The most striking feature of Bluebird by Lark’s Spa City is its sunny atrium, with a number of casual seating groupings and tables for group hangouts. The entryway to the lodge has a distinctive retro wooden sign, which hides a cozy viewing deck above it. Then, it redid the rooms as purposefully minimalist-a serene retreat from the road trip and bustling town. Next, Lark crafted an airy communal atrium out of what used to be a decrepit swimming pool.

In Spa City’s case, the renovation started with painting the outside an eye-catching black.

Working with California design firm EDG, Lark had fun executing a new take on a classic midcentury motor lodge that manages to be both old-school Americana and site-specific, featuring local art and the books of authors who’ve penned bestsellers while in residence at yet another of Saratoga’s cultural gems: the Yaddo writer’s colony. For instance, this property - one of four revamped Bluebird by Lark motor lodges launching this year in Cape Cod, Stowe, and Hunter in the Catskills - had been a midtown Saratoga lodging eyesore that had long since fallen into disrepair, until it caught Lark’s eye. Spa City Motor Lodge opened in June 2021 and is the first in a new line of Bluebird by Lark motels, the New England–based boutique hotel company which specializes in adaptive reuse and recycling of prime properties. And more hotel companies have proved eager to do the big investment to revamp midcentury antiques into memorable travel experiences. Whether it’s a nostalgic hankering for free-spirited, simple travel, or a practical desire for exterior-corridor hotels in a COVID-conscious world, more travelers are checking them out. Roadside motels (or motor lodges) are having a moment. This upscale motel is an affordable option aimed straight at family and friend groups-road trippers looking for an in-town, stylish Saratoga experience without a huge price tag. The town has a range of luxury hotels and midcentury motels, but right in the middle is the brand-new Spa City Motor Lodge, a smartly updated take on the classic roadside lodging of yesteryear, well-situated on the mile-long Broadway Historic District. A mere 30 miles north of Albany on I-87, this historic town with its lively arts scene, classic architecture, spas, iconic racetrack, lush parks, and array of fine dining and drinking could keep you busy for days. If you’re in the mood to hit the road (and who isn’t these days?), the multifaceted town of Saratoga Springs is a great road trip pit stop-though once you stop there, you may find it hard to leave. Photos by Read McKendree / Courtesy of Spa City Motor Lodge Part of the Bluebird by Lark motel line, the renovated retreat is a must-stay during a day trip from the Hudson Valley.

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