Another one of Carson City’s old motels was the Deluxe Motel. This motel was on north Carson Street, where the Frontier Plaza shopping center is today. This motel stands out because of that two-story office dominating the property, and especially the huge MOTEL sign on the roof. The actual motel buildings surround the office. The rooms seem to have garages, a feature of early auto courts. Lone Mountain rises behind the motel. This was built in the 1940s I believe, and it was here until around 1973.

By the 1970s the decision was made to replace lodging with retail. This happened at several other spots along Carson Street too. This is not the only motel we’ve looked at that has been torn down for new development. Frontier Plaza opened in the 1970s and it’s been going strong ever since.

Another view of the motel, this one from the parking lot to the south. Not the best angle, but the giant MOTEL sign can still be seen. And this lets us know the motel buildings were painted yellow, at least for a time.

Despite being removed, the Deluxe Motel is not completely consigned to history. Someone on Facebook claims that the central two-story building, which housed the office, was moved in 1973 rather than being demolished. A family member, she says, moved the structure out to Deer Run Road in eastern Carson City, and it still remains there today. So although the scene looks completely different today, a piece of the motel remains.

Let’s end with some aerial photos of the motel, showing the property layout.