho Inn in Ojai remains a popular minibreak destination with distinctive wooden architecture and a poolside bar, and in Los Alamos, the Skyview Motel carries whispers of the Old West era. Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, opened in 1958, is famed for ultra-kitsch design, bold colors and an abundance of pink throughout its interiors.

The properties span a broad geographic tapestry, with examples in the desert Southwest, coastal California, and Gulf Coast towns, reflecting a broader American appetite for design-forward, experience-driven stays. Several motels in Seymour’s survey have undergone careful restorations that preserve midcentury signage, neon, neon-lit poolscapes and period furnishings while upgrading to contemporary standards of comfort and safety. The result is a travel offer that feels both nostalgic and current, appealing to families seeking affordable getaways and to design enthusiasts chasing authentic retro ambiance.

The revival of these motels is part of a larger trend in hospitality that prioritizes storytelling and place-based experiences. Owners describe the renovations as a way to respect historical context while adapting to today’s guests, offering updated plumbing, climate control, and access to modern dining options, all while maintaining the look and feel of the era. Several properties highlighted in Seymour’s volume have become regional landmarks, drawing visitors who want to photograph pastel facades, terrazzo floors and chrome fixtures that evoke a bygone era of American car culture.

While the motels are rooted in across-the-board nostalgia, they also serve practical purposes for local economies. They provide affordable lodging in smaller towns and along historic byways that often rely on seasonal tourism. The documented properties range from family-run operations that have endured for decades to boutique facilities that have been revived by new operators who appreciate the era’s design language. The book presents these motels as living museums of a period when the car and the highway opened up vast possibilities for travel, leisure and social life.

For readers and travelers, the collection offers a curated itinerary to explore midcentury modern hospitality across the United States. By visiting these motels, enthusiasts can trace how design trends traveled with America’s postwar expansion, how regional influences shaped color palettes and forms, and how restoration efforts have kept the glamour of the 60s accessible to contemporary audiences. The movement aligns with broader cultural currents that value historical preservation, sustainable tourism and the storytelling power of place, reinforcing the idea that a hotel stay can be a doorway to history as well as relaxation.

As a snapshot of a particular era of American travel, the motels featured in Seymour’s overview illuminate more than architecture. They reflect moments in time when people hit the road for family vacations, cross-country road trips and extended escapes, often inviting social spaces, neon-lit diners and communal pools into the fabric of everyday life. For travelers seeking a cinematic echo of the past, these restored properties offer an accessible path to relive the romance of the open highway while enjoying modern comfort.

Across the country, guests can now book rooms at these historic motels and join a growing network of travelers who prize authenticity and midcentury charm. The historical thread is not merely about architecture; it is about a way of traveling that valued speed, novelty and social spaces that brought people together under the glow of neon and the rhythm of the road. In that sense, the revival of these motels is part of a global interest in preserving material culture while reimagining it for present and future generations.