Hat 'n' Boots
Seattle, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Long before giant coffee cups and oversized dinosaurs became roadside attractions, travelers on Highway 99 in Seattle could stop for gas beneath a gigantic cowboy hat. Hat
'n' Boots wasn't just another service station—it was one of those unforgettable roadside stops that made a road trip a little more memorable. The hat served as the station office, while the matching cowboy boots housed the restrooms. 11-20
Originally opened as the Premium Tex Service Station, Hat 'n' Boots was the centerpiece of the Frontier Village shopping center. Even during an era filled with eye-catching signs and creative architecture, this place stood out. It quickly became one of Seattle's best-known roadside landmarks, drawing smiles and plenty of family photos.
When Interstate 5 pulled traffic away from old Highway 99, the station eventually closed and sat abandoned for years. Fortunately, local residents stepped in before it disappeared forever. Today, the giant hat and boots have been beautifully restored at nearby Oxbow Park, where they continue to delight visitors and remind us that even a simple stop for gas could become a roadside legend.
UPDATE: Hat 'n' Boots survives today at Oxbow Park in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood, where this beloved roadside landmark has been carefully restored for future generations. 07-26
Save On Gas
Aurora, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Some old signs look like they've been part of the landscape forever. Save On Gas is one of those. Perched on a weathered post outside an old service station in Aurora, it has the kind of faded charm that makes you wonder how many motorists have driven past without giving it a second glance. 03-06
There's nothing flashy about this sign, and that's exactly what makes it appealing. It belongs to an era when independent gas stations dotted the highways, each with its own personality instead of the familiar chain logos we see today. It's easy to imagine travelers along old Highway 99E spotting this sign as they rolled through town looking for their next fill-up.
Save On Gas
Aurora, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Sometimes it's the simplest roadside survivors that tell the biggest stories. The old pumps may be gone and the station may have changed over the years, but the sign still captures a little piece of what highway travel used to be like.
UPDATE: The current status of the former Save On Gas station couldn't be confirmed. Whether the old sign still stands or not, photos like this help preserve another disappearing piece of roadside America. 07-26
Signal Gas
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Mike Siebert
Some buildings are impossible to drive past without making a U-turn. Signal Gas is one of them. Originally built in 1939 as the St. Johns Signal Tower Gas Station, its streamlined tower, glowing neon, and vintage gas pumps make it look like something straight out of the late 1930s. The bands of neon wrapping around the building almost make it glow like a movie set after dark, while the restored pumps out front complete the picture. It's one of those rare places that makes you wish every old gas station had been saved. 06-06
Signal Oil built these tower stations to grab the attention of passing motorists, and nearly ninety years later this one is still doing exactly that. Even the old service bay remains, reminding visitors that this was once a working neighborhood filling station where Portland drivers stopped for gas, oil, and repairs.The art deco looking architecture is very eye-catching.
Signal Gas pumps and close-up
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Mike Siebert
After the station closed, the building spent years serving other purposes before an ambitious restoration brought it back to life. Using original Signal Oil specifications, nearly every visible detail was recreated, from the custom neon and period paint colors to the vintage Bennett gas pumps standing out front. The effort was so authentic that the building earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today it's hard to imagine the St. Johns neighborhood without this little Art Deco gem. Whether you're there for pizza or just passing by, it's a reminder that roadside architecture can be every bit as memorable as the cars that once pulled beneath its canopy.
Signal Gas pumps and close-up
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Mike Siebert
UPDATE: Today the beautifully restored St. Johns Signal Tower Gas Station is home to Signal Station Pizza. The neon still lights up the building, the vintage pumps remain out front, and the former service bay now welcomes hungry customers instead of automobiles. 07-26
Gas Station
Grants Pass, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
There's something about old neighborhood gas stations that makes you wonder how many travelers have stopped there over the years. This former Gas Station in Grants Pass has a style all its own, with architecture that stands out from the ordinary service stations that once lined America's highways. 11-20
Long before convenience stores became part of every fill-up, stations like this were landmarks for motorists. They had character, distinctive designs, and often reflected the personality of the community they served. Even after the pumps are gone, many of these buildings remain some of the most recognizable reminders of the early days of the automobile.
Save On Gas
Save On Gas
Gas Station
