A History of Motels

According to msnbc, the first motel opened 86 years ago today in California. They have been part of our lives ever since.

1925 was when we saw the first motel. By the 30's, people were outfitting trailers for travel with kitchens and sleeping quarters. This created the demand for the motel chain. The Travelodge chain opened in 1940, after Scott King opened a motel in time for the Worlds Fair. The motel was expanded into other motels and a chain was born.

By the 50s and 60s, motels were adding pools and color tvs (something I am happy for!). When the Holiday Inn was born, smaller independent motels started to suffer. Interstates were made, and motels pushed off the road were forgotten (ala Bates Motel in Psycho).

The meaning of motels has changed over the years, with guests renting rooms for the long-term, and some motels attracting unsavory clientele. Older motels have been renovated in hopes of bringing back people interested in the history. Some have been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Regardless, motels are a sight for sore eyes for weary travelers looking for a warm bed or a place to escape for a few days (or a few weeks). Happy Birthday to the Milestone Motel (later renamed Motel Inn). Thanks for paving the way.