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Overview

This motel was in operation by the 1960s. At this time, it contained two primary elements: an octagonal restaurant located in the parking lot, and an L-shaped building containing guest rooms on three levels. The L-shaped portion had a flat roof, while the restaurant had an octagonal roof with cupola covered in composite shingles. The hotel contained 70 units and conference facilities that could accommodate 300. During its early years of operation, it called itself "The Polynesian Motel and Restaurant," but by 1971 was known as the "Polynesian Condominium Apartment Motel."

Building History

The Polynesian Motel was one the early resort motels built on either side of Ocean Shores Boulevard during the 1960s and after. By 2016, a string of over 15 seaside motels or apartment buildings stood to the north of the Polynesian Motel and Restaurant, between Ensign Avenue NW and State Highway 115.

In 2016, the restaurant at the Polynesian Motel was called Mariah's.

Building Notes

On the exterior, Polynesian-themed decorative elements were concentrated around the front porte cochere which had a roof reminiscent of Polynesian long houses. Motel walls featured uncoursed ashlar trim. Polynesian-themed restaurants, bars and motels became popilar after World War II, as many servicemen had had experience of the South Pacific during World War II, and, despite often horrific battleground conditions, recalled the region's warm climate, palm trees, tikis, and other elements fondly.

The motel operated near a golf course that hosted the annual Pat Boone Celebrity Golf Classic in the 1970s,

PCAD id: 20068