1925: The Boulevard of Dreams

Construction on Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard begins.

1940s: Biscayne Boom

Buildings begin popping up along Biscayne Boulevard, the main road into Miami.

1945: Modern in Miami

MiMo (Miami Modern), a modernist style of architecture with tropical twists, takes off.

1950s: Motor Hotels

People moved to the suburbs and bought cars. More cars meant more travel and the need for motels.

1953: Viva La Vagabond

The Vagabond Motel, designed by Robert Swartburg, opens on Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard.

Late 1960s: Boom to Bust

The Interstate System diverts travelers away from Biscayne Boulevard, and its motels begin to decline.

1973: Out of Gas

OAPEC puts an oil embargo on the United States, causing road trips to become less popular.

1980s: Risky Business

Biscayne Boulevard’s original motels decline and are used for hourly rendezvous instead of family vacations.

1990s–2000s: Vagabond Vacancy

the Vagabond’s neon dims, with its pool drained and courtyard overgrown.

2012: Retro Renaissance

Real estate developer Avra Jain decides to revamp the Vagabond, soon becoming a chic boutique hotel.

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For a deeper look into Florida’s retro motel revival, click here.

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