Par King Golf (Demolished)
Morton Grove, IL
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

The castle-inspired Par-King Golf entrance sign promised something more entertaining than an ordinary putting green.

The Morton Grove attraction began in the late 1950s at 4G Fairways—George’s Gorgeous Golfing Garden. A miniature course intended for golfers’ children became the main attraction, eventually replacing the driving range and earning a national reputation. Quite a turn of events for the kiddie activity. 08-17

UPDATE: The Morton Grove course closed in 2003 and was demolished in 2005. The family-owned Par-King tradition continues at its larger Lincolnshire location. 06-26

Mount Clemens Federal Savings and Loan Association (Closed)
Mt. Clemens, MI
Photo courtesy Dave Dudek

The Mount Clemens Federal Savings and Loan Association gave banking a futuristic setting. Designed by William Kessler and opened in 1961, its sweeping concrete roof and glass walls stood apart from the usual stone-columned bank.

With the roof rising at each corner, even depositing a paycheck could feel like visiting a Space Age pavilion. Some of the best roadside architecture was waiting at the neighborhood bank. 08-17

UPDATE: The former bank has found a new use. Its distinctive roofline and glass walls survive, keeping this modern landmark part of Mt. Clemens. 06-26

Bank One (Gone)
Columbus, OH
Photo courtesy Michael Sekeres

This Bank One branch in Columbus looked ready to handle deposits from another planet. The dome housed two drive-through windows, a walk-up window and an ATM, with no public lobby.

Designed around the automobile, it made banking convenient while giving motorists something unusual to admire. A paycheck deposit rarely came with such a convincing spaceport setting. 08-17

UPDATE: The distinctive dome has reportedly disappeared. Like many standalone banking facilities lost during consolidation, this little space pod is now a roadside memory. 06-26

Papa's Pancake House (Demolished)
Indianapolis, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

Check out the roofline on Papa's Pancake House in Indianapolis. This longtime local favorite had been serving hungry customers since at least 1971.

Its dramatic A-frame roof was impossible to miss from nearby Interstate 465. During the 1960s and 1970s, restaurants often used bold architecture instead of towering signs to grab the attention of passing motorists. The steep roofline became Papa's trademark, making the building just as memorable as the pancakes served inside.

For generations of Indianapolis residents, Papa's was more than just a breakfast stop. It became a popular late-night gathering place where shift workers, families, and night owls all seemed to cross paths. 03-07

UPDATE: Papa's Pancake House has closed after decades of serving the east side of Indianapolis. The building was demolished and replaced with a Bank of America building during the pandemic. 06-26

Sharkey's Bar and Restaurant
IN
Photo and info courtesy Emily Steele

Here's Sharkey's Bar and Restaurant, a neighborhood spot that may no longer be in business. The roadside sign is the real attraction, with its bold lettering and unmistakable shark mascot welcoming customers from the road. 03-07

Signs like this gave independent taverns their own personality and often became just as memorable as the food and drinks served inside. Whether you stopped in for dinner, a cold beer, or simply drove past on your way home, colorful roadside advertising helped define the character of countless small-town and neighborhood business districts.

UPDATE: The current status of Sharkey's Bar and Restaurant and its roadside sign has not been confirmed. If the business has closed, photographs like this preserve another example of the colorful independent tavern signs that once lined roads throughout the Midwest. 06-26