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

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

If you're a beer drinker, Barbara's Beer Garden was worth a stop. The vintage neon sign out front made it easy to spot and gave the place plenty of roadside appeal, especially after dark when it was all lit up.

Located along Glenstone Avenue in Springfield, Missouri, Barbara's Beer Garden was a longtime neighborhood hangout known for cold drinks, pool tables, shuffleboard, karaoke, and other classic tavern entertainment. It was the kind of place where regulars gathered after work and visitors felt right at home.

The bar has since closed, and the space has been put to another use. Unfortunately, the vintage neon sign disappeared along with it, leaving behind another roadside landmark that's now just a memory.

UPDATE: Barbara's Beer Garden has closed, and its classic neon sign has been removed. 07-26

Rooftop Garden Cocktail Lounge
Indianapolis, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

A trip to Fountain Square in Indianapolis isn't complete without taking a look inside the historic Fountain Square Theatre Building. Tucked away at the top is the Rooftop Garden Cocktail Lounge, a seasonal spot that offers great views of the Indianapolis skyline. 07-11

Built in 1928, the Art Deco theater has long been one of Indianapolis' most recognizable landmarks. While many visitors come for the architecture, there's plenty more to discover inside, including the rooftop lounge and the building's vintage duckpin bowling alleys that have been entertaining visitors for generations.

The rooftop lounge is open during the warmer months and remains one of the more unique places to enjoy a drink in the city. Sometimes the best roadside discoveries aren't just the signs outside—they're what you find after walking through the front door.

UPDATE: The Rooftop Garden Cocktail Lounge remains open seasonally inside the historic Fountain Square Theatre Building. 07-26