Vess Bottle
St Louis, MO Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
Right off the Interstate in St. Louis, MO is the famous Vess Bottle. A familiar sight to passing motorists, sometimes this
bottle can make a traveler rather thirsty.
The Vess Bottle has been turning heads in St. Louis since the 1950s. At over 25 feet tall, it originally rotated continuously while glowing with hundreds of feet of neon, making it one of the city's most recognizable roadside landmarks.
Built in 1953 by the Treesh Neon Sign Company, the bottle first stood at Hampton and Gravois before being removed and placed in storage years later. Fortunately, it was rescued in 1989 and relocated to its current home, where it was later designated an official St. Louis City Landmark.
A major restoration in 2016 gave the bottle a fresh new look. The weathered metal was repaired and repainted, but the original neon tubing was removed, so the bottle no longer lights up or spins as it once did.
Even without its moving parts, the Vess Bottle remains one of St. Louis' most beloved roadside attractions. It's a lasting reminder of the era when giant advertising signs competed for the attention of passing travelers.
UPDATE: The Vess Bottle remains standing near downtown St. Louis as a protected city landmark. While it no longer rotates or features neon, it continues to be one of the city's best-known roadside icons. 07-26
Fitness Things (Gone)
Plymouth, IN Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss
The Fitness Things mailbox sign was one of those quirky roadside creations that made you do a double take. Standing outside the fitness equipment store, this cartoonish bodybuilder held up the business's mailboxes as if they weighed nothing at all. Look closely and you'll even spot the classic Detroit Tigers "D" on his shirt. Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss. 02-10
The figure fit the business perfectly, adding a little humor while showcasing a larger-than-life physique. It wasn't a giant roadside statue, but it was certainly memorable enough to catch the eye of anyone driving by.
Fitness Things was founded in 1984 and became a well-known supplier of home and commercial fitness equipment throughout southeast Michigan. In 2017, the company merged with another fitness equipment retailer, and the original storefront eventually disappeared.
UPDATE: The original Fitness Things location is gone, and it's not known what became of the bodybuilder mailbox sign. 07-26
Hollaway Meyers Heating
Hammond, IN Photos courtesy Barney Slifer
The Hollaway-Meyer's Heating van was one of Hammond's more unusual roadside landmarks. Perched high atop a steel pole in front of the longtime heating and air conditioning business, the full-size service van seemed to defy gravity while catching the attention of everyone driving down 165th Street. Photos courtesy Barney Slifer. 11-08
The business had been serving northwest Indiana since 1927 and became a familiar name in the region. Instead of relying on a traditional roadside sign, the owners elevated one of their service vans high above the property, creating a landmark that locals and travelers remembered for years.
After nearly a century in business, Hollaway-Meyer's was acquired by King Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in 2021.
Hollaway Meyers Heating
Hammond, IN Photos courtesy Barney Slifer
UPDATE: Hollaway-Meyer's is now part of King Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. The pole sign disappeared sometime after 2019. 07-26
Vess Bottle
Fitness Things (Gone)
Hollaway Meyers Heating
Hollaway Meyers Heating
