The historic Hotel Beale neon sign in Kingman, Arizona, will be relighted for the first time in more than 40 years during an after-party event of the Route 66 Fun Run at 7:30 p.m. on May 2.
After the ceremony, there will be live music, a beer garden and dancing in the parking lot at the corner of 4th Street and Andy Devine Avenue (aka Route 66) in downtown Kingman.
Katie Barthlow, a communications specialist for the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, stated in an email that the association and the nonprofit Kingman Main Street organization are partnering to relight the sign.
Most of the funding for the project comes from $25,000 in grant money from the association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the City of Kingman’s facade program. The family that owns the long-closed hotel is also assisting with the event.
Restoration of the neon sign is being done by Matt Phillips of Legacy Signs & Iron in Kingman.
Barthlow said the sign will be lighted nightly after the big event.
William Harvey Hubbs built Hotel Beale in 1898. In 1906, Thomas Devine, father of actor Andy Devine, acquired the hotel.
Devine remodeled it in 1916. He then built a three-story addition at the rear and a modern facade a year later.
Hotel Beale has been closed since 2012.
(Image in 2009 of Hotel Beale in Kingman, Arizona, by teofilo via Flickr)