City Closes Historic Moon Winx Lodge For Code Violations

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa City Hall officials have confirmed to Patch that the historic Moon Winx Lodge on University Boulevard has been closed due to code violations.

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Located at 3410 University Boulevard, the motel — particularly its iconic crescent moon neon sign — has been a staple of Tuscaloosa pop culture, even going on to inspire the branding for Druid City Brewing Co.

In total, 10 citations were issued Wednesday to the hotel's owner, including:

• Doing business without a license.
• Six citations for extended stay where guests stay longer than 30 days
• Three citations for hotel records relating to the guest registry.

City of Tuscaloosa Executive Director of Strategic Communication Richard Rush told Patch that a multi-department inspection was conducted at the motel on Wednesday, which resulted in the health department immediately shutting it down.

This was due to multiple violations, he said, and was the same process used by the city to close the former Motel 6 and Masters Inn on McFarland Boulevard.

While the closure is temporary until the violations are addressed, Rush mentioned that the owner had mentioned plans to sell the 28-room motel.

Still, there are individuals who use the motel as a permanent residences and the Tuscaloosa Police Department confirmed that they have been offered relocation services.

The motel's origins can be traced back to the 1920s when it was first opened as the Moon Winx Motor Court, with the sign — designed by Pickens County artist Glenn House — being installed sometime in the late 1950s.

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