Once highways were developed, it was only a matter of time before motels followed. This happened as early as the 1920's. By 1925, gas station owners were building cottages in the back to accommodate this new breed of traveler and his beloved automobile. It was here in San Luis Obispo, California, however, that the term "motel" was coined by architect Arthur Heineman. A long series of two-room bungalows with kitchens were built here. Each unit had a private garage and a swimming pool in the central courtyard was part of the package. The pool was an extremely rare luxury for the day. This was in 1926, and the Motel Inn charged a whopping $1.25 a night!
Only the sign and some ruins are left of the original motel. A bronze plaque on a new structure commemorates this historic event. Now motels are strung along the interstates in a continuous chain. Still, traveling in an old Ford Model-T on a narrow highway must have been an adventure. The interstate highway system as we know it today didn't develop until the 1950's. Anyone my age has memories of mom and dad packing up the kids in a honking big station wagon and taking off across country. In my case, we headed West on I-70 and toured all the national parks. Although we car camped once we reached a park, we stayed at motels along the route. As kids, our one criteria was it had to have a pool! Motels, along with cars and cheap gas, allowed middle class America to get out and see the world. And I have yet to stop!
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