EPISODE · Jan 7, 2026 · 16 MIN
100 Years of Motels
from The Atlas Obscura Podcast · host SiriusXM Podcasts & Atlas Obscura
On December 12, 1925, the first motel in America opened its doors. It had Spanish Mission style architecture, a red roof, and an orange tree outside each door. We trace the rise and fall (and second rise) of motels over the past century: the good, the bad, and yes, the seedy. Check out Megan McCrea’s timeline tracing the rise of the motel: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/insider/motels-history-road-trips-travel.html Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
On December 12, 1925, the first motel in America opened its doors. It had Spanish Mission style architecture, a red roof, and an orange tree outside each door. We trace the rise and fall (and second rise) of motels over the past century: the good, the bad, and yes, the seedy.
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100 Years of Motels
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