I’m a photograph fellow on the L.A. Instances, and lately spent three days photographing for the Motel California venture on the Skyview Los Alamos. What instantly struck me was how tucked away within the hills the motel was, even with its shut proximity to the freeway. Whereas solely two hours away from L.A., I felt like I used to be in a very ... Read More

I’m a photograph fellow on the L.A. Instances, and lately spent three days photographing for the Motel California venture on the Skyview Los Alamos. What instantly struck me was how tucked away within the hills the motel was, even with its shut proximity to the freeway. Whereas solely two hours away from L.A., I felt like I used to be in a very totally different place.

Text-based logo that says Motel California, with "California" in a cursive script

The motel turns 100. Discover the state’s finest roadside havens — and the best stops alongside the way in which.

— Juliana Yamada, images fellow

Ramsey 29 motel in Twentynine Palms. Owner Ashton Ramsey took over a motor lodge that dates to the 1940s.

Ramsey 29 motel in Twentynine Palms. Proprietor Ashton Ramsey took over a motor lodge that dates to the Forties.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

A detail of a rock facade with doorbell at the Pearl in San Diego

Rocky particulars on the Pearl. (Megan Morello / For The Instances)

Decorative brick from the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree

Ornamental brick from the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree. (David Fouts / For The Instances)

The Atomic Bombshell Room at the Trixie Motel.

The Atomic Bombshell Room on the Trixie Motel.

(David Fouts / For The Instances)

Rooms 13 and 14 at the Skyview Motel.

Rooms 13 and 14 on the Skyview Motel.

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Instances)

The Skylark Hotel sign in Palm Springs.

The Skylark Lodge sign up Palm Springs.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

Alamo Motel sign in Los Alamos Peach Tree Inn sign in San Luis Obispo. Motel Capri sign in San Francisco.

Alamo Motel sign up Los Alamos, from left. Peach Tree Inn sign up San Luis Obispo. Motel Capri sign up San Francisco. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

The Skyview Motel sign. Scenes from the River Lodge. Scenes from the The Pacific Motel.

The Skyview Motel signal, from left. The River Lodge sign up Paso Robles. The Pacific Motel sign up Cayucos. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Instances; Jacob Tovar / For The Instances)

The Mojave Sands Motel sign.

The Mojave Sands Motel signal.

(David Fouts / For The Instances)

The Sea & Sand Inn's no vacancy/vacancy sign in Santa Cruz.

The Sea & Sand Inn’s no emptiness/emptiness sign up Santa Cruz.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

The Surfrider Malibu as seen from the Pacific Coast Highway.

The Surfrider Malibu as seen from the Pacific Coast Freeway.

(Al Seib / For The Instances)

The entrance to the Norman restaurant at the Skyview Motel.

The doorway to the Norman restaurant on the Skyview Motel.

The pool viewed through decorative pool-side furnishings at the Skyview Motel.

The pool seen by way of ornamental pool-side furnishings on the Skyview Motel. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Instances)

Wallpaper inside the Trixie Motel.

Wallpaper contained in the Trixie Motel.

(David Fouts / For The Instances)

The toilet paper at the Hotel Wren is marked with its initials.

The bathroom paper on the Lodge Wren is marked with its initials. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

Folded toilet paper at the Skyview Motel.

Folded rest room paper on the Skyview Motel. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Instances)

A view of a room inside the Ramsey 29 motel in Twentynine Palms.

A view of a room contained in the Ramsey 29 motel in Twentynine Palms.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

A detail of a patio pillow at The Pearl Hotel.

A element of a patio pillow at The Pearl Lodge. (Megan Morello / For The Instances)

A detail of the shower handle in a room at the River Lodge.

A element of the bathe deal with in a room on the River Lodge. (Jacob Tovar / For The Instances)

A room inside the Crystal Pier Hotel in Pacific Beach, San Diego.

A room contained in the Crystal Pier Lodge in Pacific Seaside, San Diego.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

The Wigwam Motel buildings in San Bernardino.

The Wigwam Motel buildings in San Bernardino.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

A room at the Skylark Hotel.

A room on the Skylark Lodge.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

The Hotel del Sol is a boutique hotel in San Francisco aiming to rise above its roots as a budget motel.

The Lodge del Sol is a boutique resort in San Francisco aiming to rise above its roots as a finances motel.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

A room at Glen Oaks Hotel in Big Sur.

A room at Glen Oaks Lodge in Massive Sur.

(Nic Coury / For The Instances)

Situated on Market Street, Beck's has a front-row seat to the main artery of San Francisco.

Located on Market Avenue, Beck’s has a front-row seat to the principle artery of San Francisco. The motel nonetheless provides free on-site parking, with a walkable location that gives ample entry to public transportation, together with the historic F-Market line.

(Megan Bayley / For The Instances)

A decorative room at the Madonna Inn.

An ornamental room on the Madonna Inn.

(Nic Coury / For The Instances)

An old-school key from the Hacienda del Sol An old-school key from the Skylark Hotel. An old-school key at Glen Oaks Motor Lodge.

Previous-school keys from the Hacienda del Sol, from left, in Borrego Springs, the Skylark Lodge in Riverside and Glen Oaks Resort Adobe Motor Lodge. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

A gathering space at the Haley Hotel in Santa Barbara.

A gathering house on the Haley Lodge in Santa Barbara.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Instances)

A view of an outdoor space connected to a room at the Pearl Hotel in San Diego

A view of an out of doors house related to a room on the Pearl Lodge.

(Megan Morello / For The Instances)

A detail of a bedroom door at the Mojave Sands Motel.

A element of a bed room door on the Mojave Sands Motel. (David Fouts / For The Instances)

Two robes hang in a room at the Surfrider Malibu.

Two robes dangle in a room on the Surfrider Malibu. (Al Seib / For The Instances)

Happy guests at restaurant-bar Ponyboy at the Pearl Hotel in San Diego.

Completely satisfied visitors at restaurant-bar Ponyboy on the Pearl Lodge in San Diego.

(Megan Morello / For The Instances)

Cocktails served at the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs.

Cocktails served on the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs. (David Fouts / For The Instances)

A view of cocktails served at Ponyboy at the Pearl Hotel in San Diego.

The cocktails at Ponyboy on the Pearl Lodge in San Diego. (Megan Morello / For The Instances)

A guest's dog wanders near the pool area of the Pearl in San Diego.

A visitor’s canine wanders close to the pool space of the Pearl in San Diego. (Megan Morello / For The Instances)

A rabbit hops away at the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree.

A rabbit hops away on the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree. (David Fouts / For The Instances)

The outdoor shower at the Skyview Motel.

The out of doors bathe on the Skyview Motel. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Instances)

A wooden outdoor patio chair at the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree.

A wood out of doors patio chair on the Mojave Sands Motel in Joshua Tree. (David Fouts / For The Instances)

The Surfrider Malibu is located across from the Malibu Pier on Pacific Coast Highway.

The Surfrider Malibu is situated throughout Pacific Coast Freeway from the Malibu Pier and Surfrider Seaside, well-known for its browsing, and is near the Santa Monica Mountains Nationwide Recreation Space.

(Al Seib / For The Instances)

A view of the pool from inside the property at the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs.

A view of the pool from contained in the property on the Trixie Motel in Palm Springs.

(David Fouts / For The Instances)

The pool at the Skyview Motel is seen through a window at the Norman restaurant.

The pool on the Skyview Motel is seen by way of a window on the Norman restaurant.

(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Instances)

Pool-side textures on the grounds of the Pearl Hotel.

Pool-side textures on the grounds of the Pearl Lodge. (Megan Morello / For The Instances)

The pool steps at the Trixie Motel.

The pool steps on the Trixie Motel. (David Fouts / For The Instances)

The cactus garden at the Trixie Motel.

The cactus backyard on the Trixie Motel.

(David Fouts / For The Instances)

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