Lakeshore Motel Strip

Long gone now, replaced with waterfront condos, Lakeshore Ave West along the Humber Bay was known as the Motel strip. Popular from the late 1940's through the 1960's when the stretch of road was Hwy 2, the 1966 opening of the Gardiner Expressway was the start of the long decline of the area.

There were many Motor Inns around Toronto, and this stretch served the downtown core, and people coming to town for the CNE. But the neon signs and outdoor swimming pools couldn't compete with chain hotels.

You will notice a lot of these photos came from a wonderful collection of photos by Toronto Archivist and photographer Patrick Cummins on a walk he took on Wednesday, January 26, 1983.  
 

List of all subjects. You can also see all the historic photos for a given neighbourhood. We also have a list of all the photos arranged by date.

And you can also go up a level to see the other photos we've put under the category of hotels photos.

Historic photos of Lakeshore Motel Strip

1940		Rainbow Motel postcard - One mile west of Toronto on #2 Highway. 22 units of the finest tourist accommodations on the shores of Lake Ontario. 85 years ago - Humber Bay - 1940 Link to archive record - Map location
1954		Casa Loma Motel postcard showing original house by Lake Ontario 71 years ago - Humber Bay - 1954 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1961		Lakeshore motel strip - Rainbow Motel and the Dutch Sisters Hotel and Restaurant 64 years ago - Humber Bay - 1961 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1983		Concler Motel (formerly Chancellor Motel), 2125 Lakeshore Blvd W. along the old Lakeshore Motel strip 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Hillcrest Motel - now Water's Edge Condos, 2143 Lakeshore Blvd W. along the old Lakeshore Motel strip 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Universal Motor Hotel - welcome made of shrubs - 2077 Lakeshore Blvd W. 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Palace Motel - now Waterford Towers - 2083 Lakeshore Blvd West along the Lakeshore Motel strip 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Westpoint Motor Hotel and Restaurant, Elliot's Nest (no cover) and Saber Room - 2285 Lakeshore Blvd W. 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Sunshine Tourist Court, 2171 Lakeshore Blvd W. (next to the Rainbow Motel) 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Cumberland Motel - appeared in Degrassi Junior High - Season 1 Episode 9 - 'What A Night', 2139 Lakeshore Blvd W. 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Shady Beach Motel - formerly Newport Beach park, now Jean Augustine Park - looking down to Lake Ontario, 2115 Lakeshore Blvd W. 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Rainbow Motel, 2165 Lakeshore Blvd W. - part of the old Lake Shore Motel strip 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Casa Loma Motel, 2161 Lakeshore Blvd W along the Lakeshore Motel strip 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Palace Motel with distinctive clock sign, Palace Pier (North Tower - built 1978 in the background) 2083 Lakeshore Blvd W. along the old Lakeshore Motel strip 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Universal Motor Hotel - two white horses - 2077 Lakeshore Blvd W. 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Shore Breeze Motel - 1939 to 2009 - 2175 Lakeshore Blvd W. 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Eagle's Nest Motel, 2155 Lakeshore Blvd W. 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Shady Beach Motel office, 2115 Lakeshore Blvd W. 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Sunshine Motel, 2171 Lakeshore Blvd W. 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1983		Eagles Nest and Silver Moon motels, 2155 and 2157 Lakeshore Blvd W 42 years ago - Humber Bay - Wednesday, January 26, 1983 Max temp: -4.3°C - Min temp: -11.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1987		Silver Moon Motel, Casa Mendoza Inn, and the Rainbow motel along Lakeshore Blvd 38 years ago - Humber Bay - Monday, May 18, 1987 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
2003		Cruise motel (Flickr photo by jack44) 22 years ago - Humber Bay - 2003 Link to archive record - Map location
2005		North American Motel at night - demolished 2008 (by Jann on Flickr) 20 years ago - Humber Bay - Monday, August 8, 2005 Link to archive record - Map location
2006		Cruise motel from across the street (Flickr photo by highwaygirl67) 19 years ago - Humber Bay - Thursday, April 13, 2006 Link to archive record - Map location
2006		Hillcrest Motel - night time shot - in room coffee - seniors discount (by Jann on Flickr) 19 years ago - Humber Bay - 2006 Link to archive record - Map location
2006		Cruise motel (was the Palace motel) (Flickr photo by highwaygirl67) 19 years ago - Humber Bay - Thursday, April 13, 2006 Link to archive record - Map location
2007		Cruise motel - sun shines on the Cruise (Flickr photo by jack44) 18 years ago - Humber Bay - Saturday, May 26, 2007 Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location
2008		Hillcrest motel - partial remains - during demolition in 2008 (Flickr photo by n+s) 17 years ago - Humber Bay - Thursday, July 3, 2008 Link to archive record - Map location
2011		Beach motel - closed for business - 2183 Lakeshore Blvd W. 14 years ago - Humber Bay - Friday, October 21, 2011 Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: 0.0°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)