Bonanza Gift Shop Las Vegas, NV

The Bonanza Gift Shop signs were adapted from the Big Wheel Casino. There was originally a shopping center at this site. In 1963, Honest John's Casino opened as one of the tenants. Around 1971, the Big Wheel Casino opened next door to Honest John's. This round sign is from then. Around 1974, the Big Wheel became the Centerfold Casino. In 1977, this became the Jolly Trolley Casino & Restaurant. The signs were adapted for all of these businesses. The Bonanza Gift Shop opened here in 1980. For more, see this website. [map]

Ambassador East Motel Las Vegas, NV
2006:	2014:	2022:

The Ambassador East Motel was built in 1930 as the Ambassador Apartments By the late 1930s, it became the Ambassador Auto Court. The original sign was much smaller. It was renamed the Ambassador Motel by the mid-1940s. In the 1950s, a sign with a depiction of a coach being pulled by four horses was built. That sign was replaced with another sign which is now the lower part of the current sign. In the late 1950s or early 1960s, the upper part of the sign with the swirling bulb arrow was added. The top loop of the arrow originally held a neon star instead of the "A." In the 1970s, the name was changed to the Ambassador East. The motel closed in 1996 and was demolished in 2007. The sign which remains on the vacant lot was restored in 2013 for the Life Is Beautiful music festival. The neon tubing for "Llamas Stay for Free" was added then as a tribute to Tony Hsieh who spearheaded the Downtown Project's development and restoration efforts in 2012. The llama was Hsieh's favorite animal. That part of the sign originally read "Ambassador" and "Heated Pool." The sign is about 35 feet tall. Its letters are outlined with red tubing while the internal letter strokes are blue. The "Llamas" text is white. The arrow is lit with rapid, chasing bulbs. For more, see this website. [map]

Roulette Motel [gone] Las Vegas, NV	Fergusons Motel Las Vegas, NV	Gatewood Motel Las Vegas, NV

The Roulette Motel opened in 1955. There was a different sign there then. This sign is probably from the 1960s. In 2022, the sign was removed while the building is being renovated as apartments. The City of Las Vegas will restore the sign. I don't know when that will happen or where the sign will be reinstalled. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Fergusons Motel opened in the 1950s as the Franklin Motel. There was a different sign there then. This sign is probably from the late 1950s or 1960s. It closed in 2013. The property has been converted into Fergusons Downtown which is retail space, a coffee shop, and other commercial and community uses. The sign remains. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map] The Gatewood Motel sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. For more, see this website. [map]

Par-A-Dice Motel Las Vegas, NV

The Par-A-Dice Motel opened in 1953. The motel originally had a rooftop sign topped with a pair of giant dice. That sign was destroyed by a fire in the mid-1990s. The motel was demolished in 2012 but the sign remained until around 2018. In 2022, the City restored and installed the sign on Las Vegas Blvd. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Peter Pan Motel Las Vegas, NV
2006:	2014:

2022:

The Peter Pan Motel was built in 1963 and this sign is probably from then. The sign was restored sometime between 2007 and 2011. Tony Hsieh purchased the motel in 2013. A sign posted on the building in 2014 stated that there were plans to use the building for senior apartments. However, the building was demolished in 2022 but the sign remains. For more, see this website. [map]

Super Laundry Las Vegas, NV

The Super Laundry building appears to be from the 1940s. The canopy must have been added later. The signs may have been located on the roof of the building before that. [map]

Ruby Slipper Las Vegas, NV

The Ruby Slipper was built in 2007 and is owned by the City of Las Vegas. It was modeled after the Silver Slipper sign (see below). It is installed in front of The Venue. For more, see this video. [map]

Silver Slipper Las Vegas, NV	Society Cleaners Las Vegas, NV

The Silver Slipper casino opened in 1950 and closed in 1988. This 12-foot-tall shoe was designed by YESCO and installed on top of the casino in the 1960s. It has more than 900 bulbs. It was later moved to the top of the Silver Slipper sign. The signs were saved by The Neon Museum. In 2009, the slipper was restored and installed in the median near the museum. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] The Society Cleaners opened in 1945. This sign may be from then. It was displayed over the store's entrance. The store closed and the sign was removed in 2006. After restoration by The Neon Museum, it was installed in the median of Las Vegas Blvd. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

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Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com.