Colo in Story County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Colo Motel
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 18, 2026
1. Colo Motel Marker
Throughout most of the 1920s, Charlie Reed allowed travelers to pitch tents on open land at this site. Beginning in 1928, however, that camping space was filled by the Colo Cabin Camp, which was also known by the late 1940s as the Colo Motel, the sole name used after the mid-1950s. This was an early use in Iowa of the term "motel," a contraction of "motor hotel." Connoting "modern," this new word originated in California and quickly spread across the country after World War II.
The Colo Motel consisted of a main building and two smaller ones, each housing rental units arrayed under a single roof. This was the main building, containing eleven units arranged in an L-configuration -- five doubles built in 1946 and six singles added in 1947. In 1964, it was converted to an apartment building after the 1962 relocation of U.S. 30 brought reduced patronage, and it remains an apartment building today.
The blue and yellow neon-lit Colo Motel sign, installed in the late 1940s, has design features characteristic of much roadside signage of that era.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.
Location. 42° 1.359′ N,
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Regionally, this marker is in Greater Des Moines. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lincoln Highway (within shouting distance of this marker); Highway Grade Separation (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Colo Motel (within shouting distance of this marker); Colo Cabin Camp (within shouting distance of this marker); Jefferson Highway (within shouting distance of this marker); Niland's Cafe (within shouting distance of this marker); Service Station (within
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 18, 2026
2. Colo Motel Marker
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 18, 2026
3. Colo Motel Marker
An additional section of the building, with signage present
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 18, 2026
4. Colo Motel sign
Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 4, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
