Vintage Motels: America’s Most Iconic Motels, Beautifully Restored by Ellie Seymour (Luster, 2025)

Take a nostalgic road trip through America’s golden age of travel with Vintage Motels, a richly photographed celebration of 40 mid-century motels revived for a new generation. Written by Ellie Seymour and published by Luster, the book captures the enduring allure of these roadside icons, places where design, history, and hospitality meet with newfound purpose.

Among its standout chapters is a full feature on Silver Sands Motel & Beach Bungalows in Greenport, New York, an award-winning 1950s waterfront retreat reimagined by Alexander and Anna Perros. Set on 45 acres along Long Island’s North Fork, Silver Sands honors its mid-century roots while leading the way as one of only two fully electric, fossil-free hotels in the United States. Its restoration, in collaboration with Leroy Street Studio and Hollander Design, preserves original architecture and materials while introducing native plantings, contemporary design, and a deep respect for the surrounding ecology.

From California’s legendary Madonna Inn to Palm Springs’ Trixie Motel and Nashville’s The Dive, Vintage Motels travels coast to coast to uncover how these classic stays have been thoughtfully transformed into vibrant boutique destinations. With over 200 color photographs and intimate storytelling, Seymour celebrates the revival of the American motel as both a design movement and a love letter to the open road.