Gas N' Go
Ashtabula, OH Photo courtesy Steve Felder
This "Flying Saucer" Gas Station sniffs of space-age
architecture all around. Unfortunately, today's autos never quite made
it to the Jetsons stage, so this gas station closed and remains defunct.
A roadside classic!
Some of the space age architecture resemble space ports and flying saucers.
Imagine driving down the street at night on your way to the neighborhood
food store and catching a glimpse of a flying sauce out of the corner
of your eye. Unfortunately, at least in the case of this saucer, it can
no longer happen. The Gas n' Go gas station has been demolished. This Gas N' Go in Ashtabula, OH originally opened in 1966. Ray Keyes was the architect. See other Midwest Mid-Century Modern buildings at Mid-Century Modern Midwest.
Certified Gas Station (Gone)
Columbus, OH Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
This former Certified Gas Station brought a touch of the Space Age to Columbus with its dramatic boomerang-shaped canopy. Its sweeping roof gave an everyday fuel stop the futuristic appearance that makes Googie-style roadside architecture so memorable.
Certified's history began in 1939, when Carlyle Baker opened the company's first station in Piqua, Ohio, selling gasoline and offering limited automobile repairs. The business remained family-owned through three generations before its acquisition by EG Group in spring 2019.
UPDATE: The distinctive canopy shown here is reported gone. This station's construction and removal dates have not been confirmed. 06-26
Gas For Less (Gone)
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Independent gasoline chains often relied on memorable signs to compete with the major oil companies, and few were more distinctive than Chicago's Jubilee Gas For Less. The station's towering neon marquee featured bold mid-century lettering and an eye-catching design that made it one of the city's most recognizable roadside signs. Sadly, signs like this have become increasingly rare.
Gas For Less
Chicago, IL Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
Located on North Lincoln Avenue, the station served Chicago motorists for decades before closing in 2006. While the building itself was typical of many neighborhood filling stations, its oversized neon sign gave the property a personality all its own and became a familiar landmark for drivers passing through the area.
Fortunately, the story didn't end with demolition. Rather than being lost to the wrecking ball, the eight-foot-tall neon marquee was saved and restored, preserving one of Chicago's finest examples of independent roadside advertising.
UPDATE: The Jubilee Gas For Less station was demolished in 2007, but its iconic neon sign survives. After restoration, the marquee was installed inside the Chicago History Museum, where it continues to celebrate Chicago's rich roadside and commercial history. 06-26
Twin Oaks Gas For Less
St. Louis, MO Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Not every memorable roadside sign relied on elaborate neon or futuristic architecture. Sometimes a simple, well-placed marquee was all it took to catch the attention of passing motorists. This straightforward "Gas For Less" sign did exactly that, advertising low prices with bold lettering that was impossible to miss.
Twin Oaks Gas For Less stood along Big Bend Road near Highway 141, serving local drivers and travelers for many years. Its rudimentary sign reflected the practical approach taken by many independent fuel stations, where a clear message was often more important than flashy design. Today, signs like this have become increasingly uncommon as independent stations have given way to larger convenience store chains.
UPDATE: The original station has been replaced by a modern Phillips 66 convenience store and fueling center. The vintage "Gas For Less" marquee was removed during redevelopment and no longer survives. 06-26
Petrol
Pumps Photo courtesy Don Gardner
What's a trip down the back roads without a few vintage petrol pumps? These well-worn examples recall the days when an attendant filled the tank, checked the oil, and cleaned the windshield before sending motorists on their way.
Their sturdy bodies and mechanical faces capture the character of an earlier filling station era. Although their location is unknown, they offer plenty for roadside enthusiasts to admire.
UPDATE: The exact location and current status of these pumps have not been verified. 06-26
Pana Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Here are a couple more vintage gas station signs, including the Pana Gas sign on the right. Distinctive names and bold lettering helped stations catch the attention of passing motorists long before digital price boards became familiar roadside sights.
The Pana Gas sign recalls the variety of fuel brands that once greeted travelers along local roads and highways. Signs like these gave stations a recognizable identity and added character to a routine stop for gasoline.
Although their original setting remains unidentified, these signs preserve a glimpse of the old filling station landscape.
UPDATE: The original location of these signs has not been identified, and their current status remains unconfirmed. 06-26
Red Crown Photo courtesy Don Gardner
This vintage Red Crown Gasoline sign recalls the Standard Oil stations that once served motorists across much of the Midwest. Its distinctive crown emblem made the brand easy to recognize along busy streets and open highways, offering a familiar landmark to travelers looking for their next fuel stop.
Before brightly illuminated canopies and convenience stores became commonplace, signs like this helped announce a station from a distance. The memorable name and crown design gave Red Crown a roadside identity that still catches the eye in old photographs.
This surviving view offers another reminder of the neighborhood filling station and an earlier era of American motoring.
UPDATE: The original location of this sign is unknown, and its current status has not been verified. 06-26
Certified Gas Station (Gone)
Gas For Less (Gone)
Gas For Less
Twin Oaks Gas For Less
Petrol
Pumps
Pana
Red Crown
