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California Mid-Century Modern Motels & Hotels (page 3)

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Motel Capri
San Francisco, CA
The Motel Capri opened in 1957. For more, see this website. [map]

former Holiday Inn
San Francisco, CA
This Holiday Inn was designed by John Carl Warnecke & Associates. It was built from 1970-1971. The hotel became a Hilton in 2005. The entrance canopy which connects to a pedestrian bridge may be demolished. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Hyatt Regency
San Francisco, CA
The Hyatt Regency hotel was designed by John Portman and opened in 1973. For more, see this website. [map]

former Villa Hotel
San Mateo, CA
The Villa Hotel was designed by Robert M. Sherman and built in 1956. It was built next door to the Villa Chartier restaurant which opened in 1925 and The Lanai tiki bar and restaurant which opened in 1950. Together, the businesses operated as the Villa Square. In 1965, an addition designed by Armet & Davis was built for the Villa Coffee Shop. It later housed Paul's Diner for a number of years and, more recently, the Tokemoana's Foods restaurant.

The Lanai closed in 1988. In 2005, the Villa Hotel was converted into The Villa senior apartments. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

former Vagabond Inn
Santa Clara, CA
The Vagabond Inn chain was founded in El Segundo in 1958. This location was built in 1970. It became the Hotel E Real in 2016. [map]

There are similar Vagabond Inns in Sunnyvale, CA and Ventura, CA. There is another mid-century modern former Vagabond Inn in Red Bluff, CA.

E-Z 8 Motel
1550 N. 1st St.
San Jose, CA
former E-Z 8 Motel
2050 N. 1st St
San Jose, CA
former E-Z 8 Motel
Santa Clara, CA
former E-Z 8 Motel
El Cajon, CA
former E-Z 8 Motel
El Centro, CA
Hyland Inn
Carlsbad, CA
Bay Inn
San Diego, CA
former E-Z 8 Motel
National City, CA
The E-Z 8 Motel chain may have started in the San Diego area in the 1960s. There were about seven built there. The was a location in Las Vegas, NV and many others in California (Blythe, Concord, Lancaster, Pismo Beach, Vallejo, and Victorville).

There are two E-Z 8 Motel locations in San Jose just a few blocks apart which have the exact same design. Both were built in 1975. The 2050 N. 1st location now houses Extended Studio Suites. [1550 N. 1st map]; [2050 N. 1st map]

The former E-Z 8 Motel in Santa Clara was built in 1974. It had been the Bella Vista Inn since at least 2008. It has closed and there are plans to develop the site for affordable housing known as the Clara Gardens. [map]

The former E-Z 8 Motel in El Cajon was built in 1972. It housed the Villa Embasadora Inn since at least 2007. Since around 2020, the building has housed the Vista Oaks Apartments. See this vintage postcard from Heather David. [map]

The former E-Z 8 Motel in El Centro housed a Rodeway Inn & Suites since at least 2008. It now houses a Americas Best Value Inn & Suites and the building has been painted black. [map]

The Hyland Inn appears to be a former E-Z 8 Motel. [map]

The Bay Inn appears to be a former E-Z 8 Motel. [map]

The former E-Z 8 Motel in National City now houses the Stardust Inn. For more, see this website. [map]

There are other several other former E-Z 8 Motels but I only know of two others with this design. They are in Lake Havasu City, AZ and Tucson, AZ.

El Rancho Motel
Lodi, CA
The El Rancho Motel looks similar to the E-Z 8 Motel buildings. However, this has always been the El Rancho Motel. The remodeling with the round arches took place in the mid- or late 1960s. Before that, the motel had a flat roofed canopy and neon sign with a sleeping Mexican. [map]

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Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.