email: roadarch@outlook.com

Nevada Signs (page 1)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Owl Club and Casino
Battle Mountain, NV
The Owl Club and Casino opened in the late 1880s. The signs have been here since at least the 1960s. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

More Battle Mountain:
Bell Court Motel [map]

Beatty:
parking sign [gone]

Sands Motel
Boulder City, NV
Coffee Cup
Cafe
Boulder City, NV
Desert Inn
Motel [gone]
Boulder City, NV
The Sands Motel was built in 1951. This is probably the original sign. In the 1960s, the sign was painted red. It was later painted brown. It was painted yellow sometime after 2011. This photo is from 2017. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The Coffee Cup Cafe space was originally occupied by the "Green Hut" in the 1930s and 1940s. For many years, it was known as "Harry's Cafe". It briefly went by the names of "Happy Days" and the "50s Cafe". When the Coffee Cup owners moved to this location, the restaurant was not allowed to bring the sign with them. Hence, this vertical sign was amended to reflect the name change. The façade's neon "Harry's" sign is now gone. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

The Desert Inn Motel sign originally advertised for the Black Canyon Motel. I believe it was built in the 1950s. In 2011, the sign appeared to have been blown down and damaged. It was replaced with a plastic sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Mel's Diner [gone]
Boulder City, NV
2006: 2014: 2023:
Mel's Diner was originally "Browder's Lunch" which opened in 1931 as the first restaurant downtown. At some point, it became "Browder's Coffee Cup" and this sign was created. The sign was later reworked for Mel's. Mel's closed around 2014 and the sign was removed in 2015. Around 2022, the sign was replaced with a new one for the Dam Roast House & Browder Bookstore. For more, see this website. [map]

Bob's All Family Restaurant
Boulder City, NV
El Rancho Boulder Motel
Boulder City, NV
2006: 2017: 2006: 2017:
Bob's All Family Restaurant was originally known as Bob's Cafe in the early 1950s. By the late 1950s, it went by the name of Bob's Chicken Shack Restaurant. In 2009, the Bob's neon lettering was removed and the sign was painted red. The restaurant is now known as the Southwest Diner. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

The El Rancho Boulder Motel opened in 1953 and this sign was installed then. In 2008, the sign was knocked over by high winds. It was restored for approximately $55,000. The AAA plastic panel beneath the sign was removed at that point. The AAA oval on the main sign was also repainted. The sign is about 20 feet wide by 20 feet tall. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More Boulder City:
Nevada Inn

Carlin:
State Inn Cafe

Heidi's
Family Restaurant
Carson City, NV
Frontier Motel
Carson City, NV
Heidi's Family Restaurant was known as the Dutch Mill Restaurant when it opened in 1935. The building was shaped like a windmill. That building was still there in the 1950s but it is gone now. This Heidi's sign appears to be from the 1960s. The blades on the windmill turned at one point. [map]

The Frontier Motel opened in the 1950s and this sign is from then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Carson City Nugget
Carson City, NV
The Carson Nugget opened as the Carson City Nugget in 1954. The facade and sign looked entirely different from what is there today. This 1960s view shows a different look as well. For more, see this website. [map]

Cactus Jack's Senator Club
Carson City, NV

2008:

2014:
2023:
Cactus Jack's Senator Club opened in 1955 as the Senator Club. It was renamed Cactus Jack's Senator Club in 1971. I believe these signs are from then. The Senator's right arm originally moved up and down. Sometime between 2009 and 2011, the sign was restored and repainted different colors. For more, see this website. [map]

Crystal Bay Club
Crystal Bay, NV
Tahoe Biltmore
Crystal Bay, NV
The Crystal Bay Club opened in 1956. There were different signs there then. This sign is probably from the 1960s or 1970s. For more, see this website. [map]

The Tahoe Biltmore sign was built in 1962 for the Nevada Lodge. It is believed to have been inspired by the Space Needle in Seattle which was built the same year. In 2021, the sign was put up for sale. There are plans to demolish the lodge and casino. As of 2023, the sign and buildings were still there. For more, see this website. [map]

Nevada
(page 2)
Nevada
(page 3)
Reno Las Vegas
Neon Museum Neonopolis

Main Signs Page