Pig'n Whistle (Gone)
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

The Pig'n Whistle looks like the kind of place that would be worth pulling over for. Check out the colorful marquee out front inviting hungry travelers inside for some barbecue. Along Colfax Avenue, a street once packed with motels, diners, lounges, and neon signs, the Pig'n Whistle was one of the roadside landmarks that helped define the strip.

The Pig'n Whistle traces its roots back to 1924 when local boxer Eddie Bohn opened a gas station and barbecue stand on West Colfax. Bohn later became a sparring partner and lifelong friend of heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, and over the years the business grew into a restaurant, lounge, and motel complex. The place attracted everyone from local politicians and businessmen to athletes, entertainers, and travelers passing through Denver. If you spent enough time at the Pig, chances are you'd have a story to tell.

UPDATE: The Pig'n Whistle is now a cannabis dispensary. The original motel complex closed in 1991 and was largely demolished, while the restaurant building later burned in a 2010 fire. Fortunately, one piece of the Pig's roadside legacy remains. The large Eddie Bohn motel sign still stands along Colfax as a reminder of an era when the avenue glowed with neon from one end to the other. 06-26

Thunderbird Restaurant
Mt Carmel, UT
Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo

Check out this fantastic marquee outside the Thunderbird Restaurant near Zion National Park. The sign looks especially good at night when the neon comes alive and lights up the roadside. Travelers have been stopping at the Thunderbird for decades, making it one of the classic dining stops in southern Utah.

The Thunderbird dates back to 1931 and is famous for its "Ho-Made Pies." According to local lore, founder Jack Morrison ran out of room while painting the original wooden sign and shortened "homemade" to "Ho-Made." What started as a simple space-saving decision eventually became one of the restaurant's trademarks and a familiar sight to generations of travelers.

The pies are the real attraction here. Favorites include Apple Pie drizzled with hot buttered rum sauce, Chocolate Cream, and Strawberry Rhubarb. The restaurant is part of the Best Western East Zion Thunderbird Lodge complex and remains a popular stop for visitors exploring Zion and the surrounding red rock country.

Red House (Gone)
Orem, UT
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The Red House in Orem, Utah featured a colorful neon lantern and roadside sign advertising its "all u can eat" offerings. The lantern gave the place a distinctive look and helped it stand out from the usual collection of roadside restaurants and coffee shops. Unfortunately, I don't remember much else about the place other than stopping to photograph the sign more than two decades ago.

UPDATE: Pretty sure this place and sign are gone. The photo was taken over twenty years ago and I haven't been able to locate any record of the restaurant. If anyone knows more about the Red House or what became of the sign, feel free to drop me a line. 06-26

Pfeifer's Restaurant (Demolished)
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

Pfeifer's Restaurant is another mid-century roadside gem from Denver. Check out the classic neon sign and lounge that once welcomed customers along Colfax Avenue. The place had the look of a supper club from a bygone era and seemed right at home among the motels, restaurants, and neon that once lined the avenue.

Pfeifer's was more than just a place to grab a meal. The restaurant featured an in-house jazz band and became a popular gathering spot for Aurora and Denver politicians, businessmen, and local power brokers. If walls could talk, this place probably had a few stories to tell.

UPDATE: After Pfeifer's closed in 1994, the original building was demolished to make way for new retail development. The location later housed a number of businesses including the Little Wagon Steakhouse, Cantina Grill, El Bakara Bar, El Metapan, and most recently the Copa. The restaurant may be gone, but for many years its neon sign was a familiar sight along Colfax Avenue. 06-26

Bastien's Restaurant
Denver, CO
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

Another roadside eatery along Colfax Avenue, Bastien's Restaurant boldly declares itself to have the best steak in town. Check out the vintage sign and googie-inspired restaurant that have been catching the eyes of hungry motorists for decades. Along a street once packed with neon-lit motels, diners, and lounges, Bastien's remains one of the classic survivors.

Bastien's is best known as the home of the famous Sugar Steak. The restaurant's signature sugar rub caramelizes on the grill, creating a sweet and savory crust that has become a local favorite. Whether you're stopping in for a steak dinner or simply admiring the sign outside, Bastien's has become a Denver institution.

The current building dates to 1958/1959 and occupies the former site of the Moon Drive-In. Originally, owner William Bastien considered opening another drive-in restaurant before deciding on a sit-down supper club instead. That decision seems to have worked out pretty well. Today, Bastien's is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to serve customers beneath one of Colfax Avenue's memorable roadside signs. 09-10