Because they say necessity is the mother of invention…
Here’s how a string of early 1950s motels along Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard, taught us that reinvention does not mean we “sell out.”
The Coppertone Girl sign was designed and made in 1958. It was originally displayed 3 blocks from Biscayne Boulevard, but has since been reinstalled across the street from the Vagabond Hotel. Including the letters, it is reportedly 33 feet high and 29 feet wide.
Miami is home to many architectural styles, including the ever-recognizable Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Miami Modern (or MiMo). These styles can be found in neighborhood pockets throughout the city.
The sidewalks that line the Vagabond Hotel are outfitted with this colorful retro design.
We return to Miami because, having grown up there, my childhood memories bring me back every time in search of nostalgia. This time, we wander down Biscayne Boulevard and stop along the small stretch of road that houses a string of old motels. We are instantly impressed by their unique structures, bright colors, and the creative typography of their signs – some of which sit in various states of disrepair. A quick ride down the road, and we notice that each motel seems to have their own personality.
Built in 1953, The Vagabond Hotel is the perfect example of MiMo design with overhanging rooflines, a glamorous fountain, and mosaic-tiled pool. It is being marketed as the “Vagabond Hotel” (although it kept the word “motel” its signage for historical authenticity), and continues to expand following a complete renovation.
This area is known as the MiMo Historic District. It was born out of unprecedented prosperity following World War II and the increase in automobile travel.
A bit of research shows most, if not all, of the currently existing motor courts or motels in this area, were built in the 1950s. In a way, you could say they all “grew up” together.
The Vagabond Hotel is a prime example of the powers of restoration, reinvention, and nostalgia. This is the famous mermaid fountain that sits outside of this chic boutique hotel.
According to a 2006 City of Miami report prepared by Ellen J. Uguccioni for Janus Research, Consultants, and provided to the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board to support the destination of the MiMo / Biscayne Boulevard Historic District, “The success of a motel was dependent on a series of factors. They included climate, access to highways, and the attractiveness of the surroundings, sufficient parking space, and the proximity to tourist destinations. For each factor, the motels of Biscayne Boulevard excelled.”
Biscayne Inn Motel neon sign
For many, these motels serve as “quintessential reminders” of the time period is which they were designed, created, and intended to function (in this case the fifties and sixties) and the architectural expression that grew out of a desire to “modernize” and personalize the Art Deco style that had taken over in the late thirties and forties, while acknowledging Miami’s subtropical environment.
The Shalimar Motel was built in 1951, with additions like a swimming made in its first few years. It has a residential look and is part of a series of motels whose appearance alludes to an exotic locale.
Biscayne Boulevard was intended as a major commercial artery in the city and sought to entice travelers to sleep, shop, and eat on its road. Over time, cultural, economic, and environmental changes pushed the city in a different direction and MiMo began on a course of steady decline.
With its two stories and “L” shaped plan, the 7 Seas Motel is typical of the 1950s motel design. This is its bold neon sign. Fun Fact: this motel was featured in a scene in Episode 1, Season 1 of the TV show “Dexter.”
During this time of change, many floundered and perished. The remaining coexisted, silently comparing themselves to one another for decades. It is here, staring at some of these remaining structures that we realize these old buildings are like us (people) in some ways…
I could picture that one day, in their old age, when they realized there was nothing to compare to anymore. They were all mere shells of their former selves.
Built in 1951, the Royal Motel is currently undergoing renovation by the same developer that completed the glamorous overhaul of the Vagabond Hotel next door. It will remain a motel and serve as a 25-room annex for the Vagabond.
But they still felt strong in their bones & the view of the bay inspired them daily, and so they knew their time had not yet come. To survive, they’d each have to pick up their scattered bricks & go their own way. They’d have to reconcile what was, with what remains, and what can still someday be.
Built in 1953 and originally a “motel,” in 2012, the New Yorker Boutique Hotel underwent a very public makeover on Travel Channel’s reality TV show “Hotel Impossible”
Some have been restored to their former glory, some have moved up to “hotel” status, and others are content to have found a different purpose.
After its renovation, this former motel upgraded to “hotel” status and changed its neon signs to reflect the new title.
Sometimes we find inspiration in unlikely places. Today, we have found it here on this boulevard, where dreams are anything but broken and at the sites of these ubiquitous roadside establishments called “motels.” We are reminded that life is fluid. It ebbs and flows and sometimes changes when we least expect it. And in such an environment, it does not benefit us to remain rigid or stubborn when it comes to changing along with it. There is a way to go about change, without having to compromise who we are or what we are meant to be.
Built in 1953, the South Pacific Motel is now a “wotel” – a nod to its new “workspace” identity. With half of its original facade no longer existing, it has chosen a different path as a hub for boutique offices & an upscale restaurant.
Sometimes we have to take the past into consideration, but recognize that in order to survive and adapt to the future, we may have to rethink our purpose. That might include a new look, learning new things, and reinventing ourselves in different ways. This doesn’t mean that, for a little personal advancement, we “sell out” or betray our old selves or those who have helped mold us into what we are to date. It doesn’t mean that we’ve weakened or are any less authentic. It simply means that we’re keeping up with the times and are growing.
Maybe we’ve just discovered what “Miami Modern” really means…
Here on Biscayne Boulevard we find MiMo and the inspiration to confidently go wherever life takes us.
Built in 1953, the Sinbad Motel was designed to resemble a ship because Biscayne Bay was visible at the time from the motel. It was also named after Sinbad the Sailer and is one of several motels designed with a sea adventure theme in mind. The neon was originally red, but suffered deterioration and had to be re-recolored. Today, the signs shine in pink, yellow, and blue.
You don’t have to wait another decade to experience pure motel nostalgia on Biscayne Boulevard! There is at least one motel that is fully restored, up & running, and waiting to serve up a little of the era in which it was born.
The Vagabond Hotel, 7301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138 – Its updated website describes it as “Timelessly Modern / Decidedly Miami.” A vibrant, creative, and fun hotel with a glamorous past, it boasts sleek 1950s inspired custom-made furniture, hypo-allergenic Italian beds, free high-speed Wi-Fi, intricately stenciled geometric wall art, state-of-the-art flat-screen TVs, a stunning original terrazzo, and a sparkling swimming pool, complete with fully restored iconic mermaid & dolphin mosaic tile artwork. I haven’t personally enjoyed a stay here yet, but it seems to have consistently positive reviews online. I will definitely have to check it out next time I’m in town – and if you happen to visit first, let me know how it is and whether nostalgia still lingers there.
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