Welcome to Roadside Peek News. This section
will feature a news peek of what's happening out on the road. While
not pretending to be comprehensive, we hope you'll visit this section
from time to time to keep up on just a sample of issues that are
roadside related. Don't forget to check out the Roadside
Peek main page for the day's update.
The Bambu Hut sign... gone in Ontario. Mr Lucky's luck runs out
in Phoenix
Ontario, CA - The
Bambu Hut sign has been a familiar sight for years along the busy
boulevard in Ontario. Unfortunately time has caught up to the Bambu
Hut marquee, much like it has to many of the other locations along
Holt.
Bambu Hut
Photo courtesy Dan MacPherson
Many thanks to Dan MacPherson for update on the Bambu Hut sign.
Phoenix, AZ - Mr. Lucky's along Grand Ave in Phoenix
has been serving the community with live music since the 1960's.
However, this era has now ended. The website
for Mr. Lucky's states "Mr. Lucky's
has always been about and stood for supporting live music. Country,
Rock, whatever. Unfortunately this is becoming harder to find. It's
a sad thing. Please continue to support this dying art form and
help keep the spirit of "THE KING" alive in the music.
Thank you very much to all of you who have supported us for many
years. We will miss you!"
Mr. Lucky's Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Authors note: Change has been setting
in Phoenix and its neighboring communities and has now reached busy
Grand Ave. The notable Glendale
Cafe and its classic marquee was torn down a couple of years
ago and now Mr. Lucky's looks like its now facing a more than uncertain
future. What will happen to the massive joker marquee? What will
be left in the area other than chain eateries and plastic signs?
Update 04/08: Workers are on location fixing it
up for a reopening. Not sure if it will the same business though.
Many thanks to Elgin MacMillan for update.
Roadside
News - Thursday, March 11, 2005
More
roadside losses in the Soutwest. The fate of a couple of roadside
icons solved
San Gabriel, CA - Travelers passing through San
Gabriel for the first time in years would be shocked to see the
changes that have taken place, namely the removal of many reminders
to yesteryear. One stalwart neon sign that looked for a time like
it would survive the changes may now be in a scrap heap somewhere.
That sign? The Melody
Lounge.
Gardena, CA - Once prevalent in Southern California,
roadside tiki treasures have become a rare sight. Well, Southern
California can chalk up another loss with the removal of the Kona
Kai sign in Gardena. The Kona Kai little man was removed and
all that remains is a new plastic sign for the Ted's Liquor next
door.
Glendale, AZ - Sitting alongside busy Grand Avenue
in Glendale, AZ (suburb of Phoenix) is the familiar motel sign of
the Trails
End. Unfortunately, the Trails End has met its end. Back in
the day, Grand was U.S. 60, a busy throughfare. A couple of months
ago, the Arizona Department of Transportation tore down the Trails
End because they are widening and building a tunnel for Grand Avenue,
in the vicinity. Both the motel and sign are now gone.
Many thanks to Jodey Elsner for update on the Trails End.
Las Vegas, NV - According to the February 15,
2005 edition of the Las Vegas SUN, the Vegas Valley Properties
purchased the site of the Travel Inn and Golden Inn motels on Las
Vegas Boulevard near the eastern end of the Fremont Street Experience
area. The Travel Inn site was subsequently sold to Barrick Gaming
Corp., which is the same company that purchased four casinos from
longtime downtown casino owner Jackie Gaughan, including the Plaza
and Gold Spike. It appears that more condos will now be built.
We will be posting the before and after photos of the motel sites
in a future update to Lost Treasures.
Farmington, NM - In the December 20, 2004 news
flash, the roadside man at the Western Tire Store in Farmington,
NM faced an uncertain fate as the business was closing down.
The Farmington Man has been purchased
by Sun Glass and will be proudly displayed on its rooftop soon.
The best news for locals is that the statue will remain in Farmington
as it has for the past half decade.
Whittier, CA - The Midas
Man that used to occupy the rooftop of the Midas store on Whittier
Boulevard has now been located. In February, we received the update
the Midas Man, removed in 2003, was safe in storage.
Well, the Midas Man has now turned up in a yard in a town called
Unger in West Virginia. He survived the cross country trip intact.
Many thanks to George Pulley for update.
Roadside
News - Sunday, March 6, 2005
Another
Tulsa treasure will shut its doors.
Tulsa, OK - The Rose Bowl bowling alley, not to
be mistaken for the stadium by the same name in Pasadena
CA, will shut its doors next Saturday 3/12/05.
The Rose Bowl Lanes was built in March of 1961 and is well known
for its large arch at the entranceway with the pink "Rose Bowl"
lettering.
Rose Bowl Photo courtesy Charles Brock
All the bowling equipment will be removed.
Vintage postcard Courtesy Rich Schmigle
Any future plans for the structure have not been communicated yet.
All the bowling equipment will be removed. Any future plans for
the structure have not been communicated yet.
Authors note: It's sad to see yet another Route 66 treasure
shut its doors. In this case, it's probably unlikely that the facility
will reopen as a bowling alley, given AMF's recent history. Looks
like Route 66 has lost another ten pin alley.
Roadside
News - Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Tucumcari
Tonite? A Roadside Icon Closes Down and is Put Up For Sale.
Tucumcari, NM - The Blue Swallow Motel, one of
the best-preserved historic motels on Route 66, has been put up
for sale, its owners have announced.
Hilda
Bakke and her husband, Dale, who have owned the motel in Tucumcari,
N.M., since 1998, are selling it so they can help care for a seriously
ill relative in Minnesota.
"Time to pass the baton," Hilda Bakke wrote on a Route
66 Internet group.
The 12-unit motel, built in 1939, is known for its large, elaborate
neon blue swallow sign, extensive
architectural neon, attached garages and old-style dial telephones
in the rooms. The late Lillian Redman received the motel as an engagement
gift in 1958 and ran it for nearly 40 years.
The Bakkes purchased the motel shortly before Redman's death and
restored it. The Blue Swallow Motel is listed on the National Register
of Historic Places and received the 2003 Cyrus Avery Award for the
best restoration project on Route 66. It also is featured in several
books, including the recently
released "Hogs on 66," a collection of recipes and road
lore from noted Route 66 authors Michael Wallis and Marian Clark.
The asking price for the motel is $165,000.
The Blue Swallow Motel is one of the most-photographed sites on
Route 66. Smithsonian magazine said: "The Blue Swallow may
be the last, best, friendliest motel in the country."
The Blue Swallow Motel is listed by Richard Randals of the New
Mexico Property Group in Tucumcari. Randals can be reached at nmpg@plateautel.net
or by phone at
888-461-4426. Visit the Blue
Swallow Motel's website or the realty
group's website for more information about this historic property.
Authors note: The Blue Swallow Motel is a legend, not only
in Tucumcari, but for all of Route 66. The Bakkes have done tremendous
work on the motel, operating the motel with care that would make
former owner and proprietress Lillian Redman smile. The Blue Swallow
Motel has been my pick during my travels through New Mexico and
my thanks go out to the Bakkes for not only giving us a pleasant
stay, but for keeping the Route 66 tradition alive.
My hopes are that the Blue Swallow will reopen and find a new
owner that wlll put in the care that its previous owners have. Anything
less would be a tragedy for all Route 66 and roadside travelers,
both present and future.
Roadside
News - Friday, February 11, 2005
Another
roadside treasure from Nevada is torn down
Fallon, NV - This just in. Word is the 1953 Lariat
Motel in Fallon, NV was torn down on Wednesday February 9, 2005.
The fate of the fantastic neon sign is unknown.
Lariat
Motel by day Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Lariat Motel by
night Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Updated 6:30pm PST:
According to the Fallon Star Press, the Lariat Motel was
torn down to make way for commercial development in the heart of
the city. Although the motel buildings have been razed over, the
new owners have donated the neon cowboy sign to the Churchill Arts
Council. The sign will eventually be placed at Oats Park, on the
opposite side of town.
Many thanks to Austin Metz for news and update.
Roadside
News - Thursday, February 10, 2005
Pontiac
sign in danger of being destroyed
El Monte, CA - The giant "Pontiac"
neon sign south of the 10 freeway
along Valley Blvd in El Monte is in danger of being demolished.
This giant Indian head is outlined in yellow and red neon, with
blue 4 point stars. It's huge and beautiful, all original.
Word on the street is that some "politically correct folks"
are offended by it, even though it's been the Pontiac logo for years,
and the Pontiac dealership has moved across the street. For some
reason Pontiac is not allowed to use that logo anymore.
If you're interested in saving this roadside icon, please email
me.
Many thanks to Dan MacPherson and Tom Rice for news.