When I told Kate that I wanted to stop in Niagara Falls on the way home from the Toronto Marathon, her response was less than enthusiastic. She had visited the Falls as a child and found the whole thing a touristy mess. However once I explained to her that it wasn’t the Falls that I was interested in, but the old motel signs on Niagara Falls Boulevard, she totally understood. She’s spent enough time with me and my camera to know exactly which sign, storefront, car, or whatever I’m interested in. I had done some research beforehand and knew what signs I wanted to photograph, but it was kind of scary that she picked out each sign as we drove by it.
Monday afternoon was overcast with a boring, white sky but I didn’t let that keep me from stopping several times with the Hasselblad. I had mixed rolls of Kodak Portra 400 and Fuji Provia 100 film in my bag, so the following pictures are either Portra negative or Provia slide film. I do plan on going back in better weather, because I think that these gorgeous old signs deserve a better representation. I also think there is more to Niagara Falls than old signs; the town has played an important roll in the US tourism industry and it’s a bit disconcerting to see so many boarded up stores and empty parking lots.
Bel Aire Motel Sign , Niagara Falls, Fuji Provia 100
Bit O Paris Motel Sign, Niagara Falls, Kodak Portra 400
Bit O Paris Motel Sign Close Up, Niagara Falls, Kodak Portra 400
Wash Well Laundry, Niagara Falls, Kodak Portra 400
Twist O the Mist, Niagara Falls, Kodak Portra 400
De-Dee’s Dairy, Niagara Falls, Kodak Portra 400
Maps Sign at Abandoned Gas Station, Niagara Falls, Kodak Portra 400
Mailboxes, Niagara Falls, Fuji Provia 100
Moonlite Motel Sign, Niagara Falls, Kodak Portra 400
Caravan Motel Sign, Niagara Falls, Fuji Provia 100
One Comment
Is this Niagara Falls on the U.S side? The only good thing about Niagara Falls on the Canadian sign are the falls themselves. And wine country
I do like the retro feel of these signs though. I bet most of these motels were booked up back in the day.