Jasper's Restaurant
Muskogee, OK Photo courtesy Greg West
Check out the lettering at Jasper's Restaurant in Muskogee. No towering neon or animation needed here—the distinctive letterforms give the place an identity of its own.
Independent restaurants often relied on a recognizable appearance as much as advertising budgets. Jasper’s sign recalls the days when custom lettering could make an ordinary storefront worth a second look.
For roadside fans, that typography is the attraction. Sometimes the smallest details provide a good reason to slow down and get the camera out. 08-06
Metro Diner (Demolished)
Tulsa, OK Photo courtesy Matthias Tippner
The Metro Diner brought chrome, neon and retro style to Tulsa’s Route 66. Opened in 1984 inside a former Skelly station, it looked older than it was—and dressed the part enthusiastically. 01-07
Students, highway travelers and car enthusiasts gathered beside the University of Tulsa on 11th Street. Glass blocks, memorabilia and a modified 1957 Chevrolet hostess station completed the scene. The diner closed on November 26, 2006, for university-area redevelopment.
UPDATE: The Metro Diner has been demolished due to the expansion of the Tulsa University campus. Many thanks to Cathie Miller for update. 04-08
UPDATE: Student housing and related development now occupy the site. Fortunately, the restaurant's iconic neon roadside sign was saved and relocated to Tulsa's Stokely Event Center, where it remains preserved today. 06-26
Kaisers Ice Cream
Oklahoma City, OK Photos courtesy Chris Small
Here is a vintage ice cream shop called Kaisers Ice Cream in downtown Oklahoma City. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has long been one of the city's most recognizable soda fountains. Over the years it has also been known as Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe, combining a historic ice cream parlor with a neighborhood cafe.
The business traces its roots back to 1910 when Swiss immigrant Tony Kaiser entered the ice cream business. In 1917, the operation moved into the building it still occupies today. Kaiser's became famous for its rich homemade ice cream, frozen desserts, and classic soda fountain atmosphere. Much of that historic character survives, including the beautiful tile fountain counter, pressed-tin ceiling, and decorative mirrors that transport visitors back to an earlier era.
Kaisers Ice Cream
Oklahoma City, OK Photos courtesy Chris Small
While countless soda fountains disappeared during the second half of the twentieth century, Kaiser's managed to survive through a variety of ownership changes and changing tastes. The building's preservation played an important role in the revival of Oklahoma City's Midtown district and remains one of the neighborhood's most beloved historic landmarks. 05-08
UPDATE: The historic building remains standing and continues to operate as Kaiser's Grateful Bean Cafe. The vintage exterior signage remains in place, while the restaurant continues serving ice cream, burgers, sandwiches, and other favorites in one of Oklahoma City's most authentic old-fashioned soda fountain settings. 06-26
Ox Yoke Inn (Removed)
Amana, IA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Ox Yoke Inn has served hearty German-American meals in Amana since 1940. Its sandstone building dates to 1856, giving visitors a historic setting for the restaurant’s familiar family-style dining.
The neon sign offered a different sort of attraction. Dating from around 1950, its Art Deco styling and integrated clock stood apart from the surrounding nineteenth-century buildings. A little mid-century roadside flair looked right at home here, even if it arrived considerably later than the stone walls.
Unfortunately, the marquee was removed in September 2008 to comply with an Amana Colonies ordinance prohibiting exterior neon. Visitors could still stop for dinner, but checking the time above the entrance became a thing of the past. 12-08
UPDATE: The Ox Yoke Inn remains open in its historic building. The distinctive neon sign is no longer displayed and was reportedly placed in storage after its removal. The meals continue, though roadside fans have one less reason to look up before heading inside. 06-26
Charcoal Oven (Gone)
Oklahoma City, OK Photo courtesy Bill Jackson
The Charcoal Oven sign could make you hungry before reaching the parking lot. Its smiling chef and bold mid-century design welcomed generations along Oklahoma City’s Northwest Expressway.
David Wilson opened the drive-in in 1958, serving charcoal-broiled burgers, onion rings, hickory sauce and Chick-a-Doodle-Doo sandwiches. Nearly sixty years later, a permit for a Discount Tire store signaled the approaching end. Closing was scheduled for September 2016. 09-16
UPDATE: The original closed on September 11, 2016, and was demolished. A 2021 revival closed in 2025. The sign was donated to the Billboard Museum, though its current display status remains unconfirmed. 06-26
El Rancho Grande
Tulsa, OK Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The El Rancho Grande sign adds another bright stop to Tulsa’s Route 66. With the Meadow Gold sign nearby, there’s plenty to admire along this stretch of 11th Street.
Opened downtown in 1950, the restaurant moved here in 1953. Its elaborate neon, featuring a sombrero and animated figure, became as much an attraction as the food. A 2009 restoration helped keep the display glowing. 08-17
UPDATE: El Rancho Grande remains open. I finally stopped in during 2026 and found the food good, though somewhat Americanized. Between the meal and the neon outside, it was worth the visit. 06-26
Tally's Cafe
Tulsa, OK Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The script neon above Tally's Good Food Cafe gives Tulsa’s Route 66 another welcoming glow. It’s a familiar advertisement for hungry locals and highway travelers.
Tally Alame took over the former Mark and Mary’s restaurant in 1987. Generous breakfasts, cinnamon rolls and chicken-fried steak helped build its following, with retro surroundings completing the diner experience.
Closing rumors circulated in 2015, but the restaurant kept serving. Fortunately, those cinnamon rolls weren’t ready for retirement. 08-17
UPDATE: Tally’s remains open. A 2019 preservation grant added decorative neon around the building while retaining the familiar script sign above the entrance. 06-26
Kaisers Ice Cream
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