Olkie's Bar (Gone)
Ironwood, MI
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The sign at Olkie's Bar was hard to forget. Shaped like a Native American chief’s head and outlined in neon, it practically demanded a second look. The tubing appeared intact when this photograph was taken, hinting at quite a display after dark.

Originally captioned as Wisconsin, the tavern actually stood across the state line in Ironwood, Michigan. Its history reached back to the late 1800s, making it a longtime community fixture. Fortunately, the sign’s story continued after the bar closed: a private collector purchased it, and it was removed in 2022.

UPDATE: Olkie’s is closed, and the building has been repurposed. The distinctive neon sign survives in a private collection—a welcome outcome for a piece of roadside advertising that could easily have ended up in the scrap pile. 07-26

Pink Elephant (Gone)
OH
Photo courtesy Steve Felder

If you're looking for a roadside sign that's impossible to miss, Ralph Jordan's Pink Elephant certainly fit the bill. The giant neon pink elephant holding a drink made this one of the most memorable tavern signs in Ohio, inviting motorists to stop in for food, drinks, and a good time.

Located in Austintown, just outside Youngstown, the Pink Elephant was a longtime local landmark. Owner Ralph Jordan made the business just as recognizable off the road as it was on it, even campaigning with a pink elephant mascot at community parades and racing a "Pink Elephant" car at the Canfield Fairgrounds.

Unfortunately, the building was later destroyed by fire and demolished, taking one of Ohio's most distinctive roadside signs with it. Thankfully, photos like this help preserve the memory of a sign that was unlike anything else on the highway.

UPDATE: Ralph Jordan's Pink Elephant is gone, and both the building and its famous neon sign have been lost. 07-26

Bamboo Inn (Gone)
Springfield, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The Bamboo Inn featured one of those great Googie-style signs that was impossible to overlook. With its bold geometric shapes, sweeping lines, and classic mid-century design, it was a perfect example of the roadside architecture that made restaurants of the era so memorable.

Located in Springfield, Missouri, the Bamboo Inn was a longtime favorite known for serving the city's famous cashew chicken, a local specialty that's become synonymous with Springfield. For many residents and college students, it was a familiar stop for a good meal and a chance to admire one of the city's best-looking roadside signs.

The Bamboo Inn became Thai X Press in 2008, and the eye-catching sign disappeared around the same time. Yet another roadside gem had become just a memory.

UPDATE: The Bamboo Inn is gone, and its distinctive Googie-style sign has been removed. 07-26

Rooftop Garden Cocktail Lounge
Indianapolis, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

The Rooftop Garden Cocktail Lounge offers a different kind of roadside discovery in Indianapolis’ Fountain Square. Instead of looking up at a neon sign, you can head upstairs for a view of the city skyline. It’s a seasonal stop tucked atop the historic Fountain Square Theatre Building. 07-11

Opened in 1928, the Art Deco theater building has plenty to explore beyond its familiar exterior. Vintage duckpin bowling alleys add to the attraction, while the rooftop provides an open-air place to enjoy a drink during warmer weather. Not every interesting feature announces itself from the sidewalk.

UPDATE: The Rooftop Garden Cocktail Lounge remains open seasonally atop the Fountain Square Theatre Building. The skyline views give visitors another reason to spend some time at this Indianapolis landmark after checking out the architecture below. 07-26

Barbara's Beer Garden (Gone)
Springfield, MO
Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans

The vintage neon at Barbara’s Beer Garden made this Springfield, Missouri, tavern worth a second look. Glowing along Glenstone Avenue, the sign offered a straightforward invitation to stop for a cold drink. It was just the sort of advertising that suited a neighborhood bar.

Inside, pool tables, shuffleboard, karaoke, and familiar tavern entertainment gave customers reasons to linger. Barbara’s became a longtime gathering place for after-work regulars and visitors looking for a relaxed evening. The neon outside added a little extra character before you even reached the door.

UPDATE: Barbara’s Beer Garden has closed, and the space has been put to another use. Its classic neon sign has also been removed. This photograph preserves the display that once helped brighten Glenstone Avenue and pointed customers toward a neighborhood watering hole. 07-26