The organizer of a campaign to restore the historic neon sign at Fender’s River Road Resort in Needles, California, said the sign likely will shine again the evening of June 8.
KC Keefer, who led the crowdsourcing campaign to restore the sign, made the announcement on a Facebook post Thursday:
In exactly one week we pick-up the sign in Kingman and drive it down to Needles. If all goes as carefully planned the fully restored neon sign will again shine brightly at Fender’s Resort on Saturday evening June 8th. Thanks to so many that are making this possible.
A photo of the repainted sign shows no discernible change to the “Motel” and “Vacancy” portions, but the top now states “Fenders” in cursive-style lettering instead of “River Road Resort.”
For those wanting to attend the probable relighting, sunset on June 8 in Needles will be 7:50 p.m. local time. If it’s cloudy, one should probably be there by 7:30 p.m.
The post also came with a link where people still can donate money for the restoration. The top-level donation will earn a Fender’s River Road Resort key fob and two-nights’ stay at the motel.
The sign was removed in April for restoration by Legacy Signs and Iron in nearby Kingman, Arizona. SignCo of Fort Mojave, Arizona, will reinstall the sign. The total cost will be about $5,600.
Fender’s, which dates to the 1960s, sits on a section of highway that was once was part of the 1912 National Old Trails Road that linked Baltimore to Los Angeles as a precursor to Route 66.
(Image of the pre-restored Fender’s River Resort sign in Needles, California, via the motel)