Rochester Motor Lodge

Rochester Motor Lodge: A True Mid-Century Roadside Icon

Celebrate the era of classic American road trips with our newest shirt design featuring the Rochester Motor Lodge—a cherished piece of local history that filled a vital gap in the community.

Opened in February 1959 by proprietor Harold H. Brown, the Lodge was located on the west side of South Rochester Road, just south of Hamlin Road. It was one of the first new lodging establishments to open in the area since the Great Depression, replacing the town's earlier hotels.

The Motor Lodge featured a brand-new, architecturally-designed 12-unit building, courtesy of Mount Clemens architect Elmer Parke, embodying the clean, modern aesthetic of the time. For many, the Lodge is best remembered for its outdoor swimming pool, which offered summertime memberships to local families in the early 1960s, creating lasting memories for a generation of Rochester residents.

A true local landmark for nearly four decades, the Rochester Motor Lodge closed its doors around 1998, with the property eventually purchased to become the site of a modern Walgreens. This design pays tribute to the days of travel, sun, and small-town charm.