Tuscaloosa landmark Moon Winx Lodge shut down over violations

Tuscaloosa landmark Moon Winx Lodge shut down over violations

Tuscaloosa’s iconic Moon Winx Lodge has been temporarily shut down after the landmark was cited for multiple health code violations.

The motel on University Boulevard East in Tuscaloosa, known for its recognizable neon sign erected in 1957, was doing business without a license, had guests that stayed longer than 30 days and cited for issues with its guest records, a city official told Patch in a story that ran Friday.

The Moon Winx Lodge was immediately shut down after an inspection was conducted Wednesday.

While the closure is temporary, the official noted that the motel’s owner is trying to find a buyer for the 28-room motel.

In 2016, owner Jay Patel told AL.com that he was looking to sell the motel’s iconic sign, noting that it breaks once a month and costs $300 each time to fix.

In 2015, AL.com asked readers to make a list of Alabama things they would miss the most if they were gone. The Moon Winx Lodge sign made that list.