Chieftain Restaurant (Closed)
Tacoma, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The giant totem pole at Chieftain Restaurant was impossible to miss along old Highway 99. If that didn't catch your eye, the colorful character perched above the marquee certainly did. It was one of Tacoma's more unusual roadside signs. 09-05
For more than 30 years, the Chieftain served hearty breakfasts, burgers, and homemade cinnamon rolls to locals and travelers passing through South Tacoma Way. The restaurant eventually closed, but its towering sign remained behind, becoming a familiar reminder of the highway's colorful past.
South Tacoma Way was once lined with motels, diners, and neon, and the Chieftain fit right in. Today, the restaurant is gone, but the old totem pole still stands, making it one of the last surviving reminders of Tacoma's Route 99 roadside days.
UPDATE: The Chieftain Restaurant is closed, but its iconic roadside sign still stands along South Tacoma Way. 07-26
The Homestead
Tacoma, WA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
You don't have to look very hard to spot The Homestead. The big red barn along South Tacoma Way stands out from just about everything around it, making it one of Tacoma's more recognizable roadside restaurants. 09-05
Since opening in 1982, The Homestead has been serving hearty country breakfasts, comfort food, fresh-baked cinnamon rolls, and homemade pies in a setting that feels more like an old country barn than a city restaurant. It's the kind of place where the building is every bit as memorable as the meal.
Traveling the old Highway 99 corridor, you'd expect to find a place like this. The bright red barn has become a familiar landmark for generations of hungry travelers and locals alike.
UPDATE: The Homestead remains open and continues to welcome customers with its distinctive red barn and country cooking. 07-26
Bomber Restaurant (Gone)
Milwaukie, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
It wasn't the sign that first caught your eye at Bomber Restaurant—it was the full-sized B-17 Flying Fortress towering over the property. Along busy McLoughlin Boulevard, it was one of Oregon's most unforgettable roadside attractions. 09-05
The bomber arrived in 1947 when owner Art Lacey bought a surplus World War II aircraft and parked it above his gas station, creating a landmark that generations of travelers remembered. Even after the gas pumps disappeared, the restaurant carried on, serving hearty comfort food beneath the shadow of the famous airplane while the walls inside filled with aviation memorabilia and stories from World War II veterans.
For decades, families made the Bomber a regular stop, whether for breakfast, pie, or simply to see the airplane up close. It was the kind of place that turned an ordinary highway stop into something you'd remember long after the trip was over.
UPDATE: The Bomber Restaurant closed in 2020. The B-17 was removed in 2014 for restoration, and the restaurant building now sits vacant. 07-26
Twin TeePees Restaurant (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Don Whitten
Few restaurants along Aurora Avenue were as unforgettable as Twin TeePees Restaurant. Shaped like a pair of giant teepees, it was the kind of roadside attraction that practically demanded a second look from anyone traveling old Highway 99.
Built in the late 1930s from prefabricated sections brought north from California, the unusual restaurant quickly became one of Seattle's best-known highway landmarks. Inside were cozy dining rooms, an open fireplace, and hearty meals that kept travelers and locals coming back for decades. An old sign even proudly proclaimed it was "serving the best breakfast in town."
The Twin TeePees survived changing times and became one of those places people remembered long after they had moved away. It was more than just a restaurant—it was one of Aurora Avenue's true roadside icons.
UPDATE: The Twin Teepees, here in Seattle,
has "gone
to that great short order grill in the sky." Yes, this place was
leveled at the end of July 2000. Many thanks to Mike Fuller for update.
UPDATE: They had a big fire a couple of years ago and the
place closed down for good-a real loss for Seattle, as it was one of the
most distinctive restaurants in town in terms of its looks, and the
food wasn't bad either. Many thanks to Janna Silverstein for update.
UPDATE: A devastating fire forced the restaurant to close, and the famous Twin TeePees were demolished in 2001. Today, only photographs remain of one of Seattle's most memorable roadside attractions. 07-26
Golden Pheasant Restaurant (Gone)
Sunnyside, WA
Photo courtesy Van
You certainly couldn't miss Golden Pheasant Restaurant. The colorful pheasant perched on the marquee brightened downtown Sunnyside for decades, making it one of those roadside signs that stayed with you long after you drove away.
Opening in 1952, the family-owned Chinese restaurant became a local favorite, serving generations of customers until the owners retired in 2009 after nearly six decades in business. Day or night, the glowing pheasant welcomed visitors with a splash of color that perfectly matched the restaurant's name.
The building eventually sat vacant for several years before being demolished, but thankfully the famous pheasant didn't share the same fate.
UPDATE: The restaurant building was demolished in 2020, but the iconic neon pheasant was carefully removed and preserved before the wrecking crews arrived. 07-26
Safari Restaurant (Gone) Sunnyside, WA Photo courtesy Van
The colorful sign at Safari Restaurant could transport you to another world without ever leaving Sunnyside. Covered with tropical details and a striking Polynesian-style shield, it was one of the most eye-catching restaurant marquees in central Washington.
Inside, the Safari embraced the same exotic theme with Polynesian and African décor that made dining there feel like a mini adventure. For years it was a favorite place to gather for dinner, drinks, and live entertainment, becoming one of Sunnyside's best-known landmarks.
A devastating fire destroyed the restaurant in 2011, ending an era for one of the town's most distinctive roadside attractions. Fortunately, the famous sign survived when almost everything else was lost.
UPDATE: The original Safari Restaurant is gone, but its iconic Polynesian-themed marquee was rescued following the fire and preserved. 07-26
Chieftain Restaurant (Closed)
The Homestead
Bomber Restaurant (Gone)
