Sixty dollars a night. That’s what a room at the first Motel 6 cost in 1962. Can you imagine?
This is Motel 6 Salt Lake City. Right here. It wasn’t always this way. In fact this building wasn’t even here then. The very first Motel 6 opened far away in Santa Barbara California in 1962. Two builders William Becker and Paul Greene had a vision. Cheap rooms for travelers. Six dollars a night. That was their promise.
Their business plan was simple. Keep costs low. Offer basic rooms. The first Motel 6 didn’t even have a restaurant. Think about that. A motel without a restaurant. Today that seems unthinkable. It worked though. People loved the low prices. Motel 6 quickly became a success.
Three years later in 1965 Motel 6 expanded. Their 15th location opened right here in Salt Lake City. It wasn’t this building of course. The original Motel 6 in Salt Lake City was downtown. It was a huge step. The chain was moving beyond California. Expansion was quick. By 1966 they had 25 locations.
The 1970s saw Motel 6 spread east. They even opened a huge location in Las Vegas. By 1980 they had 300 motels across the country. The simple no-frills model was a hit. But times changed. Motel 6 was acquired and sold several times. Amenities like phones and color TVs were added.
Competition increased. Other budget hotels appeared. But Motel 6 persevered. They even bought out other chains. They updated their rooms. They added things like better security. They even went international opening a Motel 6 in Canada.
In more recent times Motel 6 was involved in some legal controversies. This led to millions in settlements. But despite these challenges Motel 6 remains a familiar sight on the American road. It’s still a place where travelers can find a simple affordable place to stay. That promise of a cheap room? It’s still there. That original vision lives on. Even if the price is a bit higher than six dollars now.