New book showcases American motel revival trend

November 17, 2025

A new photographic book charts the renaissance of the American motel, spotlighting 40 mid-century roadside stays that have been lovingly restored for a new generation of design-minded travellers. Olivia Palamountain reports

A wave of motel restorations across the US has inspired a new book that celebrates the country’s most charismatic roadside icons.

Vintage Motels: America’s Most Iconic Motels, Beautifully Restored, published by Luster on November 15, takes readers on a coast-to-coast journey through 40 mid-century properties that have been reinvented as contemporary boutique stays.

Written by Brighton-based travel journalist Ellie Seymour, the book blends cultural storytelling with striking photography and archival imagery to capture the spirit of America’s motel revival.Seymour travelled widely in search of the best reimagined motels, tracing their histories and documenting how owners have updated them without sacrificing their original personality.

The result is a nostalgic yet forward-looking portrait of Americana at its most compelling: neon signage, retro façades, playful interiors and restaurants that double as community hubs. Each motel combines modern comfort with the lightness, informality and charm that made these roadside stops emblematic of the great American road trip.

Seymour writes: "Fast-forward a hundred years and America’s historic motels are witnessing a renaissance, a trend that began a decade ago and shows no signs of slowing. Some retain their original features like dazzling neon signs and kidney-shaped swimming pools that tell the story of their historic heyday, while others have been intentionally reimagined featuring polished contemporary interiors and chef-driven restaurants.

"From along California’s celebrated Pacific Coast Highway and the legendary Route 66, into the folds of New York’s Catskill Mountains and coastal cities of the Deep South, we’ve picked out forty of the best motels around the US."

Among the featured properties is California’s legendary Madonna Inn, known for its exuberant themed rooms; the pastel-bright Trixie Motel in Palm Springs, created by drag performer Trixie Mattel; The Dive in Nashville with its disco-inflected design; and Silver Sands on Long Island, a polished beachside retreat that preserves its mid-century bones. Together, they form a portrait of a hospitality movement that champions restoration over demolition and style over uniformity.The book also situates the renewed interest in motels within a wider cultural context. As road travel enjoys a resurgence and younger travellers seek out destinations with character and authenticity, these revived motels offer a narrative-driven alternative to conventional hotels. They embody a certain kind of freedom – car keys, open highways and nights spent under neon – translated for the modern era.

Vintage Motels is as much an invitation to explore as it is a tribute to preservation, highlighting how thoughtful reinvention can keep cultural landmarks relevant while honouring the stories they carry.