Park, Unpack, Time Travel: Overnighting at the Colony House Motor Lodge
- Apryl Thomas
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
With its vintage signage and distinctive porte-cochere, checking in at the Colony House Motor Lodge in Roanoke, Virginia, feels less like booking a room and more like stepping back in time, when road trips meant paper maps, AM radio stations and indulging in a slice of homemade pie from a roadside diner.
Built in 1959 in Googie style, an architectural nod to the Atomic and Space Ages, the property looks as though it belongs along Route 66, not just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Situated on Roanoke's southern edge, it once hosted an eclectic mix of guests, from an NFL legend to British pop stars, earning it the nickname "the guest room of South Roanoke." The Colony House Motor Lodge held on until 2018.
And that's when the Farrells stepped in.
"My family was in the car business," comments Colony House Motor Lodge co-owner Mike Farrell. "And one of my father's lots was next door to the Colony House, and he had always been keeping an eye on the property and knew the owners. So when they decided to get out of the hospitality business, they asked him if he wanted to buy, and he did."
What followed was a period of reflection and ultimately, resolution.
"The property sat there while he was trying to determine the best use for it. During this time, it became clear to the rest of the family that we would love to save the building. It's a local architectural landmark that has served the community since the late 1950s, and there are many strong, positive feelings toward Colony House."
The timing helped. During the pandemic, roadside motels continued to gain in popularity as travelers sought drive-up convenience, and authenic or nostalgic experiences.
"This property had so much potential."
So began the multi-million-dollar renovation process, and by maintaining the structural integrity, the Colony House Motor Lodge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.
By fall 2025, the property buzzed with life again. Guests checked in at the revived lobby, browsed the gift shop and enjoyed complimentary coffee from the Star City Lounge before heading out to explore downtown Roanoke, Mill Mountain Star and Park, or the Blue Ridge Parkway, all just minutes away.
As guests return at day's end and enter one of the property's 67 guestrooms, they are immediately greeted with bursts of vibrant colors, guaranteed to put smiles on faces, coupled with retro pieces and modern touches like Kingsdown mattresses, oversized pillows (the kind you'll still be dreaming, pun intended, about days later), and of course, Wi-Fi.
"We wanted people to be surprised, because from the outside, it doesn't look much different from when it did when the doors closed, because we needed to respect the history and the architecture of the building and the requirements of doing a historic renovation. Yet, we created a really comfortable, pleasing environment that references the mid-century period, but feels very contemporary as well."
Farrell adds, "You're not going to get a hotel room like this anywhere in this part of Virginia or this part of the country.
The pet-friendly property also features a fitness center, meeting space, and a seasonal outdoor pool complete with a concessions trailer. And while comfort is a draw, value is just as intentional.
"Not only do guests get a tremendous value and experience at a reasonable price, but they also get amenities that they probably wouldn't expect when they walk into a vintage motor lodge from the 1950s."
With all it offers, Colony House Motor Lodge isn't just a place to stay; it could be considered a destination in its own right.