June 18, 2025

Sometime between when I took the above photo and August of 2025, the management of the Western Motel decided to refresh the above sign so that it says “Motel” instead of “M∅T-L”. Adding the “ERN” back after “WEST” was not in the budget.

Google street view capture (August 2025)

Apparently the (partial) sign improvement didn’t help the business as it no longer exists. I’m not sure if the building has been torn down yet.

These places always intrigue me, as we stayed in such motels back in the 1970s when I was a kid. I couldn’t find out much about the history of the Western Motel online, other than the fact that they have finally gone under, and the mayor of Wendover once owned the place. I did find these “blasts from the past” below though.

Western Motel pennant

Western Motel postcard front

Notice that the 2025 sign is a replacement sign for the one in the above postcard. The (now crumbling) raised planter box is the same. I’m guessing the postcard is from the early 1960s (or 1950s). They must have added the “COLOR TV by RCA” around 1970.

Are the 116 and 428 still on the mountain in the background? Barely.

Western Motel postcard back

A phone number of just four numbers? That’s before my time.

Posted on June 18th, 2026 under Other. Tags: buildings, nevada, NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, Nikon Z 6II FX-Format Mirrorless Camera, signs, utah. Comments Off on One year ago today…