August 2, 2016: The “No Vacancy” neon on the right side of the sign for the Big 12 Motel in Broken Bow, Nebraska, is as unfashionable as references to the Big 12 in Nebraska.
From the “I noticed this and wondered if anyone else did” department: ” ‘No Vacancy’ signs are vanishing from America’s highways” (Bloomberg)
What about the freewheeling road trippers who don’t book days in advance and simply follow their wanderlust? [YO. -Ed.] Even that type of traveler can now use smartphone apps, or simply Google lodging options in the next town down the highway and call ahead to check on availability, rendering the “(No) Vacancy” sign somewhat moot.
So it’s also from the Department of Smart Phones Ruining Everything. Remaining unsolved, though, is “what if there aren’t lodging options in the next town down the highway?” which is how you find yourself in middle-of-nowhere Massachusetts late at night (Shrine Bowl, baseball tournament, dog show, Bible conference, in that order).
Many of my trips take me to places where the only hotel in town is a Super 8, and I have used online bookers (most notably, when I paid more than usual to get one of the last two dozen hotel rooms in Baton Rouge). I’m disappointed that this part of transportation history is going away, but encouraged by those who would try to keep it alive.