For generations of travelers, the motor court or motel was a welcome respite from time on the road. And like in Georgia, North Carolina had several of these byways, including the famed Blue Ridge Parkway. Many of these accommodations have been preserved and even restored for generations of new travelers to enjoy, part of a nationwide trend.
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Blue Ridge Motor Court, Boone
Now part of the National Register of Historic Places, the Blue Ridge Tourist Court opened in 1950 with 7 rooms to appeal to travelers to Western North Carolina, adding more rooms and doubling in size five years later. But it fell into disrepair by the 90s and was condemned. In 2020, a local family purchased the property and completely renovated it, opening it in 2022.
Today, the motel is just outside of the college town, set right on the free bus line, with coffee makers, televisions, and plenty of parking. Each room is decorated in a different style with vintage details, including two ADA rooms and one with bunk beds and a kitchenette.
The Dogwood, Maggie Valley
The Dogwood is a classic roadside motor lodge transformed into a stylish mountain retreat while preserving the nostalgic character of the town’s mid-century tourism era. The motel has been reimagined with contemporary interiors, self-check-in technology, a shared lounge with a gourmet kitchen, fitness studio, and creekside gathering spaces.
The modern motel offers eight guest rooms and suites along with a private bungalow, each named for a different plant species found in this part of Western North Carolina. It’s also close to ski areas like Cataloochee and charming downtown Waynesville.
Route 19 Inn, Maggie Valley
The Route 19 Inn traces its roots to 1948, when it opened as the Rocky Waters Motel during the golden age of the American road trip. Located along U.S. Highway 19, the primary route to the Great Smoky Mountains before the interstate era, the motel catered to families, motorcyclists, and vacationers traveling to Maggie Valley, just as The Dogwood did.
The renovation was led by a team that included former Disney executives and Imagineers, who infused the inn with playful nods to classic Americana and Western North Carolina history. Vintage-inspired décor, a restored neon sign, a 1951 Kaiser automobile, and an original carousel horse from Maggie Valley’s beloved Ghost Town in the Sky theme park celebrate the region’s nostalgic roadside culture.
Skyline Lodge, Highlands
Skyline Lodge was conceived in the 1930s by developer Howard Randall as an upscale retreat for visitors drawn to the cool climate and scenic beauty of Highlands. Randall commissioned architect Arthur J. Kelsey, a former student and associate of Frank Lloyd Wright, using native stone and wood. It didn’t open until 1965 and was renovated in 2020, set 3,700 feet above sea level.
Also on the National Register, the lodge has modern amenities and historic charm, with coffee makers and heated floors in the cozy rooms. Oak Steakhouse, originally opened in Charleston, South Carolina, also has a location here.
Sunset Motel, Brevard
The Sunset Motel was established in 1955, built during the postwar boom in automobile travel, when travelers flocked to western North Carolina to explore the forests, waterfalls, and mountain scenery of the region. It reopened after a renovation in 2013 with updated guest rooms.
They’re decorated in midcentury style with framed vintage Life magazines and bold patterns. There’s even a cabin that can accommodate up to six people. Its location within walking distance of downtown Brevard and close to Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest has made it popular with hikers, cyclists, and waterfall enthusiasts.
Unscrupted Durham, Durham
Unscripted Durham (review here) occupies one of Durham‘s best-known mid-century buildings: the former Jack Tar Motor Lodge, which opened in 1962 during the heyday of the American road trip. Designed in the sleek modernist style popular at the time, the motor lodge catered to motorists arriving via the expanding interstate highway system.
It later fell into decline, but the property reopened in July 2017 as the flagship hotel for Dream Hotel Group’s Unscripted brand. It has a buzzy outdoor pool with its own restaurant, daily coffee from the city’s own Counter Culture, and offers guests a discount at neighboring businesses.
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