Lee’s Motel

Joseph Earl Lee, a World War Two Navy veteran who served as a builder and enjoyed working with his hands, created and built Lee’s Motel as a much needed respite for people of color traveling from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia to Panama City Beach. Lee’s Motel opened on July 1, 1967, with seven rooms, expanded to nineteen rooms, and remained in operation for over forty years. The hotel was frequented by locals and visitors, including celebrities such as James Brown during the Chitlin' Circuit. It was a safe haven for people of color and a direct connection to the many entertainment establishments along Cove Boulevard. In September 2016, the Panama City CRA approved the purchase of Lee’s Motel, located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, former Cove Boulevard.

Panama City, Florida · United States