Ferndale’s 8-Wood Motel Closed Due to Alleged ‘Activities’
The former 8-Wood Motel in Ferndale had one of the simplest, yet coolest, road signs that would become one of the most recognizable on the strip.
Located near the corner of 8 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue (hence the name "8-Wood"), the 8-Wood was built during the post-war roadside boom of the late 1940s and 1950s.
The colorful sign greeted travelers and commuters every day for approximately 60 years, until all of a sudden, the sign was gone.
In 2016, Ferndale revoked 8-Wood's business license due to alleged and rumored drug trafficking. That, on top of a tragic heroin overdose brought about the close of the 8-Wood Motel.
After an agreement was settled between the motel and the city, it could still operate but under court supervision. Eventually, around 2022-23, the iconic 8-Wood sign was removed and another sporting the “Lotus Inn” was raised.
It remains the "Lotus" to this day.
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