Tinkerbell Motel Sign
Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee matriarch Lois Queen Farthing opened the Pink Motel in 1953. She wanted it pink because it would prevent the local laundry from mixing up its sheets with the other motels in town. The color spilled over onto its upholstery, tile, and matchbooks.
The appearance of Tinkerbell on the Pink Motel's neon sign seems odd, since the famous fairy is traditionally dressed in green, not pink. But Lois's 11-year-old daughter, Lyna, was a big Peter Pan fan (the Disney film had just come out), and wanted the Tinkerbell image.
Current Pink Motel manager Faye Ludlum ("Miss Faye") told us that the motel is still pink, although mostly in its exterior and bathroom tiles. "And people just love that sign," she said. "They line up to take pictures. We need to put a bucket out there and collect tips."