Muskogee Hotel (Demolished)
Muskogee, OK Photo courtesy Charles Brock
The towering vertical sign for Hotel Muskogee was one of downtown Muskogee's most recognizable landmarks, its bold blue neon lettering recalling the grand urban hotels that welcomed railroad passengers during the first half of the 20th century. Built between 1921 and 1923, the 100-room hotel quickly became one of the city's premier accommodations, with a prominent "Fireproof" sign proudly advertising one of its most modern selling points following the devastating downtown fires of the late 1800s.
Located at the corner of Main Street and Broadway, the hotel prospered through much of the mid-century before gradually declining as automobile travel and interstate highways shifted lodging away from traditional downtown hotels. The building later served as apartments before finally being vacated in the 1990s.
The hotel gained renewed recognition when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019, but years of neglect culminated in several destructive fires during 2025 and 2026, leaving the century-old structure beyond repair.
UPDATE: Although the historic hotel was demolished in May 2026, its iconic blue neon sign was carefully removed two months earlier and saved for restoration. Plans call for the landmark marquee to be restored and displayed elsewhere in downtown Muskogee, preserving one of the city's most recognizable pieces of roadside and architectural history. 06-26
Camelot Hotel (Demolished)
Tulsa, OK Photo courtesy Chris King
The Camelot Hotel was impossible to miss. Rising beside Interstate 44, the castle-themed hotel featured an enormous rooftop sign that beckoned travelers from the highway, recalling an era when oversized rooftop signage was every bit as important as the architecture below. Opened in 1965, the ambitious hotel embraced the popularity of the King Arthur legend with stone turrets, a drawbridge, a faux moat, a throne in the lobby, and even a replica of Excalibur. Employees dressed in medieval costumes completed the fantasy, making the Camelot one of Tulsa's most memorable roadside landmarks.
Designed by noted Tulsa architect V.M. "Bob" Piland, the 330-room hotel welcomed celebrities and dignitaries throughout its heyday, including Elvis Presley and Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. As newer hotels opened and travel patterns changed, however, the once-grand destination fell into decline, eventually being converted into apartments before closing in the 1990s.
UPDATE: The Tulsa Camelot Hotel is scheduled to be demolished in August 2007. The hotel is located right along the I-44. Plans are for the Castle to be leveled for a new Quik Trip (7-11) type convenience store. Quik Trip just bought the Camelot for $2 million and is preparing it for demolition. Local polls taken show that 85% of Tulsans do not want to see her taken down. To keep this landmark from going under, contact the local newspaper at Letters@Tulsaworld.com as well as the Mayor Tulsa's action line email address MAC@cityoftulsa.com. Many thanks to Chris King for update. 06-07
UPDATE: After sitting abandoned for years, the Camelot Hotel was demolished in 2007, and its famous rooftop sign disappeared with it. Today, the former castle site has been redeveloped, but the Camelot remains one of Tulsa's most fondly remembered roadside landmarks and one of the city's most distinctive themed hotels. 06-26
Hotel
Larned, KS Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
The faded vertical Larkin Hotel sign remains one of downtown Larned's most recognizable landmarks, quietly recalling a time when nearly every Kansas county seat had a prominent hotel serving railroad passengers, salesmen, and travelers crossing the Great Plains. Mounted to the corner of the brick building, the weathered neon sign once proudly advertised the hotel, its café, and modern amenities to visitors arriving along nearby U.S. Highway 56. 11-10
Known historically as the J.P. Larkin Hotel, the building occupied a prominent corner in downtown Larned and became a longtime fixture of the community during the mid-20th century. While the guest rooms have been closed for decades, the building itself survives, with portions of the ground floor continuing to see commercial use over the years.
Today, the faded sign has become something of a local landmark for photographers and roadside enthusiasts. Rather than being restored or replaced, it stands as an authentic reminder of downtown America's golden age, its peeling paint and aging neon adding to its character rather than diminishing it.
Muskogee Hotel (Demolished)
Camelot Hotel (Demolished)
Hotel
Today, the faded sign has become something of a local landmark for photographers and roadside enthusiasts. Rather than being restored or replaced, it stands as an authentic reminder of downtown America's golden age, its peeling paint and aging neon adding to its character rather than diminishing it.
