Founded in 1962 in Santa Barbara, California, Motel 6 is synonymous with a great travel value. The first Motel 6 in Santa Barbara still leaves the light on today, but a lot has changed for the motel chain that pioneered the first real economy motel designed for the no-frills traveler. The original price of a night's stay at Motel 6 was just $6.00, and thus established the brand name for an American classic.