email: roadarch@outlook.com

Mid-Century Modern Buildings: Imperial 400 Motels

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

The first Imperial 400 Motel was built in Los Angeles in 1959. After that, this nationwide chain boasted of building a new location every ten days in its first year. The architectural firm of Palmer & Krisel was responsible for the building design. The Imperial 400 chain ran into financial trouble from overexpansion and were bought out in 1987. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

This page is organized alphabetically by state.

former Imperial 400 Motel
Winslow, AZ		 former Imperial 400 Motel [gone]
Kingman, AZ		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Flagstaff, AZ
This former Imperial 400 Motel in Winslow now houses the College View Apartments. For more, see this website. [map]

The former Imperial 400 Motel in Kingman was known as the Imperial Motel when these photos were taken in 2006. By 2009, the motel and sign were gone. At least the top part of the sign was saved and is now in storage at Legacy Signs in Kingman. It may be restored and installed in town at some point.

The former Imperial 400 Motel in Flagstaff was built in 1965. It has been known as the Highland Country Inn since at least 2008. For more, see this website. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Willcox, AZ		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Phoenix, AZ
This former Imperial 400 Motel in Willcox was known as the Arizona Sunset Motel in recent years. There was chain link fencing surrounding this property in 2012 when this photo was taken. The motel now houses the Arizona Sunset Inn. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

This former Imperial 400 Motel in Phoenix is now known as the Friendship Inn. It was built in 1960 and was one of the first four locations built for the chain. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Fresno, CA		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Mojave, CA
The former Imperial 400 Motel in Fresno was built in 1965. It was housing a Super 8 when this photo was taken in 2013. Around 2019, it became a Travelodge. [map]

The former Imperial 400 Motel in Mojave is now known as the Mojave Hotel. It was previously an Econo Lodge and a Red Roof Inn. For more, see this website. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Modesto, CA		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Pico Rivera, CA
The former Imperial 400 Motel in Modesto has been here since at least 1965. It is now known as the El Capitan Motel. For more, see this website. [map]

The former Imperial 400 Motel in Pico Rivera is now known as the Angels Motel. Around 2020, the sign panels were replaced. The plaid "Motel" panel had been original. By 2022, the building was housing a Motel 6. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
San Diego, CA		 former Imperial 400 Motel
San Diego, CA		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Barstow, CA
The first Imperial 400 Motel in San Diego shown above is now simply the Imperial Motel. The pole sign has been reworked. For more, see this website. [map]

The second Imperial 400 Motel in San Diego shown above has been known as the Pacific Inn since at least 2007. For more, see this website. [map]

This Imperial 400 Motel in Barstow is now known as the Best Motel. For more, see this website. [map]

Imperial 400 Motel
Needles, CA
This Imperial 400 Motel is now known as the Imperial 400 Motor Inn. For more, see this website. [map]

More California:
Chico [map]
Riverside [gone]
Sacramento [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Colorado Springs, CO		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Colorado Springs, CO
The former Imperial 400 Motel in the first photo above now houses an Econolodge. For more, see this website. [map]

The former Imperial 400 Motel in the second photo above has housed a Howard Johnson Express Inn since at least 2008. For more, see this website. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Valdosta, GA
The former Imperial 400 Motel operated recently as a Budget Inn. In 2022, the building was renovated for the Courlley Court II Apartments and painted grey. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel [gone]
Rockford, IL		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Belleville, IL
The former Imperial 400 Motel in Rockford housed the Inn Town Motel when these photos were taken in 2006. By 2007, the building and sign were gone. For more, see this website.

The former Imperial 400 Motel in Belleville was built in 1967. The building now houses a Super 8. For more, see this website. [map]

Imperial 400 Motel
Salina, KS
This former Imperial 400 Motel was built in 1965. It was later known as the Vagabond II Motel. It now houses the Ambassy Motel. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Imperial 400 Motel
Billings, MT
This former Imperial 400 Motel was built in 1967. The building now houses the Big 5 Motel. For more, see this website. [map]

More Montana:
Bozeman: 1, 2 [map]
Helena

former Imperial 400 Motel [gone]
Vineland, NJ
The former Imperial 400 Motel was last known as the Travel Inn. This photo is from 2012. The building was demolished in 2016.

former Imperial 400 Motel
Albuquerque, NM

2017:
2024:
The former Imperial 400 Motel in Albuquerque was built in 1964. It went by the name of the Imperal Inn Motel until recently. After extensive renovations, it reopened in 2024 as The Imperial with motel rooms as well as residential and commercial space. The new building with the butterfly roof on the left was built for the development in 2023. For more, see this website. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Las Cruces, NM
The former Imperial 400 Motel is now the Imperial Sky Motel. For more, see this website. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Cortland, NY
The former Imperial 400 Motel is now known as the Imperial Motel. [map]

More New York:
Schenectady [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Odessa, TX		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Longview, TX
The former Imperial 400 Motel in Odessa was built in 1963. The rooftop sign was there when it was still an Imperial 400. It is now known as the Imperial Inn Motel. [map]

The former Imperial 400 Motel in Longview is now known as the Imperial Motel. [map]

More Texas:
Austin [vintage; gone]

former Imperial 400 Motel [gone]
Cedar City, UT		 former Imperial 400 Motel [gone]
Provo, UT
This former Imperial 400 Motel in Cedar City was last known as the Valu Inn. It was demolished around 2022. For more, see this website.

This former Imperial 400 Motel in Provo was known as the Amenity Motor Inn when this photo was taken in 2014. In 2017, the building was being significantly remodeled. It is now a bland, boxy building. For more, see this website. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel [gone]
Richland, WA		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Wenatchee, WA
This former Imperial 400 Motel in Richland last housed the Economy Inn. It was demolished around 2022. For more, see this website.

This former Imperial 400 Motel in Wenatchee was built in 1962. These photos are from 2016. The building now houses the Holiday Lodge. For more, see this website. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Yakima, WA		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Moses Lake, WA
This former Imperial 400 Motel in Yakima was built in 1961. The building now houses a Holiday Lodge. For more, see this website. [map]

This former Imperial 400 Motel in Moses Lake is now known as the Motel Imperial. [map]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Walla Walla, WA		 former Imperial 400 Motel
Seattle, WA
This former Imperial 400 Motel in Walla Walla last housed a Budget Inn. The property is now surrounded by chain link. For more, see this website. [map]

This former Imperial 400 Motel in Seattle was built in 1962, in time for the World's Fair. The building housed the Seattle Pacific Hotel since at least 2008. In 2018, it became the Civic Hotel. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

More Washington:
Everett [gone?]

former Imperial 400 Motel
Casper, WY
This former Imperial 400 Motel was built in 1962. The building now houses the Royal Inn. For more, see this website. [map]

Astro Motels Hyatt Chalet Motels
& Hyatt Lodges		 Other Mid-Century
Motel Chains		 Mid-Century Modern Buildings
Main Page