Located in Salter Path, The Beacon is a beachside escape tucked beneath live oaks. Last year, after seeing better days, several rooms of the former Salter Path Inn got a televised refresh on HGTV’s 100 Day Hotel Challenge by designer Mika Kleinschmidt and her husband, Brian. The couple focused on updating the lobby from the look of a cramped, one-desk office to a hip reception area with a curved wood check-in counter and a cozy sitting area, and created a beautiful outdoor lounge with comfy couches, swing seating, hanging basket lights, yellow-and-white striped umbrellas, and a slatted wood enclosure wall.
1305 Salter Path Road
Salter Path, NC 28575
(252) 247-3533
thebeaconhotelnc.com
Named for its sister property, Mother Earth Brewing, the Mother Earth Motor Lodge sits just a few blocks north on Herritage Street. photograph by Baxter Miller
Sharing its name with Kinston’s popular craft brewery, Mother Earth Motor Lodge offers modern conveniences with a mid-century flair. A neon sign welcomes guests to this downtown lodge, originally built in 1963. Back then, travelers came to Kinston to gather at the tobacco-warehouse nightclubs, where big bands entertained with jazz, rhythm and blues, and funk. Performers often stayed at the motor lodge — including James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. The property features nostalgic, mid-century amenities such as a three-ring pool, shuffleboard, and a nine-hole miniature golf course.
501 North Herritage Street
Kinston, NC 28501
(252) 520-2000
motherearthmotorlodge.com
The Longleaf Hotel & Lounge positions guests to explore the City of Oaks with ease. photograph by AK Photography
Sitting at the northern entry to downtown Raleigh, The Longleaf Hotel & Lounge — originally a 1960s Travelodge — once boasted a pool and sported doors that were green, yellow, and tangerine orange. The restored property reopened in 2020 with mid-century details, like terrazzo countertops and original breeze-block walls, plus new brass and velvet accents. A sleek lounge features craft cocktails and opens to a tiered patio with ’60s-style tables and chairs.
300 North Dawson Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 867-5770
thelongleafhotel.com
Two of the draws of the Skyline Lodge are the outdoor firepit, where friends like Drew McCandless (left) and Jerry Aubel reconnect, and its caramel cake. photograph by Alex Boerner
At almost 100 years old, the Skyline Lodge in Highlands is not only an example of the staying power of mountain tourism, but also Frank Lloyd Wright’s signature style of blurring the lines between nature and architecture. Built in 1929, the original structure was designed by Arthur J. Kelsey, an early friend and protégé of Wright. He incorporated long rooflines and fireplaces constructed with native granite. The property was renovated and reopened as a boutique stay in 2021.
470 Skyline Lodge Road
Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 526-4008
skyline-lodge.com
In the shadow of the Smoky Mountains, The Meadowlark Motel positions guest to soak up views of the changing seasons. Photography courtesy of The Meadowlark Motel
Built in the 1940s at the crossroads of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smoky Mountains, Meadowlark Motel is one of the state’s longest-operating motor lodges. Roger and Donna McElroy bought the motel in 1975 and it’s been run by the family ever since. In 2017, their son Joseph and his wife, Simone, took the reins of day-to-day operations. The family has since added HomeCraft — a seven-table restaurant boasting “southern mountain-inspired food with a twist” — and The Skylark Speakeasy, an intimate cocktail bar.
2878 Soco Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 926-1717
meadowlarkmotel.com
Pump the brakes as you reach Sunset Motel and recharge before you continue through the Blue Ridge Mountains. photograph by Emily Chaplin
This inn dates to 1957, when a new era of vacation spots started popping up in and around Brevard, giving tourists new options beyond boarding houses. The Sunset Motel and similar properties meant freedom to plan your own day and own meals in your kitchenette or out and about. In 2013, it reopened under new owners with a fresh mid-century feel. Rooms include vintage furniture and appliances, while the grounds offer a few more classic touches like a firepit and grill.
523 South Broad Street
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 884-9106
thesunsetmotel.com
The Fie creek provides guests with a front-row seat to one of Route 19 Inn’s many amenities: nature. photograph by Tim Robison
Get your kicks on Route 19 at this 1948 stay that was one of Maggie Valley’s first motels, originally called the Rocky Waters Motel. A 1960s vintage postcard touts the creekside location and its proximity — just an eighth of a mile — to the Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park. It reopened in 2020 after a decade of sitting vacant, and now rooms feature retro tables and chairs; updated floors; warm, earth-toned woven rugs; and beds with natural-wood headboards.
4898 Soco Road
Maggie Valley, NC 28751
(828) 944-0476
route19inn.com
The rooms at Rhode’s Motor Lodge have enjoyed a 21st-century refresh, but the mountain view has remained the same. photograph by Chris Council
This 54-room, 21st-century take on a classic motor lodge began as a simple 12-room property, built on a hill that rises just off U.S. Highway 321 in Boone. In 2023, Loden Hospitality became the newest owners, reopening the space as Rhode’s Motor Lodge, its name a nod to the rhododendrons that flourish on the surrounding mountainsides and its concept a celebration of the mid-century motor lodges that were once a staple for families and motorists. Many of the lodge’s original features, like the speckled terrazzo floors, remain to transport guests back to the motor lodges of yesteryear, and they’re complemented by newer additions that evoke a sense of nostalgia, from the circular fireplace in the lobby to vintage video games in the downstairs game room.
1377 Blowing Rock Road
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 865-1110
rhodesmotorlodge.com
Tucked into a historic neighborhood, a backyard in Forsyth County holds hundreds of Southern wildflowers collected by one wild flower woman.
John Champlin has traveled across the state — and the nation — in search of hard-to-find spots that serve an unforgettable hot dog. After 11 years, what he’s discovered goes way beyond the bun.
In the early 20th century, textile mill owners sponsored baseball teams, providing entertainment for their employees and nurturing a passion for the game that’s been handed down through generations of North Carolinians.
Our writer reflects on where his love of vinyl began, and how the snap, crackle, and pop of a needle sliding across a turntable will always satisfy his soul.
