In keeping with this year's Route 66 Centennial celebration, we're taking a look back at one of the defining features of America's golden age of automobile travel—the motor court. As a key Route 66 city, Monrovia welcomed thousands of motorists seeking a comfortable night's rest as they journeyed along the Mother Road.
Long before today's hotel chains lined the freeways, America's motorists found lodging in roadside auto camps, motor courts, and motor lodges. As automobile travel exploded in the 1910s and 1920s, communities developed places where travelers could park, rest, and spend the night close to their cars.
As these accommodations evolved, they added private cabins, bathrooms, restaurants, and service stations to better serve the growing number of motorists. In 1925, California introduced a new name when the Milestone Mo-Tel near San Luis Obispo combined the words "motor" and "hotel," giving rise to the now-familiar term motel.
With the arrival of Route 66 in 1926, roadside lodging flourished. Monrovia's motor courts and motels, particularly along Huntington Drive after the highway was realigned in the 1930s, welcomed generations of travelers exploring the Mother Road.
Motel “66”
A period postcard identifies Motel “66” at 913 East Huntington Drive, openly using its Route 66 location as part of its name and advertising. The postcard depicts the classic postwar motel arrangement: a low row of rooms, automobile parking immediately outside, prominent roadside signage, and easy highway access.
Long before today's hotel chains lined the freeways, America's motorists found lodging in roadside auto camps, motor courts, and motor lodges. As automobile travel exploded in the 1910s and 1920s, communities developed places where travelers could park, rest, and spend the night close to their cars.
As these accommodations evolved, they added private cabins, bathrooms, restaurants, and service stations to better serve the growing number of motorists. In 1925, California introduced a new name when the Milestone Mo-Tel near San Luis Obispo combined the words "motor" and "hotel," giving rise to the now-familiar term motel.
With the arrival of Route 66 in 1926, roadside lodging flourished. Monrovia's motor courts and motels, particularly along Huntington Drive after the highway was realigned in the 1930s, welcomed generations of travelers exploring the Mother Road.
Motel “66”
A period postcard identifies Motel “66” at 913 East Huntington Drive, openly using its Route 66 location as part of its name and advertising. The postcard depicts the classic postwar motel arrangement: a low row of rooms, automobile parking immediately outside, prominent roadside signage, and easy highway access.
Vista Sierra Lodge
Vista Sierra Lodge stood at 845 East Huntington Drive, on the northwest corner of Huntington Drive and Mountain Avenue, along Monrovia's Route 66 alignment. Built before World War II, it catered to the growing number of motorists traveling the Mother Road. The lodge appeared in the 1941 Automobile and Trailer Travel Magazine, advertising five modern units with rates ranging from $2.50 to $3.50 per night—the equivalent of roughly $100 to $140 today. Its name, Vista Sierra, was intended to evoke the beautiful mountain views of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains. Like many early motor courts, guests could park directly outside their rooms, making overnight travel convenient during an era when automobile tourism was booming. The lodge was demolished by the early 1960s, and a service station replaced it. Today, the site is occupied by a Tommy's restaurant, but the Vista Sierra Lodge remains part of Monrovia's rich Route 66 heritage.
Vista Sierra Lodge stood at 845 East Huntington Drive, on the northwest corner of Huntington Drive and Mountain Avenue, along Monrovia's Route 66 alignment. Built before World War II, it catered to the growing number of motorists traveling the Mother Road. The lodge appeared in the 1941 Automobile and Trailer Travel Magazine, advertising five modern units with rates ranging from $2.50 to $3.50 per night—the equivalent of roughly $100 to $140 today. Its name, Vista Sierra, was intended to evoke the beautiful mountain views of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains. Like many early motor courts, guests could park directly outside their rooms, making overnight travel convenient during an era when automobile tourism was booming. The lodge was demolished by the early 1960s, and a service station replaced it. Today, the site is occupied by a Tommy's restaurant, but the Vista Sierra Lodge remains part of Monrovia's rich Route 66 heritage.
Monrovia Motor Lodge (top left)
The Monrovia Motor Lodge, also described as having approximately 12 units, was located at about 715 East Huntington Drive. Its roadside position near Huntington and Shamrock placed it directly on the later Route 66 alignment. It, too, was eventually demolished.
Oak Park Motel (top right)
The Oak Park Motel, dating from the postwar Route 66 period, is another clear example of automobile-oriented traveler lodging in Monrovia. Its arrangement, parking, pool, and prominent roadside sign reflected the more developed motel style that replaced the simpler cabin and motor-court model.
El Patio Motel (bottom left)
The El Patio Motel was one of Monrovia's classic Route 66-era motor courts. Located at 135 West Huntington Drive, just west of Myrtle Avenue, it catered to motorists traveling along U.S. Route 66 after the highway was realigned onto Huntington Drive in the 1930s. Early advertisements described it as a "truly modern" motel featuring tile showers, radios, and kitchenettes, with convenient access to the Santa Anita Race Track and downtown Los Angeles. It was owned and managed in the early 1950s by Frank and Florence Reiland.
New Salem Motor Court (bottom right)
The New Salem Motor Court stood at approximately 745 East Huntington Drive on the north side of the highway. It reportedly contained about 12 lodging units and appears in a 1952 aerial photograph. It was later demolished, apparently during the late 1960s.
*These postcards, and more, are all part of our extensive collection of vintage memorabilia.
The Monrovia Motor Lodge, also described as having approximately 12 units, was located at about 715 East Huntington Drive. Its roadside position near Huntington and Shamrock placed it directly on the later Route 66 alignment. It, too, was eventually demolished.
Oak Park Motel (top right)
The Oak Park Motel, dating from the postwar Route 66 period, is another clear example of automobile-oriented traveler lodging in Monrovia. Its arrangement, parking, pool, and prominent roadside sign reflected the more developed motel style that replaced the simpler cabin and motor-court model.
El Patio Motel (bottom left)
The El Patio Motel was one of Monrovia's classic Route 66-era motor courts. Located at 135 West Huntington Drive, just west of Myrtle Avenue, it catered to motorists traveling along U.S. Route 66 after the highway was realigned onto Huntington Drive in the 1930s. Early advertisements described it as a "truly modern" motel featuring tile showers, radios, and kitchenettes, with convenient access to the Santa Anita Race Track and downtown Los Angeles. It was owned and managed in the early 1950s by Frank and Florence Reiland.
New Salem Motor Court (bottom right)
The New Salem Motor Court stood at approximately 745 East Huntington Drive on the north side of the highway. It reportedly contained about 12 lodging units and appears in a 1952 aerial photograph. It was later demolished, apparently during the late 1960s.
*These postcards, and more, are all part of our extensive collection of vintage memorabilia.
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