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email: agilitynut@hotmail.com |
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| Nevada Signs |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Wendover Will West Wendover, NV |
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| Wendover Will was built in 1952, a year after Vegas Vic, and was maintained over the years by the Stateline Hotel and Casino. He originally pointed at the state line between Nevada and Utah. His eye winked and his cigarette moved up and down. Will was named after a family member (the hotel/casino's President's grandfather). The Stateline expanded and replaced Will with a new sign. He was put in storage in 2002. In 2005, the City paid YESCO $200,000 to restore the sign and moved him to the median at the western edge of town. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
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This ice cream sign is installed on top of Star Burgers' plastic box sign. When this photo was taken in 2006, the place was known as the Southwest Diner. I assume there was originally an ice cream stand here. The peeling paint on the cone now reveals the words "Frost Freez". For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
Bob's All Family Restaurant was originally called Bob's Chicken Shack Restaurant. It probably opened in the 1950s. Since this photo was taken in 2006, the Southwest Diner has moved here. In 2009, the Bob's neon lettering was removed and the sign has been painted red. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. The Boulder Bowl signs appear to be from the 1950s. For more, see this website. Mel's Diner was originally "Browder's Lunch" which opened in 1931 as the first restaurant downtown. It became "Browder's Coffee Cup" and this sign was created. The sign was reworked for Mel's. For more, see this website. The Coffee Cup Café space was originally occupied by the "Green Hut" in the 1930s and 1940s. For many years, it was known as "Harry's Café". It briefly went by the names of "Happy Days" and the "50s Cafe". When the Coffee Cup owners moved their business here, they were not allowed to bring the sign with them. Hence, this vertical sign was amended to reflect the name change. The façade's neon "Harry's" sign is now gone. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [info thanks Allen Sandquist] The Desert Inn Motel sign originally advertised for the Black Canyon Motel. I believe it was built in the 1950s. In 2011, the sign appeared to have been blown down and damaged. It's not known if it will be repaired or destroyed. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| El Rancho Boulder Motel Boulder City, NV |
Nevada Inn Boulder City, NV |
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The El Rancho Boulder Motel opened in 1953. In 2008, the original sign was knocked over by high winds. It was restored for approximately $55,000. The sign is about 20 feet wide by 20 feet tall. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Nevada Inn started out as the "Boulder City Auto Court" in 1931. It consisted of 30 cabins and a filling station. In the 1950s, it became the "Brown Derby Motel". From the looks of this sign, it must have become the Nevada Inn in the late 1950s or early 1960s. This motel office was built in 1968. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Owl Club and Casino Battle Mountain, NV |
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| The Owl Club and Casino is open 24 hours, even in this remote location. There is also a restaurant and motel rooms. The establishment has been here since the late 1880s. Their signage is relatively unchanged since at least the 1960s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Sportsman's Club Overton, NV |
Plaza Motel Overton, NV |
Griddle Restaurant Winnemucca, NV |
Telescope Lanes Elko, NV |
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The Sportsman's Club, aka the "Sportsman's Pub", features a wonderful giant neon fish. Overton is adjacent to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
The Plaza Motel opened in 1955. It was recently restored and the neon sign is lit at night. The Griddle Restaurant opened here in 1948. For more, see this website. The neon on the Telescope Lanes sign looks intact. I suspect this is not the original business name from the plastic box below the pin and ball. |
| Manor Motor Lodge Elko, NV |
Centre Motel Elko, NV |
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The Manor Motor Lodge sign was originally red. The cowboy has also been repainted and has a much more effeminate look.
The Centre Motel sign's cowboy might have been inspired by the Wendover Will sign. I believe this sign is still lit at night. |
| Traveler's Motel Elko, NV |
Holiday Motel Elko, NV |
Wagon Wheel Motel Wells, NV |
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The "motel" letters on this Traveler's Motel sign were previously painted light blue and "AAA" was changed to "AARP". At some point, the entire sign was painted light blue. This sign replaced an earlier neon sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Holiday Motel sign is still lit at night. For more, see this website. The Wagon Wheel Motel has been here since at least the early 1950s. This motel and the Shell Crest Motel described below are part of a motel strip on old US 40, bypassed now by the interstate. |
| El Rancho Hotel Wells, NV |
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| The El Rancho Hotel was damaged in an earthquake in 2008. However, the old rooftop sign was not affected. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Shell Crest Motel Wells, NV |
Overland Hotel Gardnerville, NV |
French Hotel & Bar Gardnerville, NV |
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The Shell Crest Motel opened in 1950. The sign includes a nice backlit plastic panel with a fishing scene. Although the sign is lit at night, it doesn't appear that this part is still illuminated. For more, see this website.
The Overland Hotel was built in 1902. The long-stemmed martini sign is probably from the 1950s. The French Hotel & Bar sign was restored in the 1990s. It is beautifully lit at night. For more, see this website. |
| Heidi's Family Restaurant Carson City, NV |
Cactus Jack's Casino Carson City, NV |
Frontier Motel Carson City, NV |
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Heidi's Family Restaurant was known as Heidi's Dutch Mill Restaurant when it opened in 1935. The blades turn on this windmill sign.
Cactus Jack's Casino opened around 1968. The arm of the 2-story tall neon sign of "The Senator" waved originally but it hasn't moved for years. The double-sided sign and facade are brightly lit at night. For more, see this website. The Frontier Motel opened in the 1950s. It features an incredible, still-working cowboy and lariat animated neon sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Tarry Sparks, NV |
Elbow Room Bar Sparks, NV |
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The Tarry Motel sign features fun shapes and angled poles.
The Elbow Room Bar signage is lit at night. For more, see this website. |
| Playhouse Lounge Sparks, NV |
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| The Playhouse Lounge features a chasing bulb-studded swoop and a martini glass. These signs are lit at night. |
| Keshmiri's Pony Express Lodge Sparks, NV |
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| Keshmiri's Pony Express Lodge opened around 1933 as Cremer's Auto Court. In 1951, it became an annex of Harold's Club and was renamed the Pony Express Motel. This giant animated sign was designed by Frank N. Stricklan and producted by Cosgriff Neon around 1951. The sign still works but is not usually lit at night. For more, see this website. |
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More NV Signs:
449'r Bar (Elko) White King (Elko) Lariat Motel: 1, 2, 3 (Fallon) [gone; at the Churchill County Museum] Valley Homes: 1, 2, 3, 4 (Pahrump) Park Motel (Sparks) [gone] Rainbow Casino (West Wendover) various: 1, 2 History of Neon in Nevada Books:
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Las Vegas (page 1) |
Las Vegas (page 2) |
Las Vegas (page 3) |
Las Vegas (page 4) |
Neon Museum | Neonopolis |
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Reno (page 1) |
Reno (page 2) |
| Main Signs Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |