Roadside Motels Had Their Heyday Until The Freeway Ruined Things; They Are Featured In Chattanooga In Old Photos

Roadside motels run by Mom and Pop had their heyday in the early days of motor travel up until the 1950s and 1960s. Then the freeways came along and suddenly their traffic was virtually gone.

A long list of the roadside motels that once thrived in and around Chattanooga are featured in the new book Chattanooga in Old Photos, sponsored by Chattanoogan.com.

Some of those pictured are still around today, though very few still have roadside paying guests. Some, like Lockmiller's in Lookout Valley, have been converted for long-term guests.

The new book includes almost 300 pages. It features hundreds of scenes from downtown, local landmarks, rivers and streams, parades, medical, banks, churches, entertainment, hotels, motels and apartments, restaurants, parks and cemeteries and auto and livery.

The new soft-cover book is now available at Zarzours Restaurant on the Southside.

The limited edition of 800 copies is printed by College Press of Collegedale.

It is the fourth book in the collection called the Chattanooga Photo Books made possible by Chattanoogan.com.

The others are The Remarkable Stokes Collection, Railroads in and Around Chattanooga and Paul Hiener's Historic Chattanooga.

A drawing is going on for Zarzour's diners with the winner getting copies of all four of the Chattanooga Photo books.

Zarzour's is on Rossville Avenue behind the Fire Hall #1 on Main Street. Other books in the Chattanooga Photo Series can be purchased there from Shannon Fuller. 

Cost for each of the books is $35, which includes the sales tax.  Those who want the books mailed to them can send $40 to John Wilson, PO Box 2331, Chattanooga, Tn., 37409.

Please make checks out to John Wilson - not to Chattanoogan.com.