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![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/ohio-house-motel-chicago-street-view.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of the Ohio House Motel<\/p><\/div>\n
Ohio House Motel: Chicago, IL<\/h3>\n
Motels tend to be a rarity in cities where super tall buildings stand cheek by jowl and hotels\u00a0are designed to favor business travelers. That’s why the Ohio House Motel<\/a>, which opened in 1960 and has lost virtually none of its original charm, is such a rare gem. Designed by Shayman and Salk with retro diamond shapes in both the facade and signage, Ohio House was scheduled for demolition in 2001, but remarkably has hung on. Until recently, its best feature was\u00a0the sound of bacon sizzling on the griddle at its onsite diner, but no complaints from us that hip chicken shack Leghorn replaced it.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of Jason Heidemann<\/p><\/div>\n Nevermind mid-century charm, the Big Texan<\/a> is the Great American West brought to theatrical life\u00a0and\u00a0also happens to be the only Route 66 icon on this list. It’s an absolute gem. The\u00a054 rooms\u00a0are a riot of Lone Star kitsch including saloon doors that lead to each\u00a0bathroom, animal pelts in guest rooms and a\u00a0facade that\u00a0resembles an old shoot ’em up Wild West town. And get this\u2014the swimming pool is shaped like Texas! But the motel is just a small part of a larger complex which includes a sprawling\u00a0steakhouse (featured on Conan<\/em>), brewery and gift shop. Seriously, it doesn’t get much better.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of Beck’s Motor Lodge<\/p><\/div>\n It may be a coincidence that Beck’s rhymes with sex and indeed it’s no secret that even until recently, this mid-century accommodation in the heart of San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood was a magnet for gay men. But it’s also an SF rarity\u2014a clean, comfy and (relatively) affordable accommodation in a busy part of the city that also happens to be a lodging desert. Opened in 1958 by Bill and Francis Beck, the motel is historic but\u00a0by no means slouchy. Rooms are cozy, comfortable and somewhat mod, parking is free and the ample sundeck is enviable. BONUS: Beck’s<\/a> is still family owned and operated!<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of Bonnie Springs Ranch<\/p><\/div>\n More than just accommodations, Bonnie Springs Ranch Motel<\/a> is a kitschy, old-timey Wild West vacation destination in its own right and we wouldn’t have it any other way. A combination lodging, restaurant and theme park that also happens to sit smack in the middle of eye-popping Red Rock Canyon National Park about 23 miles west of the city, Bonnie Springs offers all kinds of family-friendly vacation bells and whistles, including an ersatz Old Town, a zoo, horseback riding, rock climbing and pony rides. Book a themed jacuzzi room for those cold desert nights and wakeup to a horseback breakfast ride.<\/p>\n Austin Motel | Photo by Jackie Lee Young<\/p><\/div>\n That tall, slender and phallic (if you ask us) sign you’ve probably seen in countless blogs, brochures and advertisements for the city of Austin belongs to the winsome Austin Motel, which originally opened in 1938 (gasp!) and has remained an oasis of affordability in a neighborhood that long ago surrendered to gentrification and hipster hangouts. The 41 rooms here are totally unique and the swimming pool is surely the grooviest in town.\u00a0Hip hotel group Bunkhouse (Hotel San Jose, El Cosmico, Hotel Havana) took over management of the property in 2016, but we trust they’ll keep its vintage\u00a0vibe intact.<\/p>\n RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a0When you join Orbitz Rewards you’ll feel like you’re paying retro prices<\/a><\/p>\n Photo courtesy of the StarLux<\/p><\/div>\n Decades before the Jersey shoreline was associated with an octet of “macaroni rascals” (as “Jersey Shore” was called in Japan), it was a longtime weekend escape for working\u00a0families. Dozens\u00a0of motor lodges\u00a0populated\u00a0a trio of beach towns collectively known as the Wildwoods and although\u00a0many went belly up\u00a0as air travel to Florida became cheaper, the good times\u00a0linger on and no lodging in the area has capitalized on its mid-century heyday better than the StarLux<\/a>. An architectural wonder of glass and boomerang shapes, StarLux delivers its guest straight back to the Atomic Age (no bomb shelter required).<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of the Red Caboose Motel<\/p><\/div>\n Few travelers\u00a0often find themselves in Ronks, a teensy farming community 60 miles west of Philly with a population of less than 400 people, but a\u00a0stay at its Red Caboose Motel<\/a> will surely cement the town forever in a visitor’s memory. Made up of a collection of 38 conjoined vintage rail cars painted in different colors, the motel opened in 1970 and today caters to all types with cabooses outfitted to accommodate families, singles, couples, etc. A history of the motel is available at the gift shop and don’t miss a meal at Casey Jones’ Restaurant, an eatery located inside an actual dining car.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of Holiday Music Motel<\/p><\/div>\n We can hardly believe this place exists and in upper Wisconsin of all places, but nevertheless the Holiday Music Motel<\/a> is a legit live music venue, songwriter’s retreat, radio station (broadcasting only the music created within its four walls) and motel wrapped into one. Built in the ’50s (of course) and fully renovated in 2008, the motel still retains its mid-century furnishings but updated with paintings and glass fixtures donated by local artists. But don’t be too surprised by its location: Sturgeon Bay is the county seat of Door County, a Midwest mecca for outdoor enthusiasts during the warm summer months.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of the Beverly Laurel<\/p><\/div>\n No surprise that a sprawling megalopolis built on the lure of the automobile is home to\u00a0hundreds of motels. We could name name dozens, but our favorite is the Beverly Laurel Motor Lodge<\/a>, a hotel so steeped in mid-century touches\u00a0that you half expect to see Don and Betty Draper lounging poolside. Ivy covers the sides of the building while the rest of the joint is bathed in blue and yellow\u00a0candy stripes. Onsite diner Swingers is straight out of the Atomic Age although menu items like the ahi tuna salad (which we ate while writing this!) reflect the refined taste of its 21st century clientele.<\/p>\n Photo courtesy of the Thunderbird Inn<\/p><\/div>\n The glowing tower of neon awesomeness that stands guard over this 42-room retro lodging lured us in\u00a0like zombies to a plate of human flesh. Originally constructed in 1964 and opened with the promise of drive-in parking and “refrigerated” rooms, the Thunderbird Inn<\/a> modernized more than a decade ago and a 2016 nip\/tuck has further made it palatable to 21st century travelers seeking mid-century kitsch. Solar panels, Krispy Kreme donuts and hot popcorn\u00a0upon arrival mix with vintage touches like tricked out retro decor. One thing that hasn’t changed: wallet-friendly prices.<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/big-texan.jpg\")
Big Texan Motel: Amarillo, TX<\/h3>\n
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Beck’s Motor Lodge: San Francisco, CA<\/h3>\n
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Bonnie Springs Ranch Motel, Las Vegas, NV<\/h3>\n
![\"Austin](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Austin-Motel-05-by-Jackie-Lee-Young.jpg\")
Austin Motel: Austin, TX<\/h3>\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/starlux.jpg\")
StarLux: Wildwood, NJ<\/h3>\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Red-Caboose-Motel.jpg\")
Red Caboose Motel: Ronks, PA<\/h3>\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/holiday-music-motel.jpg\")
Holiday Music Motel, Sturgeon Bay, WI<\/h3>\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Beverly-Laurel-Motor-Inn.jpg\")
Beverly Laurel Motor Inn: Los Angeles, CA<\/h3>\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/thunderbird-inn.jpg\")
Thunderbird Inn: Savannah, GA<\/h3>\n
![\"Orbitz,](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/OrbitzApp.jpeg\")
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