Seven years is a long time for a roadside motel to sit empty, especially one with a history stretching back through generations of travelers. Now, a restored motor lodge is getting another opportunity to welcome overnight guests.
The Virginia property represents an earlier era of American road trips, when motor lodges offered convenient accommodations for people exploring the country by car. Its return brings renewed attention to a style of lodging that has become increasingly nostalgic.
I find these restoration projects fascinating because they preserve a piece of travel culture that modern hotels rarely capture. The appeal comes from the building’s character as much as the convenience of having somewhere to stay.
For travelers who enjoy historic accommodations, a revived roadside property offers something different from another standardized hotel room. Its reopening gives an old travel landmark a fresh chapter.
That Zigzag Roofline Was Built To Make Drivers Hit The Brakes
Back in 1959, motels had to win customers at highway speed. Colony House Motor Lodge in Roanoke answered that challenge with roofs that zig and zag like folded paper.
The style is called Googie, a futuristic branch of Midcentury Modern. It borrowed ideas from car culture and the Space Age, when everyone seemed excited about rockets.
Brothers Glover and Richard Trent developed the property. The Salem firm of Kinsey and Motley, Architects, handled the design.
They gave it cantilevered folded plate roofs, sharp geometric gables, and a bold porte-cochere out front.
A porte-cochere, by the way, is a covered drive-through entrance. Fancy name, practical purpose.
It let travelers pull in without getting soaked during a mountain rainstorm.
Wide walls of glass add even more drama. They pull in natural light and made the motel easy to spot from the road.
You can also see hints of Frank Lloyd Wright in several design touches.
Plenty of roadside motels from that era got bulldozed or bland makeovers. This one kept its sharp angles and confident attitude.
That’s a big reason it stands out along a busy commercial strip today.
So if you catch yourself staring at the roof in the parking lot, relax. That was the original plan all along.
One Family Ran The Place For Almost Sixty Years
Few businesses stay in one family for decades. The Trent family owned and operated this motel from 1959 straight through 2018.
That’s nearly sixty years of check-ins, room keys, and road-weary travelers. The motel sat on what was then the edge of Roanoke, along a major route into town.
It quickly became a neighborhood favorite. Locals nicknamed it the guestroom of South Roanoke, which tells you how often families sent visiting relatives there.
The guest list had some sparkle, too. Hall of Fame quarterback Johnny Unitas stayed here.
Singer Lou Rawls did as well, along with the British band Herman’s Hermits.
Nearby Victory Stadium helped explain the star power. Performers and event crowds needed a comfortable place close by.
This motel fit the bill.
The property also once had a steak restaurant called Town and Ranch. Sadly, it burned in the early 1980s.
Then in 1984, an addition brought the room count up to 67.
I can’t imagine how many family stories started in these rooms. Graduations, ballgames, reunions, and long drives probably all passed through.
When the doors closed in 2018, Roanoke lost a familiar old friend.
Seven Quiet Years Ended With A Very Careful Comeback
Closed buildings usually face two futures. They either fade away or get flattened.
Luckily, this motel found a third option.
The Farrell family of Roanoke started a major historic restoration in 2022. Their goal was simple but tricky.
Keep the 1950s character and add the comforts modern travelers expect.
The project ran into the millions of dollars. Crews kept the original logo and the big vintage signage, including that neon VACANCY sign.
They also saved the large plate-glass room windows and the swimming pool with its breeze block wall.
History experts noticed the effort. The property joined the Virginia Landmarks Register in 2022.
The National Register of Historic Places followed in 2023.
The motor lodge finally reopened in July 2025 as a boutique hotel. Then in 2026, it was inducted into the Historic Hotels of America program.
Not bad for a building that sat empty for years.
The Farrells also leaned on local companies, craftspeople, and makers throughout the work. That choice keeps the comeback rooted in the community.
I believe this is how restoration should feel. It respects the past without trapping guests in it.
Your Room Comes With A Retro Fridge And Zero Musty Carpet
Retro style is fun until you remember old mattresses. Thankfully, the rooms here keep the look and ditch the creaky parts.
Colony House Motor Lodge has 67 rooms and suites. There are more than ten different layouts, from Interior King to Signature King Suite with Sofa Bed.
Rooms average about 300 square feet, so you won’t feel squeezed.
The colors pop. Expect vibrant palettes, built-in furniture, neon accents, and bold patterns.
Original and vintage pieces mix with period-inspired furnishings.
Each room has a retro-style refrigerator stocked with bottled water. It’s cute enough to photograph and useful enough to fill with snacks.
Comfort gets serious attention, too. Beds use Kingsdown mattresses and posh linens.
Bathrooms were remodeled and come stocked with Molton Brown bath products.
You also get a 50-inch smart TV and free Wi-Fi. A desk with a vintage chair gives you a spot to plan tomorrow’s drive or answer a few emails.
That mix matters. You get the style of a 1960s road trip with the sleep quality of today.
Honestly, that’s the best kind of time travel.
Grab A Lounger Before The Breeze Block Pool Fills Up
Some motel pools are just rectangles of water. This one has been part of the grounds since the beginning, and it shows off.
The seasonal outdoor pool is original to the property. A breeze block enclosure wraps around it, giving the space that classic midcentury pattern and a bit of privacy.
Breeze blocks are decorative concrete blocks with open shapes. They were hugely popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
They let air flow through while still marking off the space.
Loungers and greenery round out the scene. It feels like a little retro oasis just off a busy road.
That contrast makes it even more fun.
Since the pool is seasonal, plan your trip for warmer months if swimming is the goal. Pack sunscreen and a good book.
Families will appreciate having a pool right outside their rooms. Kids get splash time, and grown-ups get a break after a day of exploring Roanoke.
The pool was one of the details the restoration team worked hard to keep. Good call.
It might be the most photogenic spot on the whole property.
Free Coffee And Vintage Car Photos Make The Lounge A Morning Ritual
Mornings start easier with free coffee. The Star City Lounge, right next to the lobby, offers complimentary coffee every day.
The name nods to Roanoke’s nickname, the Star City. That fits a motel where design and local pride go hand in hand.
Look around the walls while you sip. Vintage automotive photography celebrates the property’s roadside roots.
It also honors the Farrell family’s ties to Roanoke’s automobile business.
The interiors take cues from design names like Eames, Herman Miller, and Knoll. Mid-century classics sit alongside locally made pieces and vintage finds.
Everything feels playful but still organized.
There’s no full breakfast right now. However, a Grab and Go shop sells snacks and local goodies.
It’s handy for a quick bite before hitting the road.
Other practical perks include a 24-hour front desk, laundry facilities, vending machines, and a fitness center. Those small things add up on longer stays.
The overall goal was a time-capsule experience with modern hospitality. The lounge captures that well.
You can enjoy the retro charm, refill your cup, and still check the weather on your phone.
Park Right Outside Your Door Like It’s 1959
Parking garages are nobody’s favorite part of a trip. Here, you pull up and park right outside your room.
That’s the original motor lodge idea at work. Travelers in the 1950s wanted easy access between car and bed.
Colony House Motor Lodge still offers that, and parking is free.
It makes a big difference with heavy luggage, coolers, or sleepy kids. No long hallways.
No elevator waits. Just a few steps and you’re inside.
The motel sits along U.S. 220, also known as Franklin Road. This was once a main route into Roanoke.
Back then the property sat on the outskirts of town.
Today the area has grown into a major commercial corridor. That means shopping and errands are close by too.
You’ll find the lodge at 3560 Franklin Road SW, Roanoke, Virginia. It’s an easy address to plug into a GPS.
The setup suits road trippers especially well. Motorcycle riders, families, and business travelers can all come and go without fuss.
Sometimes the old ways really were the smart ways.
Downtown Roanoke And The Blue Ridge Are Both Practically Next Door
Location can make or break a trip. This one gives you city fun and mountain views without much driving.
Downtown Roanoke is about three miles away. That puts restaurants, shops, museums, and cultural spots within a short ride.
Head the other direction and nature takes over. The Blue Ridge Parkway is only minutes away, along with the wider Blue Ridge Mountains.
Outdoor options are huge here. You can hike, mountain bike, or try road cycling.
Water lovers can kayak, paddleboard, or fish. Birdwatchers and scenic drivers will be busy too.
Several major Roanoke places sit within about a ten-minute drive. Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine are close.
So are Roanoke College and Hollins University.
That makes the lodge handy for visiting families, students, and work travelers. A day can start on a mountain trail and end by the pool.
Virginia has plenty of beautiful drives, but having one this close is a real bonus. Just try not to stop at every single overlook.
Okay, stop at most of them.
A Small Meeting Room Turns Gatherings Into Retro Get-Togethers
Group plans need a home base. The lodge has a versatile hospitality room you can reserve for gatherings.
It offers boardroom-style seating for up to 16 guests. That’s a nice size for presentations, strategy sessions, or small reunions.
Picture a family reunion where the cousins finally sit at one table. Or a work team planning next quarter in a room with way more style than a usual office.
The space fits the motel’s spirit, too. Colony House Motor Lodge was built for travelers meeting the road together.
Now it helps groups meet in one place.
Guests staying for the event can walk from the room to their parked cars. The pool and lounge add easy breaks between agenda items.
Its 2026 induction into Historic Hotels of America adds a fun talking point. Not every meeting happens inside a building on the National Register of Historic Places.
For a Virginia getaway with friends, or a work trip with personality, this option is worth a look. It’s proof that even a classic motor lodge can host a modern agenda.
