Across the Midwest, retro motels have become more than just places to sleep, they have become destinations rooted in nostalgia, design, and meaningful travel experiences.
Across the country, travelers are rediscovering the magic of classic roadside motels. Nostalgic architecture, vintage-inspired design, walkable small-town locations, and thoughtfully restored spaces are drawing travelers away from cookie-cutter hotel chains and toward more meaningful travel experiences. Throughout the region, travelers are increasingly searching for the Best Retro Motels in the Midwest, places that combine timeless charm with elevated hospitality.
That is why it was such an incredible honor for Spruce & Shore Motel to recently be featured by Midwest Living as one of the Best Retro Motels in the Midwest in their feature highlighting standout retro and midcentury motels across the region.
For the team behind Spruce & Shore Motel, the recognition represents more than simply being included on a national list. It reflects a growing movement in hospitality — one centered around intentional travel, independent boutique motels, and preserving the nostalgic spirit of classic Midwest road trips.
In recent years, boutique motels have experienced a major resurgence across the Midwest and beyond. Travelers are actively seeking out accommodations with personality, history, and design that feels connected to the destination itself.
The Best Retro Motels in the Midwest are no longer just places to spend the night. They have become destinations in their own right.
Guests today want experiences that feel authentic. They want slower mornings, outdoor gathering spaces, memorable design, and accommodations that feel unique rather than interchangeable. Retro motels naturally deliver that kind of experience because they are rooted in nostalgia and community.
Across the Midwest, travelers are rediscovering the joy of the classic roadside motel — but now with elevated amenities, carefully curated interiors, and modern comforts woven into the experience.
That philosophy is exactly what inspired the vision behind Spruce & Shore Motel.
Originally built in the 1950s, Spruce & Shore Motel has long been part of the fabric of Fish Creek and Door County tourism.
Like many classic motels throughout the Midwest, the property carried decades of memories within its walls. Families had stayed there during summer vacations, weekend getaways, and annual trips to Door County for generations.
When the property was reimagined by the owners of The Refresh Collection, the goal was never to erase that history.
Instead, the vision was to thoughtfully preserve the nostalgic roadside motel atmosphere while creating a more elevated and intentional guest experience worthy of being recognized among the Best Retro Motels in the Midwest.
The motel’s design was inspired heavily by the surrounding landscapes of Door County and Peninsula State Park. Soft earthy tones, natural textures, warm woods, and calming interiors were intentionally selected to create a sense of relaxation and connection to the outdoors.
Every design decision was made with the guest experience in mind.
The result is a boutique motel experience that feels timeless, peaceful, and deeply connected to Door County itself.
Today, Spruce & Shore Motel blends nostalgic roadside motel charm with elevated modern amenities designed for today’s traveler.
Guests staying at the property can enjoy:
Thoughtfully designed boutique motel rooms
Relaxed, nature-inspired interiors
Walkable access to downtown Fish Creek
Peaceful outdoor gathering spaces
Patio areas with fire pits
Dry sauna amenities for guests
Convenient self-check-in technology
A quiet boutique atmosphere rooted in relaxation and simplicity
This combination of nostalgic design and elevated comfort is exactly why more travelers are searching for the Best Retro Motels in the Midwest rather than traditional hotel experiences.
Spruce & Shore Motel was intentionally designed to encourage guests to slow down.
Mornings begin with coffee outside surrounded by towering trees and fresh Door County air. Days are spent exploring beaches, hiking Peninsula State Park, visiting local shops, or driving along the shoreline. Evenings often end gathered around the fire pit after a sunset in Fish Creek.
That slower, more intentional style of travel is becoming increasingly valuable to travelers across the Midwest.
The recent Midwest Living feature about the Best Retro Motels in the Midwest celebrates properties throughout the region that are preserving classic roadside Americana while creating elevated boutique experiences for modern travelers.
Being included on that list is incredibly meaningful for Spruce & Shore Motel because Midwest Living has long celebrated the destinations, architecture, culture, and hidden gems that make Midwestern travel so unique.
The recognition reflects not only the design and atmosphere of Spruce & Shore Motel itself, but also the broader revival happening within independent hospitality throughout the Midwest.
Travelers are increasingly prioritizing places that feel memorable and personal rather than corporate and transactional. The Best Retro Motels in the Midwest succeed because they create experiences guests remember long after their trip ends.
At Spruce & Shore Motel, the focus has always been on creating exactly that type of experience.
Door County has always been one of the Midwest’s most iconic road trip destinations. For generations, travelers have made the drive north to experience waterfront towns, fish boils, cherry orchards, beaches, scenic drives, and state parks.
That nostalgic road trip culture naturally aligns with the growing popularity of the Best Retro Motels in the Midwest.
Spruce & Shore Motel sits in the heart of Fish Creek, placing guests within walking distance of many of Door County’s most beloved experiences.
Guests can easily explore:
Rather than feeling disconnected from the destination, the motel experience itself becomes part of the Door County trip.
That sense of place is one of the defining characteristics shared by many of the Best Retro Motels in the Midwest.
There is a reason retro motels are experiencing such a strong resurgence right now.
Travelers are craving authenticity.
They want places with character and history. They want accommodations that feel personal and thoughtfully designed. They want outdoor spaces where they can gather with friends and family after long days exploring. They want memorable experiences rather than generic stays.
The Best Retro Motels in the Midwest deliver exactly that.
They combine nostalgia with comfort. They celebrate local communities. They preserve the spirit of classic American road trips while offering modern hospitality experiences travelers truly enjoy.
Spruce & Shore Motel is proud to be part of that movement.
As another busy Door County season approaches, the recognition from Midwest Living serves as both an incredible honor and a reminder of why Spruce & Shore Motel was created in the first place.
The goal was never simply to renovate an old motel.
The goal was to create a place where guests could slow down, reconnect, and experience Door County in a more intentional way.
Being recognized among the Best Retro Motels in the Midwest confirms that travelers are actively searching for those kinds of experiences.
The team behind Spruce & Shore Motel remains deeply grateful to every guest who has stayed at the property, supported the journey, and helped make the motel part of their Door County traditions.
As more travelers continue searching for the Best Retro Motels in the Midwest, Spruce & Shore Motel hopes to remain a place where nostalgia, relaxation, and modern boutique hospitality come together in the heart of Door County.
