The Holiday Motel was the first motel in Door County.  Built in the Cubist Modern (or Modern International) design, it opened its doors on Saturday, May 31, 1952.  The motel was designed and owned by William Paul, owner of the local supper club the Nautical Inn, and his business partner Myron Krueger.  According to newspaper reports of the time, the two emphasized the "modern" detail and amenities when listing such items as a ventilated phone booth just for the business traveler's calling convenience, the fire-proof and chip-proof Simmons furnishings, the glass-block windows, photo-mirrors, tile bathrooms, theatre-lit hallways and stairs, and white stucco and cement block construction - the newest methods of the day.  

The builder used the post Motor Court style popular at a time in American travel history when guest room views onto the on-site private parking was a major attraction to travelers.  In the early part of the twentieth century, there were few choices for travelers - most stayed at camp ground, cottage courts, or tourist homes.  Business was good, and a year later, the Holiday Diner was added to serve a full breakfast menu.  

Interestingly, the Holiday Inn chain (unaffiliated with the Holiday Motel) was launched only three months later in Memphis with the promise of properties that were standardized, clean, predictable, family-friendly, and readily accessible to road travelers.  Named jokingly by its architect in reference to the popular Bing Crosby movie, there were 50 Holiday Inns across the country by 1958.  


OUR ICONIC NEON SIGN



Our sign is the motel's original sign.  Though the Sturgeon Bay's sign code typically does not allow neon, our sign was grandfathered in for its historic relevance.  The metal box neon sign was perfected during the 1950s and became the standard in roadside business advertising until the 1960s.  This period of dynamic, roadside flamboyance mirrored the exuberance of the postwar era.  Metal box signs were constructed with brightly-colored porcelain-enameled panels trimmed in neon tubing and often animated with moving parts for vivid, hard to ignore displays day or night.  

 The Holiday Motel was purchased in May 2007 by Holiday Motel Management, LLC, a group of musicians and music enthusiasts.  This group came together while working on the Steel Bridge Songfest (SBSF), a benefit to raise money and awareness for the preservation of the historic Michigan Street Bridge.  The motel sits at the bridge's approach.  

Singer/songwriter pat mAcdonald (co-founder of SBSF) organized a songwriting workshop in 2006 called The Construction Zone, which took place for the first time in conjunction with that year's festival.  The Holiday Motel (owned and operated at that time by fellow "bridge lovers" Pete and Marilyn DeVaney) was used as headquarters for the workshop.  Twenty-five songwriters were invited to stay at the motel and write songs in collaboration.  A recording studio was installed in one of the rooms, and some 60 original songs were written and recorded at the motel.  One of the current owners, Anna Sacks, was among those songwriters.  She was so inspired by the event, she commented to pat that she wished they could just buy a motel and make the workshop available year-round.  Pat pointed out that the Holiday Motel was for sale.  

Friends began to tell friends, and soon a collection of like-minded people banded together to buy the motel.  One of the owners is noted Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jackson Browne, who has appeared for many years at the Steel Bridge Songfest.  

The second Construction Zone was held at the Holiday Motel from June 7th-16th, 2007, and another 60-some songs were composed and recorded.  A compilation CD from the first year's workshop was issued and debuted at the festival.  Subsequent workshops were scheduled for fall and winter 2007, but that was not to be.  

An electrical fire on August 5, 2007, did extensive damage to the motel and forced it to close for repairs.  Seeming initially like a staggering blow to the fledgling venture, the blaze and subsequent reconstruction required that improvements originally planned for a phased development be made in an accelerated time frame.  The owners also opted to take the opportunity to invest in additional upgrades.  The renovation proceeded with three goals in mind:

• Going green
• Preserving the historic integrity and classic 50s decor of the building
• Enhancing the motel's recording capabilities

The fire turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  Now fully renovated, the motel features new wiring, enabling digital connection to the recording studio from each guest room, brand new roof trusses, additional insulation between floors, sound treated rooms (we used a green, recycled product), a new ultra-efficient HVAC heating and cooling system for the guest rooms and public spaces, lobby and reception area improvements, brand new carpeting and drapery, and more.  We were even able to clean and reinstall our original 1950s Simmons furniture, and restore much of our original tile.  

Christie Weber, president of Citizens for Our Bridge and co-founder of SBSF, is campaigning to get the motel listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  She also spearheaded the effort to get the motel LEED certifiable for the green efforts used in the remodeling.  Exciting new ideas are being conceived and implemented daily to further the motel's legacy of creative collaboration.

Local artists and some Construction Zone participants are contributing to the interior design.  Glass fixtures were donated by local artisans Popelka Trenchard Glass, and Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go's, a talented interior decorator and 1950s enthusiast, was first to get on board, and will one day design a featured guest room.  Several other custom-designed rooms are being planned for the future.