Trudy's Tavern (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
If you traveled old Highway 99 through the Seattle area, you probably noticed Trudy's Tavern. The colorful marquee had a fun mix of shapes and bright colors, and that oversized "BAR" panel gave it a personality all its own. It was the kind of sign that looked like it had been updated over the years without ever losing its mid-century charm.
Trudy's sat along a stretch of road once filled with motels, taverns, drive-ins, and neon. Places came and went, but signs like this helped make Highway 99 an interesting road to explore. Even if you never stopped for a drink, the marquee was worth slowing down for. Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
One thing I always liked about this sign was that it didn't look perfect. It looked like it had grown with the business over the years, with different styles and additions all coming together into something uniquely its own.
UPDATE: Trudy's Tavern was demolished in 2011, and the old roadside sign was removed. A Taco Time now occupies the site. 07-26
Wonder Bur
Grants Pass, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Wonder Bur has one of those signs that makes you wonder how you could ever drive past without stopping. The giant boomerang, glowing neon, and clock perched on top are pure Googie, giving the whole place the look of a roadside attraction instead of just another cafe. Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Wonder Bur has been welcoming travelers since the 1930s, and somewhere along the way its name changed from "Wonder Bar" to "Wonder Bur." Fortunately, the spectacular marquee never lost its personality. It's one of those signs that captures the optimism of the 1950s, when bigger, brighter, and bolder always seemed to be the goal.
I spent a nice evening here sitting outside, talking with some of the locals while waiting for the neon to come alive. Watching the sign slowly light up against the fading sunset made it easy to understand why this has become one of my favorite signs in Oregon. Sometimes it's the conversations and simply lingering until the lights come on that make a stop memorable.
UPDATE: The Wonder Bur remains open, and its classic boomerang sign and vintage clock continue to light up downtown Grants Pass. 07-26
The Owl Club (Gone)
Grants Pass, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The bright green neon at The Owl Club made this one hard to miss. Between the glowing script and the owl perched above the sign, it was one of those places that seemed to come alive after dark. Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Owl Club had been part of downtown Grants Pass for generations and earned a reputation as one of the city's longtime neighborhood bars. Long before it became a tavern, the building housed a billiard parlor, and over the years it welcomed everyone from local regulars to a pair of former major league baseball players who owned the business. The owl was always the real attraction, though. It gave the sign a personality that fit the name perfectly and made it one of my favorite neon signs in southern Oregon.
UPDATE: The Owl Club closed in the early 2000s and became G Street Bar and Grill. The original owl sign was removed during the change. 07-26
Harvey's Tavern
Seattle, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
If you're traveling old Highway 99 north of Seattle, it's hard not to notice the smiling bunny watching over Harvey's
Tavern. Perched high above the road, the bright neon rabbit gives the sign a personality that's every bit as memorable as the tavern below. Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Harvey's has been a familiar stop along Highway 99 for generations. Long before it became a neighborhood tavern, the site welcomed travelers as a roadside inn and dance hall. Today it's the bunny that most people remember, glowing over the traffic and inviting motorists to pull in.
I've always liked signs that don't take themselves too seriously, and this one certainly fits that description. Imagine leaving the tavern late in the evening and seeing that cheerful neon rabbit smiling down from above. It's hard not to smile back.
UPDATE: Harvey's Tavern is still open and the sign now says Harvey's Lounge. The classic neon bunny continues welcoming travelers along Highway 99. 07-26
The Alibi Tiki Lounge
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
It's hard to miss The Alibi Tiki Lounge after dark. The tall neon sign glows along North Interstate Avenue, promising something a little different than the businesses around it. It looks inviting from the street, but the real surprise comes after you step inside. Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
The Alibi has been a Portland landmark since the 1940s and remains one of the oldest tiki lounges in the country. The moment you walk through the door, the outside world seems to disappear. Bamboo, carved wood, tropical touches, and soft lighting create the feeling that you've wandered into another time and another place.
Step inside and the Polynesian theme continues with bamboo, carved wood, and a huge hula mural covering one wall. The Alibi opened as a tiki lounge in 1947 and is considered one of the country's oldest surviving original tiki bars. It's also been home to Portland karaoke for decades, giving visitors one more reason to stop in after admiring the neon outside.
One of my favorite features is the large mural that stretches across the wall. Under the dim lighting it almost seems to glow, adding even more atmosphere to a room that already feels like a tropical hideaway. It's worth taking a few minutes to look around because there's something interesting almost everywhere you turn.
The Alibi Tiki Lounge
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
Places like this are becoming harder to find. The Alibi isn't just about the food or the drinks. It's about the complete experience, from the towering neon sign outside to the wonderfully over-the-top interior waiting inside.
UPDATE: The Alibi Tiki Lounge remains open, and both the classic neon sign and its tropical interior continue welcoming visitors. 07-26
Comet Tavern
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Chris Richey
The Comet Tavern has one of those neon signs that stands out even in the daytime. Maybe it's Seattle's gray skies, but the bright colors seem to glow whether the sign is lit or not. Photo courtesy Chris Richey
The Comet has been a Capitol Hill fixture since the 1950s and has welcomed generations of locals, musicians, and visitors. Its classic neon has become just as much a part of the neighborhood as the tavern itself.
UPDATE: The Comet Tavern is still open, and the neon sign continues to light up Capitol Hill. 07-26
Bern's Tavern
Prosser, WA Photo courtesy Van
It's hard to drive past Bern's Tavern without noticing the giant neon "EAT" sign. Even if you weren't hungry before, those three glowing letters have a way of making you think twice. Photo courtesy Van
Bern's has been a Prosser landmark for well over a century and is one of Washington's oldest continually operating taverns. The food has always been part of its appeal, and that memorable marquee has been inviting hungry travelers inside for generations.
Sometimes the simplest signs are the most effective. This one does its job with just three letters.
UPDATE: Bern's Tavern is still serving food and drinks, and the classic neon "EAT" sign continues to welcome visitors. 07-26
Trudy's Tavern (Gone)
Wonder Bur
The Owl Club (Gone)
The Alibi Tiki Lounge
Comet Tavern
Bern's Tavern
