The Trans-Canada Highway opened in 1962, running through the northern parts of Calgary. Along this highway, numerous motels began to emerge. This area with motels was unofficially called Motel Village. The district gained a rather poor reputation, but some of the motels managed to survive into the 21st century, though they underwent many renovations and updates. Learn more below at calgary1.one.
The Importance of 16th Avenue North
While driving along the Trans-Canada Highway, you can still spot remnants of the past, especially on the 26.5-kilometer stretch of 16th Avenue N, which was once Calgary’s most important thoroughfare. This major highway, with 4-6 lanes at its ends, connects Calgary to Banff and Medicine Hat.
This route became a key landmark for the location of motels and was also the gateway to the city’s first campus – the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). For a time, the road was also the gateway to the city’s first public airport, the Renfrew District Airport, built in 1929. The airport, known as the Calgary Municipal Airport or Stanley Jones Airport, was the first in Canada to install runway lights for easier landings at dusk. It also housed air mail services and served as a training site for the Canadian Air Force during World War II. Only the Rutledge hangar (731 13th Ave NE) remains from this period.
In addition to small retail stores and restaurants, 16th Avenue N led to Calgary’s first shopping mall, the North Hill Center, which opened in 1958. It was the largest shopping center in Western Canada at the time, with about 30 stores and services.
The iconic Peters’ Drive-In hamburger joint also marks 16th Avenue N’s automotive history. The establishment was created so hungry motorists could recharge with delicious burgers and milkshakes. Gus Peters made his first milkshake here in 1962 and never anticipated it would become so popular. One hot day, 4,000 milkshakes were sold.
Motel Village
When the Trans-Canada Highway was built, the triangular plot of land between 16th Avenue N, Crouchchild Trail, and Banff Trail became known as Motel Village. This area was informally named Motel Village, becoming a hub of low-rise motels, office buildings, and restaurants.
Located just a few minutes’ walk from the University of Calgary, the Foothills Medical Centre, and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology campus, Motel Village became a prominent feature of the city.
Iconic Lost Motels
Once along the Trans-Canada Highway, Calgary was home to large motels like Mount Eisenhower, Travel Lodge, and Cavalier. The latter featured 50 modern rooms for the time, equipped with TVs and telephones, and had a large heated pool. The Cavalier’s location near the North Hill shopping center made it particularly convenient.
- Mount Eisenhower
- Travel Lodge
- Cavalier
Highlander Motel, located on 17th St. NW, opened on January 27, 1961. In 1999, the motel joined the Days Inn chain and operated until January 31, 2004, when it was demolished to make way for a Home Depot store.
On 4th Ave, the popular Caravan Motel was located, near the Steak and Rib House. It marketed itself as the best motel in downtown Calgary. Caravan had 89 ultra-modern rooms with air conditioning, thermostats, TVs, Wi-Fi, and radios.
Another popular motel was Bow River, located on 24th St. NW, also known as Crouchchild Trail, then the edge of the city. Crouchchild Trail was a quiet dirt road with no sidewalks, lined with small businesses and houses.
Over time, the Motel Village district became a hotspot for criminal activity. Two notorious murders occurred there. The Savory Lodge, a 35-room motel, gained infamy for drug trafficking, murders, prostitution, car theft, fraud, and frequent assaults. In 2004, 29-year-old Jennifer Renn was tortured and murdered there. In 2003, within four months, three cases of drug abuse were reported, with five people arrested and 22 charges filed. Over the last five years, police and emergency services received 1,600 calls from the motel.
Savory Lodge operated for decades under various owners and names. A police investigation revealed that one of the previous owners had illegally entered Canada in 2006 using the identity of a deceased British citizen to obtain a business license. Alberta Health Services found mouse droppings, mold, and blood on the walls, floors, and bedding. In one room, the ceiling had collapsed due to flooding, and in others, there was exposed wiring. The motel was demolished in 2011. In 2017, another notorious motel, Thriftlodge, was demolished.
Preserved Motels
In the 21st century, budget motels were replaced by higher-end hotels, though many motels have been preserved, and some have been updated.
A typical example of a 20th-century Motel Village motel is Banff Trail, which still stands. On September 14, 2015, the body of 41-year-old Kristian Jovanovich was found in a room at the motel. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Among the preserved and updated motels along the Trans-Canada Highway in the Montgomery area are Traveller’s Inn, Days Inn, Red Carpet Inn & Suites, and Quality Inn (Aloft).
The Traveller’s Inn was built in 1974 and renovated in 2005. The motel offers free Wi-Fi, free private parking, and rooms equipped with TVs and private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries and a hairdryer.
The Days Inn, located on 16th Ave NW, opened in 1986 and was upgraded to a hotel in 2012. The hotel allows pets and offers 134 rooms, each with air conditioning and Wi-Fi. For entertainment, cable TV and game consoles are available. Additional amenities include a business desk, free newspapers, and daily cleaning services.
Red Carpet Inn & Suites, converted from a motel, offers free Wi-Fi and free private parking. Rooms are equipped with TVs and private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries and a hairdryer.
The Quality Inn motel, built in 1973, had many questionable clients who frequently paid with counterfeit bills. It became a stylish boutique hotel, Aloft, in 2014.
Aloft offers easy access to McMahon Stadium, the University of Calgary, Foothills Hospital, and the Jubilee Auditorium. Hotel amenities include an on-site bar, buffet, cozy spa, 24-hour fitness center, and heated indoor pool. Aloft, owned by University Hotels Ltd., underwent a multi-million-dollar transformation before its conversion. The hotel features an urban design aesthetic with 143 stylish rooms, 4,000 square feet of meeting space, and a vibrant social atmosphere.
Among the preserved and updated motels near McMahon Stadium are Super 8, Travelodge, EconoLodge, Best Western, Hampton, and Ramada.