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Las Vegas Signs (page 4)

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Sky Ranch Motel
Las Vegas, NV
Lucky Lady Motel
Las Vegas, NV
Vegas Motel [gone]
Las Vegas, NV
The Sky Ranch Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s. It was repainted in 2006. The main panel was painted a darker blue before that. The sign is no longer lit. For more, see this website. [map]

The Lucky Lady Motel was built in 1951 as the Turf Motel. It became the Lucky Lady in the mid-1970s. The sign was restored around 2018 as part of Project Enchilada. The building now houses apartments. For more, see this website. [map]

The Vegas Motel sign was here by the mid-1960s. It was originally painted black, green, and yellow. As of 2015, the motel was gone. The sign was still there in 2016 but gone by 2018. I assume that either The Neon Museum or the City of Las Vegas has the sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Downtowner Motel
Las Vegas, NV
2014: 2022:
The Downtowner Motel was built in 1963. This sign appears to be from then. In 2019, it was announced that the motel would soon undergo a $2 million renovation. The sign has been painted a dark green. [map]

former New Town
Tavern & Casino
Las Vegas, NV
Swim-In Pool Supply Co. [gone]
Las Vegas, NV
The New Town Tavern & Casino opened in 1955 and this sign appears to be from then. Bars and other establishments on the Las Vegas Strip were segregated at that time. The New Town Tavern was built on the "Chocolate Strip" west of downtown where African-Americans lived, ate, shopped, and sought entertainment. The bar was closed when this photo was taken in 2014. By 2016, the sign had been repurposed for the Tokyo Casino. By 2019, the building was vacant but the sign was still there. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Swim-In Pool Supply Co. is still open but this sign is gone. The animated sign was from the early 1960s. A neon swimmer slid down a life-sized, actual pool slide. The sign caught fire in 2008 and was removed in 2009. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Monterey Motel
Las Vegas, NV
Sombrero Cafe
Las Vegas, NV
The Monterey Motel opened as the Monterey Lodge Motel. There was a different sign there then. This sign is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The motel was demolished around 2020 but the sign is still there as of 2023. [map]

The Sombrero Cafe opened in 1950 and closed in 2014. This photo is from 2014. Around 2015, the sign was repainted. The serape beneath the sombrero was painted over. For more, see this website. [map]

Rummel Motel
Las Vegas, NV
2014: 2023:
The Rummel Motel was built in 1951. This sign was installed by 1958. It has been reworked quite a bit since then. The bulb circle with stars was originally installed on an arrow panel which was gone by the late 1950s. By 2019, the motel had been demolished but the sign was still there. By 2020, the sign was removed and put in storage by the City of Las Vegas. In 2023, the sign was restored and installed in the on Las Vegas Blvd. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Trader Bill's
Las Vegas, NV
Tod Motor Hotel
Las Vegas, NV
2006: 2014: 2006: 2014: 2022:
Trader Bill's was a Western style leather and gift shop. The store moved to this location on Fremont St. by the 1950s. This sign is probably from the 1960s. The sign was originally painted dark blue with yellow letters. The red paint has faded to reveal the original color underneath. In 2017, the neon and bulbs were removed and the sign was adapted with backlit plastic letters for a White Castle. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [first photo thanks Glenda Campbell] [map]

The Tod Motor Hotel opened in 1962. This sign must be from then. It was originally painted yellow and black. The motel had closed by 2015 but the sign is still there. For more, see this website. [map]

Blue Angel Motel
Las Vegas, NV

2006:

2014:
2022:
The Blue Angel Motel was built 1957 and had several signs. A double arch with freestanding letters marks the entrance to the motel's parking lot. There was also a pole sign that stands about 40 feet tall. The motel's most famous sign featured an angel statue which is roughly 15 feet tall. The revolving angel towered about 20 feet over the motel's roof. The sign was designed by Betty Willis who designed many local signs including the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. When it was installed, the angel was criticized for being too busty. Some believe that the statue was modeled after Marilyn Monroe. Others believe it was inspired by Disney movies such as "Cinderella" and "Peter Pan". In 2017, the statue was removed for restoration. It is now owned by the City of Las Vegas.

Just after these 2014 photos were taken, new freestanding letters spelling out "Night Club" were added to the arches where the "Blue Angel" letters were previously. The sign panels at the base of the statue were removed. The motel was demolished in 2015. In 2017, the Blue Angel statue was removed. By 2018, all of the signs were gone. The statue and pole sign with the bulb arrow were restored by YESCO and installed near the site of the former motel. The statue was returned to her original design with wings, a belt, and no halo or star on the end of her wand. The pole sign was very similar to the one at the Blue Onion Drive-in next door which opened just a few months before the motel. The Blue Onion arrow sign was on Fremont while the Blue Angel arrow sign was on Charleston. I don't know when the drive-in closed and that sign was removed. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. [map]

Vegas Vickie
Las Vegas, NV
2014: 2023:
Vegas Vickie was installed just across the street from Vegas Vic . The sign was designed by Chuck Barnard of Ad-Art and installed in 1980 for the Glitter Gulch Casino. The sign is 76 feet tall. Vickie's leg was supposed to kick out over Fremont Street but that stopped working in the first year. In 2017, the sign was removed when the property was being redeveloped. In 2020, the panel with Vickie was restored and installed inside the Circa Resort & Casino. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Golden Goose Casino
Las Vegas, NV

2014:

2022:
The Golden Goose Casino opened in 1974 and closed in 1980. The goose statue originally revolved. The sign remained although the space below housed a "gentlemen's club." The goose statue was shaded under the Fremont Street Experience canopy. In 2017, the building was demolished. The Goose statue was saved and has been installed downtown. The revolving mechanism has been restored. I don't know if the neon sign was saved. For more, see this website. [map]

Las Vegas
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Las Vegas
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Las Vegas
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