Srlewsky's Jewelry
Centralia, WA
Photo courtesy Devil Doll

That glowing neon diamond is enough to stop you in your tracks. Salewsky's Jewelry has been brightening downtown Centralia for generations with one of the town's most recognizable signs. 04-05

The family business opened in 1947 and is still going strong today. While the jewelry draws customers inside, the vintage neon is what catches your eye from the sidewalk. It's a perfect fit for one of Washington's classic downtown streets.

UPDATE: Salewsky's Jewelry remains family owned, and the neon diamond still shines over the storefront. 07-26

Royal Oaks Mobile Manor (Gone)
Medford, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The vintage Royal Oaks Mobile Manor sign is one of those roadside survivors with quite a story behind it. Standing along the old Pacific Highway, the colorful neon welcomed travelers for decades and still catches the eye today. Photo date: 03-06

When this photo was taken, Royal Oaks was a longtime mobile home park with one of Southern Oregon's classic neon signs. Everything changed in 2020 when the devastating Almeda Fire destroyed the entire community. Remarkably, the familiar roadside sign survived while nearly everything around it was lost.

Today the property has been rebuilt as a new affordable housing community, but the old neon sign remains as a link to the park that once stood here. It's a reminder that sometimes a roadside sign outlasts the place it was built to advertise.

UPDATE: Although the original Royal Oaks Mobile Manor was destroyed in the 2020 Almeda Fire, its vintage neon sign still survives beside the rebuilt community. 07-26

Wentworth Chevytown (Gone)
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

For years, the giant Wentworth Chevytown sign was one of Portland's most recognizable landmarks. Towering above SE Grand Avenue, the huge red neon letters could be seen from across the Willamette River, reminding motorists that this was the place to shop for a new Chevrolet. Photo date: 03-06

The dealership carried on a long Portland automotive tradition, but it was the massive rooftop sign that most people remember. In the days before sprawling freeway auto malls, signs like this turned dealerships into roadside attractions all their own.

Sadly, the landmark disappeared in 2013 when the aging sign was removed after decades overlooking the city. The dealership has since changed hands and now operates as Subaru of Portland, but longtime Portlanders still remember the days when "Chevytown" lit up the skyline.

UPDATE: The Wentworth Chevytown dealership is gone, and its iconic rooftop neon sign no longer survives. 07-26

Jackson Wellsprings
Ashland, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Traveling along Highway 99 just north of Ashland, it's hard not to notice the vintage Jackson WellSprings sign. The glowing neon has been welcoming visitors for decades to one of Southern Oregon's most unusual destinations. Photo date: 03-06

Known for its naturally warm mineral waters, Jackson WellSprings has been drawing people here since the 1800s. Long before it became a spa and retreat, the springs were a gathering place for Native American tribes and later developed into one of Oregon's earliest resort destinations.

The sign fits the place perfectly. It has that classic roadside look that promises something a little different just beyond the entrance. Even today, it remains one of the more distinctive neon signs along old Highway 99.

UPDATE: Jackson WellSprings continues to welcome visitors, and its vintage neon sign still greets travelers along Highway 99. 07-26

Riverside Inn (Rem.)
Grants Pass, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The vintage Riverside Inn sign has been greeting travelers to Grants Pass for years. Topped with its distinctive star, it's the kind of roadside marquee that catches your eye before you even notice the hotel. Photo date: 03-06

Located along the Rogue River near the historic Caveman Bridge, the Riverside Inn has long been a popular stop for visitors exploring Southern Oregon. The classic sign fits right in with the vintage character of this stretch of town and adds a little extra charm to the approach.

Sometimes it's the little details that make a sign memorable. In this case, it's that simple star perched on top, giving the marquee just enough personality to stand out from the crowd.

UPDATE: The Riverside Inn continues welcoming guests, and its classic roadside sign appears to be gone these days. 07-26

OK Market
Medford, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The O.K. Market sign has been brightening Riverside Avenue in Medford for generations. With every letter outlined in glowing neon, it's the kind of neighborhood grocery sign that's becoming harder and harder to find. Photo date: 03-06

The market opened here in 1948 and has remained a familiar stop ever since. Years ago it was a full-service neighborhood grocery with a butcher shop and home delivery. Today it's still serving the community, while the vintage sign continues to do what it has always done: catch the attention of passing motorists.

Simple signs like this don't need flashy gimmicks. Bright neon, bold lettering, and a neighborhood market are all it takes to create a roadside landmark.

UPDATE: O.K. Market remains open, and its classic neon sign continues to light up Riverside Avenue. 07-26

SOS (Closed)
Medford, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

At first glance, the S.O.S. sign almost looks like it's calling for help. Instead, it points to an important part of Southern Oregon's agricultural history. Photo date: 03-06

The initials stood for Southern Oregon Sales, a longtime fruit-packing cooperative that handled pears from orchards throughout the Rogue Valley. For decades, the warehouse behind the sign was a busy place during harvest season as thousands of boxes of fruit were sorted, packed, and shipped across the country.

The packing operation is gone today, but the vintage sign remains standing along Riverside Avenue. It's one of those signs that makes you wonder about its story until you learn what those three simple letters really meant.

UPDATE: The former Southern Oregon Sales property has been repurposed, while the classic S.O.S. sign still survives. 07-26

Oregon Leather Company
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The old Oregon Leather Company sign has been hanging over Portland's Old Town for generations. Even when the neon isn't glowing, the tall blade sign is hard to miss and remains one of the neighborhood's classic storefront landmarks. Photo date: 03-06

Founded in 1908, Oregon Leather has supplied everyone from saddle makers and shoe repair shops to leather craftsmen for well over a century. The vintage sign became a familiar sight for anyone wandering the warehouses and storefronts along Northwest 2nd Avenue.

For many years the sign sat dark, but it was beautifully restored in 2011, bringing its neon back to life after decades of silence. It's another great example of how an old sign can become just as memorable as the business it represents.

UPDATE: Oregon Leather Company remains in business, and its restored vintage sign continues to watch over Portland's Old Town. 07-26