Blue Jay Motel - Salem, Virginia
N 37° 15.485 W 080° 10.280
17S E 573482 N 4123824
This sign stands in front of one the classic pre-interstate tourist motels. In August 2011, All of the Neon was removed and the sign has been repainted.
Waymark Code: WM897D
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 02/21/2010
Views: 5
Prior to the opening of Interstate 81, U. S. Route 11 was the main north-south highway through the great valley of Virginia. Stretching some 350-mile from West Virginia to Tennessee, Route 11 was home to some of Virginia’s best roadside attractions, including Natural Bridge, and the caverns of the Shenandoah Valley. Also before the interstate, Route 11 featured many tourist motel and motor courts as they were called back then. These family owned motels provided motorist with basic clean accommodations for the night, while touting such modern amenities as “color TV” and “Air Conditioning.” Most of these family run motels were either rendered obsolete when the Interstates passed them by or were swallowed up by the chain motels.
One of these old tourist motels is still in business on Route 11 west of Salem, Virginia. The Blue Jay Motel has been in business for well over 50-years and still welcomes guests who find their way off of Interstate 81 to visit nearby Dixie Caverns. The Blue Jay Motel Sign still stands at the entrance, but is fast falling into disrepair. Until recently the sign still worked at night but during the last year or so it has stopped working. Hopefully, business will improve and the owners can renovate and repair this icon of an earlier time.
NOTE: August 2011 all of the neon has been removed and this sign has been repainted.
Name of business: Blue Jay Motel
Type of business: Hotel/Motel
Condition of Neon Sign: Gonesville - Bitter remnant of what once was
Physical Location: 5399 West Main Street Salem, Va USA 24153
Web Address: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
One picture of sign will suffice. Additional shots - bonus.