Rolla, CA --- The marquee for Vernelle's Motel in Rolla, MO was restored
by the Friends
of the Mother Road.
Vernelle's Motel sign before the paint job in 2000
Rolla, MO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Friends of the Mother Road, has repainted the Vernelle's Motel sign along
old Route 66 west of Rolla,
Mo. The sign had faded badly from weathering, but now it has a vibrant
new coat of red, yellow and white paint. It was a tiring and scary job
to be working from a bucket lift 30 feet in the air. But the 67-year-old
owner was thrilled, and hopefully the more eye-catching sign will bring
him some more business. Many thanks to Ron Warnick from the Friends
of the Mother Road preservation organization for this update and work
towards preserving Route 66 landmarks.
The old Vernelle's Motel sign had seen better days, but it was still one of those Route 66 landmarks worth pulling over to admire. Years of Missouri weather had left the paint faded and tired, yet the classic design was still impossible to miss. Fortunately, a group of dedicated volunteers decided it deserved another chance.
In October 2003, the Friends of the Mother Road rolled up their sleeves and gave the towering sign a fresh coat of paint, restoring its bright red, yellow, and white colors. Working from a bucket lift some 30 feet in the air wasn't exactly an easy job, but the effort brought new life to one of Route 66's best-known motel signs. The project was made possible in part by a donation from legendary radio broadcaster Paul Harvey, whose support helped preserve another piece of the Mother Road.
Vernelle's traces its roots back to 1938, when E.P. Gasser opened the property as Gasser Tourist Court. In those early days it offered six cabins, a filling station, and a small novelty shop for travelers making their way across Missouri. When Fred Gasser and his wife, Vernelle, purchased the property in the early 1950s, they expanded it with additional motel rooms, a restaurant, and even a small petting zoo before renaming it Vernelle's Motel.
Vernelle's Motel sign after the paint job
Rolla, MO Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The motel even survived Route 66 being widened to four lanes in 1957. Rather than tear it down, the buildings were moved slightly to make room for the highway. Later, Interstate 44 diverted most of the traffic away, but Vernelle's managed to hang on long after many neighboring businesses had disappeared.
At the time, the motel's longtime owner was thrilled with the results of the sign restoration, and it was easy to understand why. A freshly painted sign has a way of making an old roadside business stand a little taller, and this one looked ready to welcome another generation of travelers.
UPDATE: Vernelle's Motel is no longer operating, but the property entered a new chapter in 2024 when it was purchased by members of the Goodridge family, who plan to restore the motel and redevelop the site as Vernelle's Route 66 RV Park & Campground. Thankfully, the historic sign survives and remains one of the best-known landmarks along this quiet stretch of old Route 66. 07-26
Vernelle's Motel sign before the paint job in 2000
Friends of the Mother Road, has repainted the Vernelle's Motel sign along
old Route 66 west of Rolla,
Mo. The sign had faded badly from weathering, but now it has a vibrant
new coat of red, yellow and white paint. It was a tiring and scary job
to be working from a bucket lift 30 feet in the air. But the 67-year-old
owner was thrilled, and hopefully the more eye-catching sign will bring
him some more business. Many thanks to Ron Warnick from the 
Vernelle's Motel sign after the paint job
