Nostalgic Postcards of American Roadside Attractions – Part 3
According to Wikipedia, a roadside attraction is a feature along the side of a road, that is frequently advertised with billboards to attract tourists. In general, these are places one might stop on the way to somewhere else, rather than being a final or primary destination in and of themselves.
The modern tourist-oriented highway attraction originated as a U.S. and Western Canadian phenomenon in the 1940s to 1960s.
Here are a bunch of nostalgic postcards depicting some of these roadside places – everything from coffee shops to seaside restaurants. Which are your favorite roadside attractions?
Above: Lariat Lodge in Gallup, New Mexico
Above: Modern Motor Sales in Montréal, Quebéc
Above: Ravenwood Motel in South Lake Tahoe, California
Above: Alexandria Motel in Alexandria Bay, New York
Above: Carson’s Restaurant in San Marcos, Texas
Above: Marquee Drive-In in Mesa, Arizona
Above: Rancho Santa Maria in Santa Maria, California
Above: Cliff House in San Francisco, California
Christopher
A Swedish expatriate and founder of Ultra Swank. Chris loves showcasing his passion for mid-century design, defunct airlines, Disneyland and modernist architecture. He's also renowned as a connoisseur of easy-listening music from the 60s and 70s.
