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California Signs (page 23)

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Welcome sign
Rio Nido, CA		 Flamingo Lounge
Rio Vista, CA		 Hap's Bait [gone]
Rio Vista, CA
The Welcome sign in Rio Nido has ripple tin panels and originally had neon. The sign might be from the 1930s. It was in storage for decades. In 2011, local residents began fundraising to restore the sign. Around 2015, it was repainted and reinstalled near the original location. With limited funds, it was lit by 2022 with LED tubing over the plastic letters. [map]

The Flamingo Lounge sign is probably from the 1960s. By 2024, the original textured panels had been replaced with similar flat ones. The glass has been painted blue. [map]

The Hap's Bait sign was stolen and replaced at least twice in recent years. In 2023, the store moved to Brannan Island State Recreation Area in Rio Vista. The sign is not at that location or inside the store.

Striper Cafe
Rio Vista, CA
2014: 2016:

The Striper Cafe opened in the 1930s or 1940s. This sign is most likely from the 1950s. In 2015, an anonymous donor came forward to help the owners with the restoration costs for this sign and the one at Foster's Bighorn described below. The Striper Cafe no longer serves alcohol but the martini glass was left intact. For more, see this website. [map]

Foster's Bighorn
Rio Vista, CA

2014:
2016:
Foster's Bighorn bar and restaurant opened in 1931. The sign is probably from the 1950s. The interior is filled with Bill Foster's collection of wild and big game trophies which were accumulated during his hunting expeditions. In 2015, this sign was restored with funding from an anonymous donor. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More Rio Vista:
Jessen's [gone]

Sire Bar & Grill
Riverside, CA		 Tuxie's Drive-in
Riverside, CA		 Thunderbird Lodge
Riverside, CA
The Sire Bar & Grill has been here since at least the mid-1950s. The Sire sign was built in 1955. It was refurbished sometime after 2008. This photo is from 2013. For more, see this website. [map]

Tuxie's Drive-in opened in 1955 and this sign is from then. [map]

This Thunderbird Lodge was built in 1960. The motel has either been rebuilt or drastically remodeled but the sign remains the same. There are still signs like this in Redding, CA and Chico, CA. There was one in Medford, OR as well. I don't know if this chain existed in other states as well. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Farm House Motel
Riverside, CA		 Stater
Brothers [gone]
Riverside, CA		 El Sarape Restaurant [gone]
Riverside, CA
The Farm House Motel was built in 1953 and this sign was built then. It closed in 2007. The motel was renovated in 2025 as the Farm House Collective with shops, restaurants, and entertainment. The sign was restored in 2024. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Stater Brothers grocery store chain was established in 1936 in Yucaipa, CA. I believe this sign was from the 1950s. While the chain is still thriving, there are very few of these neon pylon signs left. Around 2022, the sign was stripped and plastic letters were added. There was another one in Anaheim, CA. [map]

The El Sarape Restaurant opened in 1949. This sign was probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The restaurant and sign were gone in 2021. For more, see this website.

More Riverside:
Riverside Plaza [vintage; gone]

Ford [gone]
Rosamond, CA
This Ford sign was installed at the Kieffe & Sons Ford dealership. The neon had been removed. By 2019, the lot was vacant and the sign was gone.

Owl Club
Roseville, CA		 Auto Maxx
Roseville, CA		 Lambert Funeral Home
Roseville, CA
The Owl Club opened in 1934. This sign is probably from the 1940s or 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Auto Maxx used car sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. The top panel is painted red on one side and white on the other. It revolved originally but now just blows in the wind. The sign originally advertised for Andrews Lincoln-Mercury. For more, see this website. [map]

The Lambert Funeral Home was established in 1936. This sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map]

former Dainty Pastry [gone]
Roseville, CA
2008: 2014:
The Dainty Pastry bakery opened in 1946 and closed in 2009. In 2011, the sign was partially covered up with vinyl bearing the new store's name: Rustic Grains. That store was closed by 2015. In 2020, the sign was either adapted or replaced with a sign for Bounty Hunters Cafe. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

West House Hotel & Club
Roseville, CA
The West House Hotel was built in 1906. These signs are from the 1930s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Alameda Albany -
Apple Valley		 Arcadia -
Barstow		 Bakersfield Bay Point -
Beverly Hills		 Big Bear Lake -
Bridgeport		 Buellton Buena Park -
Carpinteria
Catheys Valley -
Corona del Mar		 Cotati -
El Centro		 El Dorado -
Escondido		 Eureka -
Garden Grove		 Fresno Gilroy -
Harbor City		 Hawthorne -
Lakeport		 Hayward &
San Leandro
Lakewood -
Live Oak		 Lodi -
Lynwood		 Long Beach Los Angeles Macdoel -
Mendota		 Merced -
Monte Rio		 Monterey Park -
Oceanside		 Oakland
Ontario -
Palo Alto		 Pasadena -
Petaluma		 Pico Rivera -
Pomona		 Porterville -
Redondo Beach		 Redwood City -
Richmond		 Sacramento Salida -
San Bernardino
San Bruno -
San Luis Obispo		 San Diego Area San Francisco San Jose San Mateo -
Santa Barbara		 Santa Clara -
Santa Monica		 Santa Paula -
Stanton		 Stockton
Suisun City -
Ukiah		 Upland -
Vernon		 Victorville -
Wilmington		 Woodland -
Yuba City		 Museum of
Neon Art		 Valley Relics Museum

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