Colony House Motor Lodge, motel in Roanoke, Virginia
Colony House Motor Lodge is a historic motel in Roanoke built in 1959 along Franklin Road SW, featuring two main guest buildings, an office with covered driveway, and a swimming pool. The architecture blends Googie-style design with elements inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, particularly through its distinctive folded plate roofs and geometric shapes that define each section of the structure.
The motel was founded by brothers Glover and Richard Trent in 1959 and operated for more than five decades until it was sold in 2018. Built to capture the attention of passing motorists during the boom in car travel, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023 for its significance as mid-20th-century roadside architecture.
The lodge's name reflects its original owners, the Trent family, who built it as a modern roadside destination for travelers. Its distinctive folded roofs and painted green elements create a recognizable landmark that locals associate with mid-century motorist culture.
The motel is easily visible from the road and accessible, though it sits on a busy street. You can view the building and its architectural features from the street, and there is an on-site gift shop, seasonal outdoor pool, and snack concessions available to visitors and guests.
The motel hosted notable guests including football star Johnny Unitas and the band Herman's Hermits, who met fans at the on-site restaurant in 1965. These celebrity visits made the property part of local lore and kept it connected to the region's entertainment history.
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