#bonanza lodge

[vintagelasvegas]

Purple Sage Motel, 1920 Fremont St, Las Vegas - c. 1948

John Lawrence Love, owner of Las Vegas Motel, purchased the 1920 Fremont property and planned the motel before his death in an auto accident. His widow Vera Love built and opened Purple Sage circa 1948. Mr. Love’s other property on E Charleston Blvd and Lewis St east of Bruce St became the Lawrence Love Tract. Mrs. Love went on to operated her business Vera Love Realty from the 50s-80s.

Their original neon sign of Purple Sage was replaced later in the 50s. In 2014, owner Kamran Foulad merged Purple Sage and neighboring Bonanza Lodge Motel (1808 Fremont) into Sterling Gardens Motel.

Bonanza Lodge Motel (1808 Fremont), early 50s.

Hialeah Motel (1924 Fremont), Purple Sage, and Bonanza Lodge Motel in 2012, by Vegas Vernacular Project.

Sources: New Auto Court. Review-Journal, 5/7/45; John L. Love Killed Saturday In Accident. Review-Journal, 12/23/46; M. Henle. Vera Love has heart. Review-Journal, 9/1/85

[vintagelasvegas]

Bonanza Lodge Motel, 1808 Fremont St, photographed in 2009 by Steve Sobczuk. In 2014 the motel was merged with neighboring Purple Sage Motel and converted into Sterling Gardens.

[vintagelasvegas]

Bonanza Lodge, 1808 Fremont St, Las Vegas. Postcard, photo c. late 1950s.

[vintagelasvegas]

Bonanza Lodge - 1808 Fremont

The motel opened 1947, and closed in the early 2000s. The pylon “Motel” section of the sign was added in the 50s, later stripped of neon and repurposed when the motel reopened as Sterling Gardens.