Tucson's Old Motor Courts Photo Gallery by Peg Price at pbase.com

Tucson's Old Motor Courts

After reading Margaret Regan's article "Night Lights" in the Spring 2004 TUCSON GUIDE extolling the beauty of Tucson's old motor courts, I decided to "hit the road" and find some of these old neon gems while they're still here. In some cases, the lights have already dimmed on the signs, but luckily there are still quite a few left serving the motoring public.

Ghost Ranch Lodge	Frontier Motel	Tiki Motel	Tucson Inn
La Siesta Motel	Ye Olde Lantern Restaurant	Hinchcliffe Court	Copper Cactus Inn
Flamingo Hotel	The Sahara	SunLand Motel	Spanish Trail Motel
Spanish Trail Registration Building	Hacienda Motel	Hacienda Swimming Pool	Paradise Motor Hotel
Water Fountain at the Paradise	Arizona Motel	Western Motel	Oasis Motel
The Arizonan	Monterey Motel	Amazon Motel	Riviera Motor Lodge
Apache Tears	Benson Motel	Bucking Bronc Court	Eagle's Nest
Sunbeam Motel	Scotsman Motel	Desert Edge	Lariat
Redwood Lodge	Owl Lodge	Pueblo Hotel

comment |

Richard Rivera		11-Jan-2017 06:18
What was the name or did they change the name of the country club swimming pool and lounge on Benson hi way and south country club in tucson az. I thought they had changed the name of that place. I used to go there when it was open, just can't remember when the name changed. Thank you

Peg Price		29-Jun-2011 19:30
I wish Tucson had a neon sign graveyard like Las Vegas. I'd love to photograph these old signs. Meanwhile, if you spot any "oldies" about town, I'd love to get a heads up from you so I can get a shot and post it here. Thanks! Peg

ALS		29-Jun-2011 18:11
Lets try to add pix of the fabulous signs that are now gone to this list if they can be found.... such as "we welcome you to the Marylin", the huge sign of a girl diving into the pool at grant/oracle area, or the chef tossing the pizza (?) or the indian jumping through hoops downtown at scott/congress. I was very little but they were beautiful and deserved the same tributes we are giving the "survivors" after all these years!

Steve Mathie		17-May-2008 03:44
I grew up at the "Oracle Motel" before it was the TIKI. My grandparents bought it in 1950 or so. My family lived in Rooms 9 & 10, while my grandparents lived in the office. We moved across town in 1961 & my grandparents sold out in 1963 or 64. It brought back a lot of memories looking at the motel signs, I spent many nights riding my bicycle up & down Miracle Mile Strip looking at them. Thanks

Guest		04-Feb-2008 05:14
Great job on the signs and seeing most lit up is really cool.1 Growing up in Tucson I remember them all many long gone. The Lucky Wishbone on Swan recieved boos for the bright white after the array of colors. I lived in the area and recall it the most. It was interesting to see how someone else remembers The Country Club Swimming Pool owned by the Blankenships, I learned to swim & do the Twist there in the 60's, my Mother lived in the lounge drinking. She left us and moved to Denver when I was 7 and died when I was 15. That's the only real memory I have of her. I also remember the Johnies Fat Boy signs and the drive-ins.

geonni banner		14-Nov-2007 21:08
Very nice. V

Guest		12-Nov-2007 05:37
fun gallery... how about the No-Tel Motel on Oracle? ... I have thoughts of photographing all the old signs in Tucson while they are still around, but haven't got around to it. Thanks for sharing your gallery. V

John Falkenstine		11-Jun-2006 20:34
I remember Benson Highway in the seventies before it was "cut". The Country Club Lounge and the pool were still open. Kids from the trailer parks would fill the pool while the adults sucked beers in the lounge. It was as if 1938 was locked in forever. The Palomino motel and its white horse were still there. Outside the Country Club lounge a small shop made great pizzas. The Bikers ran one of the motels (Donkey Inn) and it was a wild place. Benson highway was the last gasp of the rough cowtown past of Tucson, where folks just scratched to get by. Now the properties have become valuable and the motels are dying. Some are fenced off. The Country Club Lounge is long gone, now just houses and a tall wall blocking off the view to the highway. The owner of the Roundup Saloon died many years ago and its sits boarded up, and I assume will be torn down soon. The Spanish Trail motel, with its terrific lobby is now derelict.

Guest		22-May-2006 18:33
Dear Ms. Price, Came across your images while searching for old photos of Tucson. Wonderful work! We thought you might like to join our little group "Vanishing Tucson". Vanishing Tucson is a place online to discuss Tucson, past and present. We share stories and remember all those things which have made Tucson so wonderful. We'd be honored if you'd join in and share some of your thoughts and photograghs with us from time to time. go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vanishingtucson/ It takes a few minutes to sign up. This is just to keep out the spammers. Everyone is welcome. Thanks! Carlos and Gretchen

Bill		26-Mar-2006 23:36
The Spanish Trail Office is still there, but it's losing too time. Lot of memories brought back from a long time resident of the Old Pueblo. It's changing that's for sure.

Sande		30-Aug-2005 06:05
Cool! My grandmother owned the Western Motel back in the '50's.

Ron Horloff		19-Jul-2004 18:06
Wonderful pictures of a lost art; thank you for capturing this. Ron

Sean Lensink		20-May-2004 14:22
Too cool! Kudos from a fellow Old Pueblo dweller. Nice collection. Gets my vote!

Vic		20-May-2004 00:21
Thanks for "Ye Olde Lantern" - I still occasionally make a special trip from Phoenix just to eat there! (The darkest lounge in Arizona :)

Peg Price		19-May-2004 22:09
Thanks for the tip, Bert. I was looking for it last night but somehow missed it. I'll head back out and try to get it tonight. Peg

Bert		19-May-2004 21:50
Hi- You have a great gallery, but you're missing the best sign in Tucson. The Arizona Motel is a very old motor court that has been family run forever. It's huge flourescent sign has been in the paper and other publications as the best neon sign in Tucson. I'd say it's the best any where. You should get a picture of it after dark when it's lit up. You'll find it at 1749 S. 6th Avenue (at 28th street).

Guest		19-May-2004 10:39
Peg: These are really great. They bring back a lot of memories of an era when motels were the only alternative to downtown hotels. The first two in particular make great statements. I also like the one that says refrigerated. How long has that one been around I wonder? Keep up the night prowl and capture others while they are still aound. John

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