The first iteration of the Colonnade Motel was a tourist camp, known as Beebe's Tourist and Trailer Park. It was established in 1926 by Harry Beebe. This included small cabins, tent sites, and cooking facilities. Between 1945 and 1950, his daughter and son-in-law established Charnock's Motel on the site, and the two businesses operated in conjunction with one another. By 1960, the motel was purchased by Pauline and Millard Bean, who opened The Colonnade Motel. In advertisements from the 1970s, the business boasted "22 modern fireproof units," air conditioning, color TV, wall-to-wall carpeting, and dial telephones. The building is an example of a 1950s L-shaped "motor inn" or motel. Typical of the motels of the 1950s, The Colonnade was constructed near the intersection of two major routes, the I-38 and Alt. 39 highways. The building features an eye-catching folded plate roof awning supported by simple posts as well as a classic, late 1950s neon sign to draw in motoring tourists.