email: roadarch@outlook.com

Michigan Mid-Century Modern Motels & Hotels

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Econolodge [gone]
Battle Creek, MI
This Econolodge was built in 1968 as the Village Inn. It was demolished in 2020. [map]

Empire House Motel (now Budget Inn of Bay City)
Bay City, MI

2005:
2011:
The Empire House Motel was probably built in the 1950s or 1960s. By 2011, the motel had been remodeled and renamed the Budget Inn of Bay City. By 2023, the canopy was gone but the two arches were still there. For more, see this website. [map]

Snow Flake Motel [gone]
St. Joseph, MI
The Snow Flake Motel was built 1961-1962 and was designed by William Wesley Peters (Frank Lloyd Wright's son-in-law). It was one of the last projects that F.L. Wright worked on before he died. The buildings were laid-out in a snowflake pattern and were originally painted blue and white. Seventeen of the 57 rooms had built-in fixtures. Despite its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it was vacant in 2006 when these photos were taken and it was demolished later that year. The pool was filled in and the snowflake-embellished front gates were sold. For more, see this website.

More Michigan:
former Executive House Motor Lodge (Midland) [map]