Speaking of Chicago airports, some of my best memories of driving to the airport occurred even before we arrived.
I’m talking about driving past all those airport hotels, which to my young eyes seemed so grand and expensive. We even passed these places on the drive to my grandparents’ house . Interstate 90 ran past O’Hare, past the hotels, and then on to my mom’s parents’ home.
The Sheraton O’Hare was one such hotel. This postcard seems very 70s with the faux Tudor architecture, the formal diners, and nightclub singer.
While the road to O’Hare teemed with upscale hotels like the Sheraton, Ramada Inn, and the famed Marriott (for its tiki bar, of course), the one leading to Midway was lined with motels (until last decade when a cluster of budget hotels popped up just south of the airport).
My favorite of the Midway motels was the Tangiers Motel on Archer Avenue. It was like downtown Vegas meets South Side Chicago. Unfortunately, the only photos I found of this place were copyrighted, so to see an image of its awesome sign, click on this link. If anyone has a photo of this former motel, I’d gladly kowtow eight times for a link.
Postscript: I was in the area over the weekend and drove by the motel that used to house the Tangiers. The old sign is gone, the building painted, and the new Carlton Inn decidedly bland. Oh, for the days of old.
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