Indian
Village
St. Ignace, MI Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Long before the Mackinac Bridge comes into view, the colorful signs at Indian
Village have been welcoming travelers to St. Ignace. The giant teepee-shaped marquee and animated Native American figure with bow and arrow are the kind of roadside attractions that instantly transport you back to the golden age of family vacations, when the journey itself was every bit as important as the destination.
Indian Village first opened its doors in 1927, becoming a favorite stop for generations of visitors exploring northern Michigan. Families on their way to the Upper Peninsula or returning home from a summer vacation often found themselves pulling into the parking lot to browse the gift shop, stretch their legs, and take home a souvenir from the trip. Even after the original building was replaced in 1977, the new structure was designed to resemble its predecessor, preserving the familiar look that travelers had come to recognize over the years.
Indian
Village
St. Ignace, MI Photo courtesy Tony Craig
The signs are what really make this place stand out. The large teepee marquee is impossible to miss, while the animated Native American figure adds movement and excitement to the roadside. Together they create exactly the kind of memorable display that roadside businesses once relied upon to attract motorists. Before interstate exits became filled with standardized logos and towering corporate signs, places like this competed with creativity, color, and a little bit of showmanship. Indian Village is a wonderful reminder of that era.
Looking closely, it's easy to appreciate just how much thought went into the design. The oversized shapes, bright colors, and glowing neon were all meant to grab your attention from a distance, giving drivers enough time to decide to stop. These weren't simply business signs—they were attractions in their own right. Even today, they're among the most recognizable pieces of roadside advertising in St. Ignace.
Indian
Village
St. Ignace, MI Photo courtesy Alan Culley
UPDATE: The Indian Village Curios is still open for business and close enough to downtown and the ferry docks to see some good traffic coming through. These are the only neon signs left at the Indian Village Curios since they took the neon tubes off of the signs on the building itself. Many thanks to Alan Culley for photos and update. 12-08
While the building has changed over the years, much of its character remains. The cedar-bark exterior still gives the gift shop a rustic Up North feel, and the surviving signs continue to define the property just as they have for decades. Some of the original neon that once accented the building itself has been removed, but thankfully the iconic roadside displays remain, continuing to delight travelers heading toward the Straits of Mackinac.
Indian Village Curio
St. Ignace, MI Photo courtesy Alan Culley
For anyone who enjoys classic roadside Americana, Indian Village is one of those places that's worth slowing down for. It's a reminder of a time when businesses invited you to stop with imagination instead of giant billboards, and when a memorable sign could become just as much a part of the vacation as the places you came to see.
UPDATE: Indian Village remains open seasonally, and its landmark roadside signs continue to survive. 07-26
Wonder Bread (Gone)
Indianapolis, IN Photo courtesy Emily Steele
Standing tall against the snow, the Wonder Bread marquee is one of those signs that instantly brings back memories. The familiar red, yellow, and blue balloon logo has been recognized for generations, making it one of America's most iconic food brands.
Indianapolis holds a special place in Wonder Bread history. The bread was first introduced here in 1921 by the Taggart Baking Company, and the famous balloon logo was inspired by the colorful hot air balloons that floated over the city during the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's annual balloon race.
This sign stood outside the company's Shadeland Avenue bakery, where Wonder Bread was baked for more than 50 years. For many Indianapolis residents, it became a familiar landmark and a reminder of the city's important role in the brand's history.
UPDATE: The bakery has closed, and the Wonder Bread marquee has been removed. 07-26
Atlas Supermarket (Gone)
Indianapolis, IN Photo and info courtesy Emily Steele
For more than 50 years, Atlas Supermarket was a neighborhood institution on the corner of 54th Street and College Avenue in Indianapolis. The large marquee out front welcomed generations of shoppers and became a familiar landmark for anyone passing through the area.
Opened in 1947, Atlas earned a loyal following for its quality meats, specialty foods, and hard-to-find grocery items long before gourmet markets became commonplace. It also has an interesting claim to fame—television host David Letterman worked here as a grocery bagger while attending nearby Broad Ripple High School, a job he has occasionally mentioned over the years.
The market closed in 2002 after serving the community for 55 years. The building stood vacant for a few years before it was demolished, taking the familiar marquee with it.
UPDATE: Atlas Supermarket closed in 2002, and the building and its marquee were demolished in 2007. 07-26
Awrey Bakeries (Gone)
Livonia, OH Photo courtesy Mike Engle
The giant windmill at Awrey Bakeries always reminded me of the famous Van de Kamp's bakery signs. Standing high above the bakery, it was one of those landmarks that immediately let you know what kind of place you were about to pass.
Awrey's baking tradition began in 1910 and eventually grew into one of Michigan's best-known bakeries. The Livonia plant became famous for favorites like Bumpy Cake, long johns, and countless other baked goods that found their way onto family tables for generations. The windmill wasn't just a sign—it became the symbol of the company itself and one of the area's most recognizable roadside landmarks.
After more than a century in business, Awrey Bakeries closed its doors in 2023. The bakery is gone today, and the familiar windmill that welcomed so many visitors has disappeared along with it.
UPDATE: Awrey Bakeries closed in 2023, and the iconic windmill sign has been removed. 07-26
Dryer's Shoes
Columbia, MO Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
One of the first things you'll notice at Dryer's Shoes is the colorful rooster perched on the vintage marquee. It seems a little unusual until you learn it represents Weather-Bird Shoes, a popular children's shoe brand that many independent shoe stores proudly advertised during the 1950s and 1960s.
The Columbia shoe store has been serving customers since 1956 from the very same downtown location. Over the years, the family-owned business has built a reputation for personal service, and unlike many longtime shoe stores, it has never left Main Street or traded its character for a more modern look.
The classic vertical neon sign remains one of downtown Columbia's best-known landmarks. With its glowing lettering and familiar rooster, it's a wonderful reminder of a time when even a shoe store could have a sign that people remembered long after they walked by.
UPDATE: Dryer's Shoes remains in business, and its historic neon marquee continues to survive. 07-26
Wonder Bread (Gone)
Atlas Supermarket (Gone)
Awrey Bakeries (Gone)
Dryer's Shoes
