Golden Steer (Gone)
Sheridan, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

This vertical marquee sits in the parking lot of the Golden Steer Restaurant in Sheridan, Wyoming. Check out the large steer perched atop the sign. The western-themed marquee was hard to miss and helped make the Golden Steer one of Sheridan's better-known roadside dining spots.

The Golden Steer traces its roots back to a building near Fort Road that was originally known as the Halfway House. Over the years, the restaurant grew into a popular gathering place for locals and visitors alike. In addition to dining, the Golden Steer became known for its lounge, live music, dancing, and western atmosphere. For many Sheridan residents, this was the place to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a night on the town.

UPDATE: The original Golden Steer on North Main Street closed in the early 1990s. The restaurant later made a brief attempt to continue operations at another location on Sheridan Avenue before closing permanently. While the restaurant is gone today, the Golden Steer remains a fondly remembered part of Sheridan's roadside history. The place is now vacant. 06-26

Harman KFC
Photo courtesy Shawn Church

Check out the vintage Harman KFC sign in Salt Lake City, Utah. The towering marquee features a larger-than-life Colonel Sanders watching over the roadside below. There's something a little eerie about the Colonel's face glowing against the night sky, but that's part of what makes this sign so memorable. Long before modern fast-food chains adopted standardized designs, signs like this were built to grab your attention.

The Harman Cafe was much more than a neighborhood diner. This site played a major role in the history of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Pete and Arline Harman operated a successful restaurant here when Pete struck a deal with Colonel Harland Sanders in 1952. The partnership helped launch the world's first KFC franchise and introduced millions of customers to Sanders' fried chicken. Pete Harman is also credited with popularizing the phrase "Finger Lickin' Good" and helping develop several ideas that became part of the KFC brand.

UPDATE: The original Harman Cafe building was demolished in 2004, but the location continues to operate as a KFC restaurant today. The site now includes a museum dedicated to the early history of Kentucky Fried Chicken, complete with memorabilia, exhibits, and a replica of the original Harman Cafe. While the building may be gone, the legacy of the Harman Cafe and its famous Colonel sign continue to draw visitors from around the world. 06-26

Dee's Family Restaurant
Salt Lake City, UT
Photo courtesy Jack Wright

Dee's Family Restaurant looks like a quintessential slice of neon-lit Americana. Check out the glowing marquee outside that has been drawing hungry locals, college students, and late-night crowds for decades. Along the streets of Salt Lake City, Dee's remains a comforting reminder of a time when family-owned diners and coffee shops ruled the roadside.

The restaurant traces its roots back to 1931 when Dee Frederick Anderson borrowed $35 and opened a small hamburger stand. The business eventually grew into a Utah institution, expanding into a chain of Dee's Drive-Ins and family restaurants found throughout the state. Generations of Utahns have slid into these booths for burgers, breakfast, and a cup of coffee beneath the glow of the familiar Dee's sign.

UPDATE: While many of the original Dee's locations have disappeared over the years, a handful of restaurants continue to operate along the Wasatch Front. The Sugar House location remains one of the best known and even appeared in the 2005 film The World's Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins. The red neon still burns bright, making Dee's one of Utah's surviving roadside classics. 06-26

Irma Grill
Cody, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The Irma Grill looks like a magnificent step back into the Old West. Check out the classic storefront along Sheridan Avenue in downtown Cody. Located just down the street from the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Irma has been welcoming travelers, ranchers, and tourists for well over a century.

The hotel was built by Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody in 1902 and named after his youngest daughter, Irma. Inside is one of the hotel's most famous attractions, a massive cherrywood bar reportedly presented to Buffalo Bill by Queen Victoria following a performance of his Wild West Show. That's not the kind of souvenir you pick up every day.

UPDATE: The Irma Grill is still going strong as part of the historic Irma Hotel. Visitors can enjoy a meal, relax in the Silver Saddle Saloon, or simply soak in the western atmosphere that helped make Cody famous. If you happen to visit during the summer months, you may even catch one of the Wild West gunfight reenactments staged right outside along Sheridan Avenue. Buffalo Bill would probably approve. 06-26

Denny's
Boise ID
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

Here's an old familiar sign for roadside travelers in the West. This Denny'ssign in Boise, Idaho sports the older lettering and not the newer diner-inspired look found at many locations today. For anyone who spent time on the road during the 1970s and 1980s, this sign may bring back a few memories.

Denny's has long been a dependable stop for hungry travelers, whether it was a late-night meal, an early breakfast, or a quick cup of coffee before getting back on the highway. While the food may have changed over the years, the older signs and architecture have become increasingly rare as locations adopt newer branding.

It's easy to overlook a place like Denny's because there were once so many of them. Yet surviving signs like this are becoming roadside relics in their own right. Sometimes the familiar places are worth a second look.

Pass Key (Closed)
Pueblo, CO
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Here's the sign for the Pass Key in Pueblo, Colorado. This longtime sandwich shop is known for its Italian sausage sandwich, a local favorite that has been drawing hungry customers for generations. The vintage sign out front is a reminder of the days when family-owned eateries helped define the roadside landscape. 10-05

The Pass Key traces its roots back to 1952 and grew alongside Pueblo's historic steel industry. Originally operating as a drive-in, the restaurant became a popular stop for steelworkers, locals, and travelers alike. Its signature Italian sausage sandwich remains the star of the menu and has earned a loyal following well beyond southern Colorado.

UPDATE: While the original Abriendo Avenue location closed in 2022, the Pass Key tradition lives on. Family members continue serving the famous sausage sandwiches at other Pueblo-area locations, keeping one of the city's best-known roadside food traditions alive. The original sign may bring back memories, but fortunately the sandwiches haven't disappeared. 06-26

Kitty Pappas Steak House (Demolished)
Woods Cross, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

This interestingly shaped sign stood tall at the Kitty Pappas Steak House just north of Salt Lake City. The towering marquee featured a distinctive winged design and was hard to miss for motorists traveling along Highway 89. The tall, eye-catching sign alone was worth slowing down for. 10-06

Kitty Pappas traced its roots back to 1947 and became a longtime favorite for locals looking for a good steak dinner. The restaurant remained family owned for decades, and Kitty Pappas herself became something of a local legend, continuing to cook and greet customers well into her 90s. Stepping inside was like taking a trip back in time, complete with classic décor, homemade desserts, and a no-frills atmosphere that seemed increasingly rare in the modern world.

UPDATE: The Kitty Pappas Steak House closed following the passing of its beloved namesake in 2022. Despite efforts by community members to save the iconic sign, the building and marquee were ultimately demolished to make way for redevelopment. While the restaurant is gone today, many Utah residents still remember Kitty Pappas as one of the state's classic roadside dining destinations. 06-26