The long-dormant Sonrise Donuts sign that once stood along Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois, glowed to life Thursday for the first time in decades. Ace Sign Co. of Springfield restored the double-sided sign after the city purchased it in an online auction for $22,000 in December 2018. The signs sat on a rooftop at 1101 … Continue reading Sonrise Donuts neon sign in Springfield glows to life for first time in decades
Category: Signs
Kaiser-Frazer neon sign near Mitchell disappears
A rare Kaiser-Frazer neon sign that stood for decades along Route 66 in Mitchell, Illinois, recently disappeared, and its whereabouts remain unknown. The sign was unique in that it was repainted and neon tubing installed to advertise the Town & Country Motel. But the paint job eventually peeled off, revealing the porcelain Kaiser-Frazer sign underneath. … Continue reading Kaiser-Frazer neon sign near Mitchell disappears
New neon goes up at Tally’s Good Food Cafe in Tulsa
The new neon lighting at the landmark Tally's Good Food Cafe in Tulsa went up a few days ago. Tally's new neon was the beneficiary of the city of Tulsa's Route 66 neon-sign grant program. A grant pays up to $10,000 for 50% of the cost of a new neon sign or restoring an old … Continue reading New neon goes up at Tally’s Good Food Cafe in Tulsa
Route 66 enthusiast buys Le Brun Motel neon sign from Needles
A Route 66 fan from Michigan recently purchased the neon sign from the defunct Le Brun Motel that once stood in Needles, California, and plans to give it to a Route 66 neon museum in Missouri once he finishes some work on it. Scott Sheehan revealed the purchase in an Instagram post. He wrote, in … Continue reading Route 66 enthusiast buys Le Brun Motel neon sign from Needles
Tulsa adding 29 historical markers along Route 66
Tulsa will erect a total of 29 historical markers along Route 66 in the next few weeks, continuing that city's embrace of its Mother Road heritage. The markers first were envisioned back in 2005 as part of the original Vision 2025 sales tax for Route 66 projects. The markers will cost $111,000, which included about … Continue reading Tulsa adding 29 historical markers along Route 66
Tulsa approves three more applications for neon grants
Three more applications for neon-sign grants in Tulsa were approved along the Route 66 corridor, along with their designs. The ones approved were: Cities Service, West 17th and Southwest BoulevardFlo’s Burger Diner, 2604 E. 11th St.Renaissance Brewing Company, 1147 S. Lewis Ave. Dennis Whitaker, a planner for the Indian Nations Council of Governments, emailed the … Continue reading Tulsa approves three more applications for neon grants
Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios on Route 66 in Tulsa raising money for a new neon sign
Mary Beth Babcock, owner of Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on Route 66, is crowdfunding an effort to build a new neon sign at her Tulsa gift shop. Babcock aims to raise $10,000 through a GoFundMe.com campaign that launched about three days ago. As of Tuesday night, she'd raised more than $1,000. She wrote on Facebook … Continue reading Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios on Route 66 in Tulsa raising money for a new neon sign
Soul City restaurant and club closing in Tulsa, moving to suburb
The Soul City Gastropub & Music House along the 11th Street alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa soon will close after six years and later resurface in the suburb of Jenks, Oklahoma. Owners Kevin and Amy Smith announced the impending closure Friday morning on Facebook and the booking of final shows, including a grand finale … Continue reading Soul City restaurant and club closing in Tulsa, moving to suburb
Another Route 66 sign disappears from Grants
I received word Friday from a reader that another sign from a long-defunct Route 66 motel was taken down and hauled away. Here's the email I received from Keith Kofford: Grants lost another Route 66 sign last week (9-10-19) when the Los Alamitos Motel sign was taken. A crew with large equipment was spotted by … Continue reading Another Route 66 sign disappears from Grants
Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal
The president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association reported parts of the neon sign for the Brookshire Motel in Tulsa were sold off piecemeal to a local collector, and the rest likely will be gone soon. The Brookshire Motel neon sign in 2005 Rhys Martin on late Sunday passed along on Facebook the news he … Continue reading Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal