History

The first part of Sjögestad Motel was built in 1954. The motel is thought to be one of Sweden’s first. It was built alongside the then main A road 1, which was an important route during this time. Back then there was also a petrol station here. The rooms were in the main building and the motel was open 24 hours a day.

The motel has been extended a couple of times over the years. In the beginning of the 1960s the long row of rooms were built to the north-west of the main building. These rooms had their own entrances and parking directly outside. The restaurant was built in 1965 off the main building to create an L-shape.

Even today the character of the motel is well preserved, both inside and outside, although the petrol station has closed down.

The motel is a listed building. Staffan Bengtsson and Göran Willis are the authors of a book called “Listed buildings along the way”. They wrote the following about Sjögestad Motel.

“Sjögestad Motel was built in 1954-55 and they claim to be Sweden’s oldest motel. Today the brochure boasts 27 modern rooms and sunbeds with built in stereos. The dining room is reminiscent of the 60s where themed paintings of roads & travel adorn one wall. The bar is vinyl-coated and to this day you can still drive your car and park right outside your room. The L-shaped building makes for interesting architecture. Calm location today, 500m from the E4 motorway.”

The motel is run by Family Halldan & Hemmingsson. The previous owners were brother and sister, Gun Thörnström and Per-Olov Gustavsson. They took over the business from their father who bought the motel in 1959.

Gallows hill
The so called gallows hill to the south of the area was notorious in its time for execution and is steeped in local history.

In 1833 the owner of Sålla gave permission that the area could be used to execute people.

In 1756 the wife of a farmer called Jönsson was executed, as well as the farmhand, as they had poisoned farmer Jönsson