Best Neon

A Route 66 restaurant next to Museum Club in Flagstaff looks more vibrant with its script neon across the roofline. (Austin Corbett photo)

In the 1920s, commercial neon signs debuted in the United States, more than a decade after Georges Claude pioneered the illuminating technology in Paris.

But it wasn't until the late 1930s and into the 40s before neon's popularity caught on and began illuminating far more American streetscapes, according to researchers Dydia DeLyser and Paul Greenstein.

In 2013, the neon sleuths debunked a commonly accepted story that Earl C. Anthony installed America's first neon sign in 1923 at his Packard car dealership in Los Angeles. They did not reach a conclusion on a first U.S. neon sign but Anthony's Packard dealerships in San Francisco and Los Angeles were early adopters of neon technology in the 1920s.

Since then, neon signs have burned bright across the American landscape.

Arizona's neon-lit highways, including Route 66, lured travelers to restaurants, bars and motels. Tucson had its luminous Miracle Mile. The enduring message of the warm, welcoming light was "stop here" instead of motoring on to the next town and its roadside neon forest.

Neon lights up Phoenix motel row

Phoenix entrepreneurs developed motels with gaudy signs along Grand Avenue and Van Buren Street, including the Rose Bowl, Kon Tiki Hotel and Log Cabin Motel. Mesa’s neon lit the night with Buckhorn Baths signs and the diving lady at Starlite Motel.

El Trovatore Motel, which opened in 1939, has a 100-foot sign easily visible for travelers pulling into Kingman on Route 66. It's been restored and towers over an historic 20-room motel.

In recent years, Kingman has added other refurbished neon signs. The Old Trails Garage has a neon Packard sign. A Kingman Club sign now lights up Beale Street with its neon cocktail glasses.

Neon dims after Fifties flourish

Neon's brightest era was the 1950s. A decade later, tastes started to change and city sign codes reined in lavish neon displays.
On Route 66 in Holbrook, Flagstaff, Williams and Kingman neon is still lighting the way. For example the World Famous Sultana Bar and Canyon Club signs on eastbound Route 66 in Williams.

Even sun-baked neon signs that have gone dark often have a retro appeal. And there's always the chance that the best neon will be restored and once again illuminate the night.

In April 2019, Casa Grande opened its Neon Sign Park at 408 N. Sacaton St. with 14 restored signs.

Tucson has the Ignite Sign Art Museum that includes indoor and outdoor displays of vintage neon. It's located at 331 S. Olsen Ave. Check its website for details: https://www.ignitemuseum.com/

The Mesa Preservation Foundation spent more than $120,000 to restore the Starlite Motel's Diving Lady sign on East Main Street (US 60). Sign maker Paul Millet created the Diving Lady in 1960 and it stood for 50 years before a storm blew it over. Larry Graham, an apprentice of Millet, refurbished the 70-foot neon sign in 2013.

Mesa has a number of other neon beauties along Main Street, including Buckhorn Baths, Kiva Lodge and the Ham Bone bar.

I recommend neon geeks visit the Neon Museum of Las Vegas to see Sin City's vintage signs, many restored, and others in an outdoor boneyard. The American Sign Museum, in a Cincinnati warehouse, is also well worth a trip to the Queen City.

Tucson neon links: https://preservetucson.org/stories/neon-sign-project/
Miracle Mile link: http://bit.ly/2gcp5tn
Phoenix neon links: https://modernphoenix.net/neon/neonphoenix1.htm

See the Best Arizona Saloons: http://www.ontheroadarizona.com/bestbars.html

Casa Grande in central Arizona opened a sign park with local neon relics in 2019.

Since the early 1950s, the neon sign at the Western Hills Motel has been lighting the way along Route 66 on the near eastside of Flagstaff.

A dark blue Packard sign graces the restored Old Trails Garage in Kingman.

Westward Motel in Salome has a simple green neon sign.

Flagstaff's century old theater lights Aspen Street. (Austin Corbett photo)

A side-door neon sign beckons at the Monte Vista. (Austin Corbett photo)

Las Vegas hotelier John Miller built El Trovatore in Kingman in 1939.

Neon martini glasses light up the House of Hops' historic sign.

Frontier Motel on Route 66 in Truxton is closed and its sign has gone dark.

World Famous Sultana Bar in Williams pitches cocktails & Coors with neon.

Nackard Downtowner Motel sign towers over Flagstaff's southside.

Apache Lodge is a 1946 motor court and Prescott landmark near the junction of what is now State Routes 89 and 69.

The Burro Jim Motel opened circa 1950 but is now closed. This sign was for sale in Prescott's Cortez Street Emporium.

The Sunset Motel sign on US 60 in Wenden is rustic but can still stop traffic at the former motel transformed into an art gallery and courtyard for artists.

Mesa's Buckhorn Baths were popular with Cactus League ballplayers starting in the 1940s. But the baths closed in 1999 and the motel in 2007.

The warm, welcoming neon of the Deserama Mobile Ranch is on Mesa's Main Street near the Starlite Motel.

Under pressure, Dairy Queen allowed the Holbrook DQ (left) to keep its old-school sign. The Mesa DQ (above) also had an historic blue neon sign at the 1949 drive-in on Main Street but it closed in 2018 and was razed.

Startlite Motel opened in 1958 on US 60 in Mesa. Sign maker Paul Millet created the Diving Lady sign that went up in 1960. The Mesa Preservation Foundation restored the sign in 2013 after a storm blew it down.

New Windsor Hotel in downtown Phoenix opened in 1893.

A burned out neon "O" transformed the Flamingo to Flaming at Andy Womack's Motor Hotel on Route 66 in Flagstaff. It reportedly operated from the 1930s to 1997. Lumber salvaged from the Flamingo was used for new construction in Flagstaff.

Sign maker Paul Millet created this sign in 1960 and it stood for 50 years before a storm blew it over. Larry Graham, an apprentice of Millet, refurbished the 70-foot neon sign in 2013.

Guayo's neon attracts diners but the food keeps them coming back to this restaurant north of Globe on State Route 188.

A classic Indian-motif neon on Route 66 in Williams.

Kiva Lodge is one of many neon gems along Mesa's Main Street that formerly was part of U.S. 60 running from coast-to-coast.

The Plainsman opened on Route 66 in Holbrook in 1966. It's been closed for many years and the sign was removed in June of 2022.

Neon Museum of Las Vegas features dozens of Sin City signs.

American Sign Museum in Cincinnati has a warehouse full of neon.

Ignite Sign Art Museum has restored signs from Tucson and elsewhere.

Tucson's neon sign museum is in a warehouse district east of downtown.

Tucson Inn, a top lodging option when it opened in 1953, closed several years ago. But its iconic neon sign has been restored.