Dee's Restaurant
Salt Lake City, UT Photo courtesy Jack Wright
Check out this neon sign for Dee's Restaurant in Salt Lake City. It's always great to see a classic neon sign, especially one with bulbs that flicker and glow the way this one does. Dee's dates back to 1931, when founder Dee Anderson started selling hamburgers near the University of Utah. The business later grew into a familiar Utah restaurant chain, but the signs may be what many roadside fans remember best. Update: Dee's Family Restaurant continues to operate in the Salt Lake Valley, and the classic rotating neon sign at the Sugar House location remains lit. Even better, YESCO restored the sign in recent years, helping keep this great piece of Utah roadside neon glowing for years to come. 06-26
Denny's (Closed) Boise, ID Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey
Here's an old familiar sign for roadside travelers in the West. This Denny's sign in Boise still had the older lettering, before the chain leaned into the newer "diner" look. At night, the sign gave off an eerie glow while reminding everyone that Denny's was always open. Nothing fancy here, just a classic roadside chain sign doing what it did best.
UPDATE: This Boise Denny's location has since closed, and the vintage sign with the older lettering has been removed. Photos like this preserve a little piece of roadside chain restaurant history from a time when even a Denny's sign had a bit more personality. 06-26
Harman KFC Photo courtesy Shawn Church
Check out the World's First KFC in Salt Lake City. This classic sign for the Harman KFC sports an eerie neon image of Colonel Sanders and makes for a great nighttime photo. Most people probably assume the first KFC would be somewhere in Kentucky. Surprisingly, the world's first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise opened right here in Salt Lake City in 1952 when Pete Harman partnered with Colonel Harland Sanders. Local lore even credits this location with giving the restaurant its famous "Kentucky Fried Chicken" name. The sign itself has become a roadside landmark and remains one of the more recognizable pieces of neon in Utah.
UPDATE: The original restaurant building was replaced in 2004, but the famous sign survived. Today, the location still operates as a KFC and includes a small museum dedicated to the history of the restaurant. It's one of the few places where you can grab a bucket of chicken while visiting a genuine piece of roadside and fast-food history. 06-26
Satire Lounge
Denver, CO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Satire Lounge and its fully lit neon sign advertise mixed drinks to anyone passing by along Colfax. Check out the glowing "Mixed Drinks" lettering as well as the main blade sign out front. It's super eye-catching and hard to miss while cruising one of Denver's most famous streets. The lounge opened in 1950 and adopted the Satire name a decade later. It also holds a small place in music history. In the summer of 1960, a young Bob Dylan reportedly performed here before being shown the door after clashing with the headlining act, the Smothers Brothers. The sign itself has become one of the more recognizable neon landmarks along East Colfax and remains a favorite among fans of vintage roadside neon.
UPDATE: The bar remains in operation today as Pete's Satire Lounge and continues to be operated by the Contos family. Best of all, the iconic neon sign still lights up Colfax Avenue. If you get hungry while enjoying a drink, you can even order food from neighboring Pete's Kitchen and have it delivered right to your barstool. 06-26
Casey's Bar (Removed)
Whitefish, MT Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey
Here's Casey's Bar with its neon shamrock glowing over downtown Whitefish. This one isn't a four-leaf clover. It's the traditional three-leaf shamrock, a symbol long associated with Ireland and Irish heritage. The building dated back to 1905 and served generations of locals and visitors in downtown Whitefish. Over the years, the shamrock sign became one of the town's most recognizable landmarks and a favorite among fans of vintage neon.
UPDATE: The original Casey's building was demolished and replaced with a new structure that opened in 2012. Fortunately, the famous shamrock sign was saved. Local regulations prevented it from returning to its original spot outside, so the sign was preserved and moved indoors where it can still be enjoyed today. The property was later redeveloped and now operates as Herb & Omni. 06-26
4 Aces Lounge
Hardin, MT Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Check out the neon lettering and neon martini glass outside the 4
Aces Lounge. While you're in town, be sure to take a look at the four glowing playing cards that help make this one of Hardin's more recognizable signs. The neon is eye-catching and can be seen from well down the street.
The 4 Aces Lounge opened in 1980 and has been a downtown landmark ever since. Between the martini glass, the cards, and the bright green lettering, it's exactly the kind of sign that gets your attention after dark.
UPDATE: The Four Aces Bar & Lounge remains in operation today and continues to welcome locals and travelers alike. Best of all, the classic neon sign is still standing and lighting up downtown Hardin just as it has for decades. 06-26
Red
House (Gone)
Orem, UT Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
TheRed Housein Orem, Utah featured a colorful neon lantern and roadside sign advertising its "all u can eat" offerings. The lantern gave the place a distinctive look and helped it stand out from the usual collection of roadside restaurants and coffee shops. Unfortunately, I don't remember much else about the place other than stopping to photograph the sign more than two decades ago.
UPDATE: Pretty sure this place and sign are gone. The photo was taken over twenty years ago and I haven't been able to locate any record of the restaurant. If anyone knows more about the Red House or what became of the sign, feel free to drop me a line. 06-26
