Unlocking Vintage Value
They once opened room doors, hung behind concierge desks, or jingled in the pockets of road-tripping guests. Now, vintage hotel keys—especially those from iconic destinations or long-gone resorts—are collector favorites. From art deco key fobs to room tags from haunted inns, here are 25 vintage hotel keys that are surprisingly valuable today.
Hotel Del Coronado Brass Key (San Diego, CA)
Estimated value: $75–$100
From one of California’s most iconic beachfront resorts, these heavy brass keys from the early 1900s are treasured by hotel and Hollywood history collectors.
My Inside Tour Historic Hotel Del Coronado San Diego California 🇺🇸, TravelingFrogman
The Plaza Hotel Room Key (New York, NY)
Estimated value: $100–$150
Keys from this luxury hotel near Central Park often feature the hotel's ornate logo and have been seen in movies like Home Alone 2.
20th Century Fox, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Motel 6 Acrylic Key Tag (1970s)
Estimated value: $50–$75
Though basic, these plastic key tags are pure Americana. Numbers printed in bold block fonts make them a fun and nostalgic collectible.
Terry Ross from Corpus Christi, Texas, United States, Wikimedia Commons
Caesars Palace Room Key (Las Vegas, NV)
Estimated value: $150–$200
Early brass or bronze keys from this legendary casino resort are rare—especially ones with Roman-style designs and original fobs.
Caesars Palace Las Vegas : An In Depth Look Inside, Details in Luxury
Waldorf Astoria Skeleton Key (Pre-1931)
Estimated value: $200–$250
Before it moved to Park Avenue, the original Waldorf had grand keys that now fetch high prices with collectors of New York memorabilia.
Inside the restoration of a luxury hotel icon: Waldorf Astoria New York | Hilton, Hilton
The Beverly Hills Hotel Pink Key Fob (1960s)
Estimated value: $125–$175
With its iconic pink color and palm tree motif, this key screams mid-century glamour. A favorite among design and Hollywood collectors.
THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL, Drone World
St. Regis Hotel Brass Tag Key (1920s)
Estimated value: $250–$300
Featuring elegant art deco lettering and polished brass tags, these keys feel luxurious and are increasingly rare.
ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Route 66 Motel Key (Various Cities)
Estimated value: $100–$200
Any motel key with a Route 66 tag—especially if the motel no longer exists—is prime nostalgia gold.
Stanley Hotel Skeleton Key (Estes Park, CO)
Estimated value: $300–$400
Famous as the inspiration for The Shining, authentic old keys from this haunted hotel are top collectibles for horror fans.
Hotel Chelsea Room Key (New York, NY)
Estimated value: $200–$350
Once home to artists and rock legends, Hotel Chelsea keys are sought after for their link to bohemian New York.
Inside NYC's famed Chelsea Hotel, CBS Sunday Morning
Ritz Paris Key Fob (1950s)
Estimated value: $400–$500
This luxury French hotel issued gorgeous enameled or monogrammed keys, now treasured by collectors of Parisian elegance.
Hotel Ritz Paris, Peterpanmusicfull
TWA Hotel Retro Room Key (1960s-style)
Estimated value: $50–$80
While some are modern reproductions, actual vintage TWA airport hotel keys are valued by aviation fans and retro travel collectors.
I Stay In An Airport Themed Hotel - This Is Crazy!, Walk With Me Tim
Hotel Pennsylvania NYC (Room 1227)
Estimated value: $500–$600
This room was tied to Glenn Miller's 'Pennsylvania 6-5000.' Any key with that number is a musical history gem.
Hotel Pennsylvania Marks 100 Years with a New Look, InspireDesign
Disneyland Hotel Brass Key (1950s–60s)
Estimated value: $600–$800
Original Disneyland hotel keys with castle or Mickey designs are treasured by Disney collectors.
Disney's Grand Floridian's Original Brass Room Keys, TheMouseandMore
El Rancho Vegas Key (1940s)
Estimated value: $800–$1,000
The first hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, El Rancho burned down in 1960. Any key from it is rare and valuable.
Frasher Foto, Wikimedia Commons
Key West Historic Hotel Brass Key (1920s)
Estimated value: $150–$250
From tropical inns with wraparound porches, these keys evoke Hemingway-era Florida and vintage island charm.
Playboy Hotel & Casino Key (Atlantic City)
Estimated value: $400–$600
From a short-lived hotel concept, these keys with the bunny logo are rare and bold collector pieces.
Bob Jagendorf from Manalapan, NJ, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Savoy Hotel London Skeleton Key (1900s)
Estimated value: $1,000–$1,200
Antique keys from this luxury hotel come with ornate tags and old-world glamour.
Loco Steve from Bromley , UK, Wikimedia Commons
Hotel Roosevelt Key (Hollywood, CA)
Estimated value: $300–$500
This classic hotel hosted the first Academy Awards. Keys with vintage room numbers are highly collectible.
I Stay In Marilyn Monroe's Site At The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel!, Walk With Me Tim
Vintage YMCA Hotel Key (Various Cities)
Estimated value: $100–$150
While once humble lodgings, YMCA hotel keys with early 20th-century tags have become quirky collector items.
TonyTheTiger (t/c/bio/WP:CHICAGO/WP:LOTM) , Wikimedia Commons
The Drake Hotel Skeleton Key (Chicago, IL)
Estimated value: $250–$350
A luxury stay on Lake Michigan, early room keys from The Drake are prized for their weight and design.
Flamingo Hotel Las Vegas (Bugsy Siegel Era)
Estimated value: $1,500–$2,000
Keys from the original Flamingo tied to mobster Bugsy Siegel’s ownership are nearly impossible to find—and extremely valuable.
Steve Cadman from London, Wikimedia Commons
The Breakers Palm Beach Key Tag (1930s)
Estimated value: $600–$800
This luxury resort issued engraved brass keys with sweeping art deco fonts. Mint condition pieces fetch high prices.
The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida Tour (Part 2), Suzy Belli
The Stanley Arms Hotel Key (UK, 1900s)
Estimated value: $300–$400
From one of Britain’s old countryside inns, these iron keys were often oversized and stamped with hand-engraved numbers.
David Dixon , Wikimedia Commons
Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Key (India, 1920s)
Estimated value: $2,000+
From one of India’s most luxurious and historic hotels, these early brass skeleton keys are rare, elegant, and valuable.
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