Anchor Lounge (Gone)
Pueblo, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Anchor Lounge in Pueblo featured a marquee that perfectly matched its name. Yes indeed, it was shaped like an anchor. Now anchor on that for a bit.

The nautical-themed sign helped the tavern stand out from the crowd and gave the business a look all its own. With neon outlining the anchor shape, it was the kind of roadside display that was hard to overlook, even in a city known for its collection of vintage signs.

UPDATE: The Anchor Lounge is no longer in operation, and the distinctive anchor-shaped sign has since been removed. While the business is gone, photographs of the unusual marquee help preserve the memory of one of Pueblo's more creative roadside tavern signs. 06-26

Green Gander Bar
Green River, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Give this bar a gander when you're traveling through Green River. The Green Gander Bar still features a strolling goose perched atop its neon sign, making it one of the more memorable roadside displays in town.

The sign perfectly matches the business name and adds a little personality to the streetscape. Between the glowing lettering and the walking goose overhead, it's the kind of sign that's hard to drive past without taking a second look.

UPDATE: The Green Gander remains in operation and is recognized as the oldest continuously operating bar site in Green River. The business now operates as the Green Gander Bar and Drive Through, while the original neon sign and its strolling goose continue to welcome customers just as they have for decades. 06-26

Branch Inn (Gone)
Pueblo, CO
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

At first glance, the Branch Inn's towering vertical marquee looks more like a theater sign than one belonging to a neighborhood tavern. Rising above the street, the sign became one of Pueblo's most recognizable neon landmarks and helped give the business a larger-than-life presence.

The Branch Inn operated for decades in downtown Pueblo since 1952 and became a familiar gathering place for generations of locals. While the business itself is gone, its distinctive marquee remains one of the city's most remembered pieces of roadside architecture.

UPDATE: The building that housed the Branch Inn was destroyed in a natural gas explosion on November 13, 2008. Although the structure was lost, portions of the iconic sign were recovered and restored. Today, the marquee is preserved as part of Pueblo's Neon Alley, where it continues to shine as a reminder of one of the city's best-known landmarks. 06-26

Rustic Pine Tavern
Dubois, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

You don't have to spend much time in Dubois before spotting the Rustic Pine Tavern. With its log construction and old-west character, the building looks right at home against the backdrop of Wyoming's Wind River Country.

The Rustic Pine Tavern has been a local gathering place for generations and is often promoted as the "World's Most Unique Bar." Its rustic appearance and western atmosphere have made it a longtime landmark for both residents and travelers passing through town. The Rustic, built in 1919, used to host community meetings in its dance hall. 

UPDATE: The Rustic Pine Tavern remains in operation and continues to serve as one of Dubois' best-known watering holes. In 2020, it became the town's first completely smoke-free bar. The tavern still offers pool tables, darts, food, and live entertainment while preserving the rustic character that has made it a local landmark for decades. 06-26

Montana Bar (Closed)
Great Falls, MT
Photo courtesy Lumaclar Production House

The Montana Bar certainly didn't leave visitors guessing where they were. Its most distinctive feature was a sign shaped like the state of Montana, making it one of the more memorable roadside displays in Great Falls.

Mounted above the front facade, the state-shaped sign helped the bar stand out from neighboring businesses and became a recognizable local landmark. Sometimes the simplest ideas work best, and a giant glowing outline of Montana was hard to miss after dark. 08-06

UPDATE: The Montana Bar is no longer in operation. While the building and business have changed over the years, photographs of the state-shaped sign continue to preserve the memory of one of Great Falls' more distinctive roadside attractions. 06-26

Silver Spur Wendell, ID Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn The Silver Spur is hard to miss thanks to the oversized boot-and-spur sign perched on its roof. From some angles, the giant western boot almost looks ready for takeoff, giving the sign a bit more motion than its steel construction would suggest. The rooftop display has long been one of Wendell's more recognizable roadside landmarks. Complete with a silver spur extending from the heel, the sign perfectly matches the business name and adds a touch of western flair to downtown's streetscape. UPDATE: The Silver Spur remains in operation and continues to welcome visitors under its longtime name. The iconic rooftop boot-and-spur sign is still in place, serving as one of Wendell's most distinctive roadside attractions and a familiar sight for travelers passing through town. 06-26