West Side Flower Shop (Gone)
Wichita, KS
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

This beautiful neon sign belonged to West Side Flower Shop in Wichita's historic Delano District. Topped with a glowing neon rose, it could be spotted from quite a ways down the street and was one of those signs that naturally caught your eye, day or night.

The flower shop opened here in 1952 and served the community for more than 50 years. While the business itself was well known, it was the colorful neon rose that made the building such a memorable roadside landmark and a favorite stop for photographers. 09-06

UPDATE: The flower shop closed in 2006, and the famous neon rose was removed when the building changed tenants. Although the 1922 building survives and has been beautifully restored for new commercial use, the sign's whereabouts remain unknown. 06-26

Bell's Amusement Park (Demolished)
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

Check out this huge sign for Bell's Amusement Park in Tulsa. With this giant marquee beaming out at you, who could resist pulling in? Long before you heard the screams from the Zingo roller coaster or smelled the popcorn, this colorful sign let you know you'd arrived.

Here's a shot of Bell's by day.

Bell's opened in 1951 and became one of Oklahoma's most beloved amusement parks. For generations of Tulsans, a trip to Bell's meant rides on the famous Zingo wooden roller coaster, the midway, and plenty of family memories. The entrance sign became just as much a part of the experience as the rides themselves. Here's a shot of Bell's by day. 09-08

UPDATE: Bell's Amusement Park closed in 2006 after its lease at Expo Square was not renewed, and the entrance sign was removed when the park was demolished. While plans to build a new Bell's elsewhere were ultimately abandoned, one piece of the park's history lives on—a vintage hand-painted Bell's billboard featuring the Zingo roller coaster was uncovered in 2016 and preserved as a public mural in Tulsa. 06-26

Rapid City Laundry (Gone)
Rapid City, SD
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Here's an amazing sign for Rapid City Laundry in downtown Rapid City. Check out both the day and night shots. The old sign really comes to life after dark, as the animated neon washwoman appears to scrub away on her washboard and all of the wonderful details begin to stand out.

Rapid City Laundry opened in 1919 and operated for decades from its downtown location. The giant double-sided neon sign became one of the city's best-known landmarks, even being turned around at one point after Main Street was converted to one-way traffic so it would continue catching the attention of passing motorists. It's no surprise this sign became a favorite subject for neon photographers. 09-06

UPDATE: Rapid City Laundry closed in 2010, and the iconic animated sign was carefully removed before the building changed hands. Fortunately, it was saved by the property owner rather than being scrapped, although it is not currently on public display. 06-26

South Dakota Stockgrowers
Rapid City, SD
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The neon sign for the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association features another cowboy riding a galloping horse. Perched high above downtown Rapid City, it's one of those eye-catching signs that's sure to make roadside travelers take another look... or two... or three.

I remember stopping here for the first time and being completely awestruck when the neon came to life after dark. I probably spent way too long photographing this sign from every angle, but that's what great neon does—it keeps pulling you back for one more shot. The rooftop sign has watched over downtown Rapid City since 1959 and, after sitting dark for years, was beautifully restored in 1999.

UPDATE: The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association continues to occupy the building, and the restored rooftop sign remains one of downtown Rapid City's signature landmarks. In 2024, both the building and its iconic neon cowboy received designation as a South Dakota State Historic Landmark, helping ensure their preservation for years to come. 06-26

Moody's Jewelers
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Just off Route 66 in Tulsa is this treasure of a neon sign for Moody's Jewelry. Whether they're stars or diamonds, those glowing blue lights atop the marquee are hard to miss and have been catching the attention of passing motorists for generations.

Moody's has been a Tulsa institution since 1944, and its original Harvard Avenue location still features both a classic rooftop neon sign and a tall roadside pylon. Beautifully maintained, the colorful display remains one of the highlights of Tulsa's impressive collection of vintage neon and is well worth seeing after dark. 09-08

UPDATE: I stopped by a couple of months ago and was happy to see Moody's still going strong. The neon was glowing just as brightly as ever, proving that one of Tulsa's finest roadside treasures continues to shine for a new generation of travelers and photographers. 06-26

Archer's Laundry
Muskogee, OK
Photo courtesy Greg West

This colorful neon sign for Archer's Laundry in Muskogee features multiple colors along with its memorable slogan, "We Aim To Please." It's one of those classic downtown signs that reminds you of a time when even the neighborhood cleaners invested in eye-catching neon to attract customers.

Founded in 1949, Archer's has been serving Muskogee for generations. The vintage marquee remains one of the city's nicest surviving commercial signs, and its bright colors and glowing slogan continue to make it a favorite for photographers, especially after dark. 01-06

UPDATE: Archer's Laundry is still going strong more than 75 years after opening. The business has expanded to multiple locations while its original downtown sign continues to light up Muskogee, proving that good service—and great neon—never go out of style. 06-26