Everything in life has a time to shine and be adored before everyone moves on to the next best thing. In the past, motels offered easy lodgings and comfort to individuals and families who needed temporary accommodation on travels or vacations. Now, most of them have been closed and abandoned. So, the question is, what has happened to them now? Are they still standing the way they used to, or have they been left to ruins? Thankfully, a page on Instagram called Dead Motels USA has given life to and commemorates these structures that were once famous, giving us pictures of how they look now compared to when they peaked in popularity. No one really knows why most of these motels have become “dead,” maybe their owners passed or they became bankrupt, but some were remodeled to suit the evolving style of the new world. The amazing thing is they even have merch for these old “dead” motels so that you don’t forget about them. They have cute little pins representing different motels, and you can purchase them here. This piece is dedicated to 44 “dead” motels that have either been abandoned or renovated. If you love historic architecture, a glimpse into the past, and drastic before and afters, this article is for you. Most of the images are taken from old postcards and Google street view, so enjoy the vintage aesthetic and see how motels looked back in the day.

The Boulder Courts Motel

The picture on top is a view of the Boulder Courts Motel in the 1930s compared to the one below captured in 2021. It is situated in Alexis, Texas, and currently lies in ruins. The structure was demolished in 2020 after it had remained closed and unused for decades.

As you can see, the only significant remains of the impressive, once famous structure is the corroding motel sign and the stone arch. There aren’t that many details about this hotel on the internet. So, let’s say this is one of the structures that have gone down with age.