Celebrating 100 years of Route 66, the rise of the roadside Motel and the great American family road trip.
Written by Sally Dziedzic.
The open road has always held a particular kind of promise; freedom, escape, and the romantic idea that the journey excites just as much as the destination. A road trip can be meticulously planned or completely impulsive, but it always carries the same quiet thrill of not knowing exactly what you’ll discover.
Established in 1926, Route 66, often called the “Main Street of America”, connected Chicago to Los Angeles, cutting through eight states and thousands of miles of diverse landscapes. During the Great Depression, it carried families west in search of opportunity and then the postwar boom of the 1940s and 50s, it became something else entirely: a pathway to adventure.
As Americans fell in love with the automobile, a new kind of travel culture emerged, the family road trip. Cars became more affordable, highways expanded, and suddenly, the journey itself became part of the vacation. Parents packed up station wagons, kids fought over the window seats, and the journey became just as important and intriguing as the destination.
Alongside this cultural shift rose a new American creation; the Motel.
Short for “motor hotel,” motels were designed with automobile drivers in mind. Unlike traditional urban hotels these roadside stops offered convenience above all, the parking directly outside your room, easy check-ins, and affordable rates for families on the move. By the 1950s, neon-lit motels dotted Route 66, each one competing for attention with bold signage, quirky themes, and promises of comfort after a long day’s drive.
They quickly became more than just places to sleep, they were now part of the vacation story. Kids remember the excitement of jumping into a brightly lit courtyard pool and parents recall the relief of a clean, simple room after hours on the road. Motels became woven into the fabric of American travel.
But like Route 66 itself, the golden age of motels eventually faded.
The creation of the Interstate highway system in the late 1950s rerouted traffic away from small towns and the businesses that depended on passing travelers. Chain hotels and standardized accommodations began to dominate, offering predictability over personality. Many classic motels fell into decline, abandoned or forgotten as the culture shifted toward speed and efficiency.
Yet, something has now happened in more recent years…Many travelers today are ditching the cookie-cutter hotel experience and falling back in love with the classic roadside motel. There’s a sense of fun and personality you just don’t get from big-box hotels. People want places that feel different, that have a story to tell, places that feel like discovery. And Motels are the answer again, from original neon signs glowing against the night sky to retro details that nod to the Motel hey-days, these spaces turn a simple stop along the road into something memorable and shareable.
Behind this revival is a growing wave of independent owners, creatives, and entrepreneurs who are seeing the potential in these once-forgotten properties. They’re buying up old motels and breathing new life into them. Restoring original details, adding thoughtful design touches and creating spaces that feel both nostalgic and fresh. It’s not just a renovation; it’s a reimagining of what roadside hospitality can be.
Just as importantly, many of these motels are owner-operated once again. That shift brings something back that’s been missing for a while, real human hospitality. When the person who greets you at check-in is also the one who restored the property, chose the paint colors, and had a hand in branding their property, it shows. There’s a level of care, pride, and personal connection that simply can’t be replicated.
It’s not just about having a place to sleep anymore, it’s about the experience and the story. Today’s travelers are also highly focused on being storytellers, they are excited to share new places, new discoveries and their favourite photo moment.
Mesa Verde Motel is exactly one of those places. Your destination is Mesa Verde National Park, Four Corners Monument or Arches National Park and the Motel is the pause between adventures to discover a small town, local eats and cute neighborhoods. The place where the road trip slows down just enough for you to take it all in before heading back out again.
As someone who lives and works in this world, I love creating the motel moment for travelers. You check in after a day of exploring cliffs, canyons, or wide-open highways, and it immediately feels like you’ve stepped into something both familiar and fresh, a place where nostalgic americana meets modern creativity and a clean, comfortable place to unwind.
The resurgence of motels also mirrors a broader cultural shift. Road trips are back!. Multi generational trips are back, grandparents tagging along, cousins together again and the friendship-cementing adventure roadie.
Whether driven by a desire for flexibility, a curiosity to discover local spots, or simply the romance of the open road, people are once again choosing to explore at their own pace and when they do, they’re seeking places that feel personal, not corporate.
Route 66 may no longer be the primary artery of American travel, but its spirit is alive and well. Every restored neon sign, every thoughtfully redesigned room, and every guest who chooses a motel over a chain hotel is part of that continuing story.
Because in the end, the appeal of the road hasn’t changed. It’s still about discovery, still about freedom and exploration. It is still about finding those unexpected places that stay with you long after the journey ends. Motels are for memory making and storytelling.
Written by Sally Dziedzic https://mesaverdemotel.com/about/
Photography: Ashley https://muddywelliesphotography.com
Models & Wardrobe: Cabin Feverish Vintage https://www.instagram.com/cabinfeverishvintage/