Built along the main highway out of town in 1938 and restored to its former glory in the mid-Nineties, the Austin Motel deserves an Austin salute for hundreds of reasons. To name just a few: It boasts both an old-style marquee advertising that it's been "Corporate Free" since 1938 and a gorgeous Todd Sanders neon sign; the coffee shop is the delectable El Sol y La Luna cafe; it's the motel of choice for visiting musicians during SXSW; and most importantly, the renovations done here by owner Dottye Dean helped spark the renaissance of several blocks of South Congress Avenue. What's not to love?
