8 ROADSIDE MOTEL CHAINS That DEFINED the American ROAD TRIP — Before the Interstate Exit Killed Them

For three generations, these signs marked every American highway. Then the country built a new road system — and one by one, the motel chains behind them vanished. Before the Interstate, the American road trip ran through towns, and a family driving the old US routes knew exactly which neon sign meant a clean bed for the night. When the interstate exit replaced Main Street as the only address that mattered, most of these chains couldn't follow the traffic. In this episode: Wigwam Village (Wigwam Motels) — 1933–1960s Quality Courts United — 1939–1963 TraveLodge (Sleepy Bear Era) — 1939–1970s Imperial '400' Motels — 1957–1980s Howard Johnson's Motor Lodges — 1954–1986 Stuckey's — 1937–1970s Holiday Inn "Great Sign" Era — 1952–1982 Vagabond Inn — 1958–1980s Which one did your family stay at? Drop the name in the comments and tell us where you were headed — we read every one. If this is the history you didn't know you were missing, subscribe to Lost America and hit the like button. #LostAmerica #ForgottenBrands #RoadTrip #MotelHistory #AmericanHistory #InterstateHighway #VintageAmerica #Route66 #LostBrands #RoadHistory