Motel Inn facts for kids

The Motel Inn was a very special place in San Luis Obispo, California. It was the first ever motel in the whole world! It first opened its doors on December 12, 1925. The motel welcomed travelers for many years before closing in 1991. Today, part of the original building is used as an office for the Apple Farm Inn hotel nearby.

Why Motels Were Needed

The Motel Inn in 1976.

Another view of the Motel Inn in 1976.

The Motel Inn in 2003.

In the early 1900s, more and more people started owning cars in the United States. This meant they could travel further than just their local town. However, roads back then were not very good. Cars were also slower and broke down more often.

Long Trips and Overnight Stays

A trip of 400 miles, like from Los Angeles to San Francisco, could take two full days of driving. Travelers needed a place to stay overnight. Often, they had to camp out or even sleep in their cars. This was especially true if they didn't plan ahead for hotels in bigger towns.

A New Kind of Stay

There was a clear need for a new type of place for car travelers to rest. People wanted something easier than camping. They also wanted the comfort and safety of a hotel. This need led to the creation of the "motel," which combines "motor" and "hotel."

Choosing the Location

The architect, Arthur S. Heineman, designed the Motel Inn. He chose San Luis Obispo as the perfect spot. It was about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This made it a great stopping point for a two-day car journey.

Motel Design and Features

A postcard of the Motel Inn from the 1940s.

The original plan for the Milestone Mo-Tel was quite detailed. It included small bungalows and connected apartments. Each unit had parking right outside. Some even had their own private garage.

Comforts for Travelers

Every room at the motel had its own private bathroom with a shower. This was a big step up from camping! The idea was to offer more privacy and comfort than a campground.

Spanish-Style Buildings

The outside of the buildings looked like the old Spanish missions in California. For example, the bell tower had three parts, just like the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside. This design gave the motel a unique and inviting look.

The Motel Business

Building the Motel Inn in 1925 cost about $80,000. That would be like spending over $1.4 million today! A room originally cost $1.25 per night. This would be about $22 today.

Plans for a Motel Chain

Arthur Heineman and his brother Alfred created a company called Milestone Interstate Corporation. They hoped to get money from investors. Their goal was to build a chain of eighteen motels. These motels would be placed every 150 to 200 miles. This distance was about a day's drive for cars at the time. The Motel Inn was meant to be the first of these many motels.

Challenges and Closure

The Heineman brothers faced some problems. They couldn't trademark the name "motel." This meant other businesses could use the name too. Many competitors started building their own motels. Some were cheaper, even if they weren't as well designed.

The plans for a large motel chain never happened. The Great Depression hit, making it hard to find money for new projects. The Heineman brothers eventually lost the Motel Inn because they couldn't pay their loans. The Motel Inn closed its doors in 1991.

The Motel Inn Today

Many of the original Motel Inn buildings were taken down in 2006. Only a few parts of the first buildings still stand. This includes the mission-style bell tower.

The old Motel Inn is located at 2223 Monterey Street. It is near an on-ramp to U.S. Route 101. Today, the remaining part of the Motel Inn is used as an office building. It belongs to the Apple Farm Inn hotel, which is right next door.