8 Restored California Motels and Boutique Roadside Hotels
From midcentury desert retreats to coastal hideaways, these former roadside stops have found new life as beautifully designed boutique hotels.
Skyview Los Alamos | Source: Skyview
California's roadside motels were once a defining part of the American road trip. Built along coastal highways, desert routes and stretches of open countryside, they offered travelers a convenient place to pull over, spend the night and get back on the road. Decades later, some of these properties are finding a new audience.
Rather than replacing their past, a growing number of owners and designers have embraced it, preserving original architecture while introducing thoughtful interiors, contemporary comforts and a more personal approach to hospitality. The results range from intimate desert retreats to stylish coastal inns, each offering something beyond the typical hotel experience.
Here are eight restored California motels and roadside hotels that give travelers a reason to make the stay part of the journey.
1. Skyview
Skyview Los Alamos | Source: Skyview
Los Alamos, California
Perched on a hill overlooking the small wine-country town of Los Alamos, Skyview began welcoming travelers along Highway 101 in 1959. After decades of changing fortunes, the former roadside motel was purchased by Nomada Hotel Group in 2016 and reopened two years later following an extensive restoration. The renovation retained the property's midcentury character, including its original yellow motel sign, while introducing contemporary interiors and a more elevated hospitality experience.
The 33-room property features private outdoor spaces in select accommodations, a swimming pool, fire pits and a working vineyard that produces its own rosé. An on-site restaurant and bar, Norman, adds another reason to stay a little longer, while the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley offers plenty to explore beyond the hotel.
2. The Surfrider
The Surfrider Malibu | Source: The Surfrider
Malibu, California
Across from Malibu's famous Surfrider Beach, The Surfrider occupies a former roadside motel built in 1953. Originally known as the Malibu Shores Motel, the property has been transformed into a 20-room boutique hotel that draws inspiration from the relaxed coastal character of Southern California. Natural materials, warm wood, neutral tones and thoughtfully selected furnishings give the interiors the atmosphere of a private beach house.
One of the property's highlights is its guest-only rooftop deck, where meals and drinks come with sweeping views of the Pacific. Malibu Pier, the beach and the area's well-established surf culture are all close by, making it an especially appealing stay for travelers who want to experience Malibu beyond the usual resort setting.
3. Hotel Wren
Hotel Wren | Source: Hotel Wren
Twentynine Palms, California
Just minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, Hotel Wren occupies a former 1940s roadside motel in California's High Desert. Its renovation preserved the original motor-lodge layout while introducing a contemporary design approach inspired by the surrounding landscape. Custom furnishings, natural materials and pieces created in collaboration with local and Los Angeles-based artists and craftspeople bring a distinctive character to the interiors.
Earthy finishes and tactile details complement the desert setting, while the property's intimate scale puts the focus on its architecture, outdoor spaces and mountain views. For travelers drawn to Joshua Tree's creative community and dramatic scenery, Hotel Wren offers a thoughtful alternative to a conventional national park hotel.
4. Azure Sky
Azure Sky Palm Springs | Source: Azure Sky
Palm Springs, California
Originally completed in 1959, Azure Sky belongs to a generation of small modernist hotels that helped establish Palm Springs as a destination for midcentury architecture. Following an extensive renovation, the property reopened in 2022 as a 14-room, adults-only boutique hotel. The redesign by Lightning Bar Palm Springs pays attention to the building's architectural character, with warm neutral palettes, custom woodwork, natural stone and built-in furnishings.
The hotel's swimming pool and landscaped grounds offer a peaceful setting beneath the San Jacinto Mountains, while its small scale creates a more intimate experience than the larger resorts nearby. Azure Sky is particularly appealing to travelers who appreciate Palm Springs' architectural heritage but prefer a contemporary, understated approach to midcentury design.
5. Cuyama Buckhorn
Cuyama Buckhorn | Source: Cuyama Buckhorn
New Cuyama, California
In the remote Cuyama Valley, Cuyama Buckhorn has been welcoming travelers since 1952. Originally established as a roadside stop during the area's oil-industry boom, the motor lodge became a familiar gathering place for locals and visitors passing through. A restoration completed in 2021 brought new life to the property, with designers and owners Jeff Vance and Ferial Sadeghian introducing Western-inspired interiors, vintage details and custom-made furnishings across its 21 rooms.
The former drive-up parking area has been transformed into landscaped communal space, while a swimming pool, jacuzzi, barrel sauna and restaurant give guests plenty of reasons to linger. Surrounded by mountains and expansive desert scenery, Cuyama Buckhorn offers an experience rooted in the character and history of one of California's less-traveled regions.
6. Hotel June
Hotel June Malibu | Source: Hotel June
Malibu, California
Tucked away on four acres near Point Dume, Hotel June Malibu dates to 1949, when Wayne and Helen Wilcox opened the Malibu Riviera Hotel. The property became a retreat for artists, musicians and writers over the years, including Bob Dylan, who stayed in one of its bungalows while working on Blood on the Tracks. Following a renovation and several changes of identity, the hotel reopened under its current name in 2021, retaining its original collection of 13 midcentury bungalows.
The accommodations pair vintage-inspired furnishings with contemporary comforts, including Casper beds, Aesop bath products and private patios. Black-and-white photographs by Wayne Wilcox offer a personal connection to the hotel's earlier years, while mature landscaping, outdoor seating areas and a heated swimming pool give the property a secluded atmosphere despite its proximity to the Pacific Coast Highway.
7. Le Petit Pali at 8th Ave
Le Petit Pali at 8th Ave | Source: Le Petit Pali
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
In the coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Le Petit Pali at 8th Ave brings a cottage-inspired approach to boutique hospitality. Reintroduced by Palisociety in 2023, the 24-room Craftsman-style property surrounds a central courtyard, with interiors that take inspiration from traditional inns and English country homes. Layered textiles, vintage-inspired furnishings and carefully chosen decorative details give the rooms a warm, residential character, while select accommodations feature fireplaces.
Complimentary touches, including a daily Champagne continental breakfast, afternoon cookies and bicycles for exploring town, add to the experience. With Carmel's independent shops, restaurants and white-sand beach nearby, the property makes an inviting base for a weekend on the Monterey Peninsula.
8. River Lodge
River Lodge Paso Robles | Source: River Lodge
Paso Robles, California
Originally built in 1947, River Lodge began as a roadside motel near the intersection of Highways 101 and 46 in Paso Robles. Formerly known as The Suburban Lodge, the property sat vacant for years before Nomada Hotel Group undertook an extensive restoration, reopening it in 2024. The renovation preserved its distinctive Googie architecture, including the boomerang-shaped building, kidney-shaped swimming pool and vintage roadside sign, while introducing interiors by Nomada Deco featuring custom velvet-upholstered beds, walnut furniture and colorful decorative details.
The 28-room property centers around landscaped gardens, hammocks and communal fire pits, with a 21-and-over swimming pool and hot tub at its heart. Guests can also visit Ciao Papi, a seasonal poolside restaurant and bar serving Italian-inspired dishes, cocktails and local wines. With its playful design and location in Paso Robles wine country, River Lodge brings a more contemporary approach to the classic California motor lodge.
