The Beginnings...
A love of Mid-Century Motels
We are passionate about celebrating the charm of “Mom and Pop,” independent, and historic hotels and motels across the country—hidden gems often lovingly preserved or restored to offer fabulous and affordable lodging. During our travels, we discovered an overlooked piece of Mid-Century Preservation: the Mid-Century Motels (long before Schitt’s Creek made them trendy!).
These unique motels rarely get the promotion they deserve due to limited advertising budgets, leaving weary travelers unaware of their retro allure. That’s why in 2013 we launched Mid-Century Motels on Mid-Century Style, featuring articles and reviews to spotlight these treasures. Fast forward to 2023, and we’ve reimagined our mission as RetroRoadtrip—expanding to include all our favorite cool retro places to stay.
About us
Mary-Frances O’Dea is a Mid-Century enthusiast, accomplished web developer, devoted mom, and skilled fiber artist. With her work featured in national publications and over two decades of blogging experience since 2004, she brings a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise to every project. As the founder of the successful website development business Apricity Marketing (www.apricitymarketing.com), she specializes in creating innovative and effective digital solutions that help businesses thrive..
Be sure to check out
Mid-Century Style and This Mod Life
In 2005, Meanwhile Back at the Ranch began as a blog documenting our renovation of a 1950s blonde brick ranch in Denver, Colorado. Back then, information on mid-century homes was scarce, so we aimed to share what we learned with fellow enthusiasts. While many of our early posts feature our house, family, and renovation challenges, we’ve kept the most useful content—especially tips on remodeling and home improvement—on the site. Explore the archives and discover a wealth of mid-century inspiration at www.midcenturystyle.net.
Our Etsy Store and Bookstore needed a new home and we still have our podcast – “This Mod Life” on our wish list, so watch for it – maybe I’ll get enough time and work on it soon!
