The neon cowgirl above Lariat Bar-B-Q certainly knows how to get a motorist’s attention. Twirling her lasso over West Yakima Avenue, she makes this little drive-in worth noticing before you’ve even considered lunch. A plain hamburger sign wouldn’t have quite the same effect. 11-10
Opened in 1962, the Lariat belongs to the era when a roadside meal didn’t require an indoor dining room. Burgers, barbecue sandwiches, fries, and shakes gave customers plenty of reasons to pull in. Homemade relish, barbecue sauce, and fry sauce became part of the restaurant’s identity, using recipes credited to the original owners.
There’s another piece of Yakima food history on the menu, too. After Kemper’s Drive-In disappeared, the Lariat continued serving the original recipe Kemper Burger. That makes this more than a survivor in its own right. It also keeps a little of another local favorite alive, which sounds like a good excuse to investigate the menu.
Lariat Bar-B-Q sign close-up
Yakima, WA Photo courtesy Tony Craig
UPDATE: Here another look at the Lariat Bar-B-Q sign at this Yakima establishment. Even if you're not hungry, a trip down West Yakima Avenue will make you turn your head at this sign. 11-10
UPDATE: Lariat Bar-B-Q remains open at 621 West Yakima Avenue, with its familiar cowgirl sign still marking the spot. More than sixty years after opening, the combination of roadside neon and a classic drive-in meal continues to give travelers a reason to stop. Hopefully that lasso keeps drawing customers in for many more years. 07-26
Ranch
Restaurant (Closed)
Yoncalla, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Just off Interstate 5, Ranch Restaurant was the kind of place that practically invited you to pull off the highway. Its big roadside sign promised a good meal and a chance to stretch your legs before getting back on the road. 09-05
For years, the Ranch was a favorite stop for truckers, families, and road trippers traveling through southern Oregon. Inside were hearty comfort-food meals, homemade pies, and the kind of friendly atmosphere that made people stop here trip after trip. Places like this were once a familiar part of every highway journey. The Ranch wasn't just another restaurant—it was part of the road itself.
UPDATE: Ranch Restaurant has closed however the neighboring Ranch Motel is still open. 07-26
Omar's Restaurant
Ashland, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
A drive through Ashland isn't complete without spotting the classic sign at Omar's Restaurant. Between the glowing mid-century neon and the giant camel painted on the side of the building, it's the kind of place that makes you wonder what the story is. 04-10
As it turns out, the camel wasn't part of the original plan. A sign painter accidentally misspelled the owner's name, changing "Omer's" to "Omar's." Instead of replacing the sign, the owners embraced the mistake and added the camel, creating one of Oregon's more memorable roadside landmarks.
Inside, Omar's still feels like a trip back in time with its vintage booths, old-school atmosphere, and longtime reputation for steaks and seafood. It's one of those places where the sign is only the beginning of the experience.
UPDATE: Omar's Restaurant remains open, and its classic neon sign and camel continue to welcome travelers along Siskiyou Boulevard. 07-26
Mars Restaurant (Gone)
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Jeff Raber
The rooftop sign at Mar's Restaurant was pure mid-century fun. Sitting high above Hawthorne Boulevard, the bright lettering and atomic starburst made it hard to miss, especially with the old Travelodge standing right next door. 03-06
For more than 30 years, Mar's was a neighborhood favorite serving Chinese-American food in the heart of Southeast Portland. The restaurant was popular, but it was the rooftop sign that really gave the building its personality and made it one of Hawthorne's memorable roadside sights.
It's easy to imagine families pulling off the road after spotting that glowing starburst. Signs like this didn't just advertise a restaurant, they invited you to stop and see what was inside.
UPDATE: Mar's Restaurant closed in 2004, and its classic rooftop sign has since been removed. 07-26
Marv's Broiler (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
The sign at Marv's Broiler wasn't your typical rectangle. Its rounded, amoeba-shaped design gave it a look all its own, making it one of White Center's most recognizable roadside landmarks. Pointing the way to hungry diners, it was impossible to mistake for anything else.
Long before it became Marv's Broiler, the site started life as a Triple XXX Root Beer drive-in. When the restaurant changed hands in the 1970s, the owners wisely kept the unusual sign, helping preserve a little piece of its mid-century character. Over the years, Marv's became a neighborhood favorite where good food, cold drinks, and familiar faces kept people coming back.
While the restaurant is gone, the old sign still survives beneath newer panels, quietly hinting at the building's colorful past for those who know where to look.
UPDATE: Marv's Broiler closed in 2015. The original sign structure remains, although the historic Marv's lettering has been covered by newer signage. 07-26
Bob's Restaurant (Gone)
Grants Pass, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
By the time this photo was taken, Bob's Restaurant had already seen its share of better days. The faded building and weathered sign hinted at a time when this was a busy roadside stop, serving up burgers to hungry travelers and local teenagers alike. 09-05
Bob's was part of a homegrown Oregon hamburger chain founded by Bob Corey, whose famous 19-cent burgers helped build a loyal following across the state. For years, locations like this became gathering places where families stopped for dinner and teenagers met up before heading out to cruise the streets.
Even in its final years, the old restaurant still had plenty of character. The low-slung building and vintage sign were reminders of an era when regional burger chains could hold their own against the national names.
Bob's Restaurant
Grants Pass, OR Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Sometimes an old restaurant doesn't need to be open to catch your eye. It's enough to imagine the parking lot full of cars, the grill busy inside, and the sign glowing once again.
UPDATE: Bob's Restaurant has long since disappeared, and both the building and its roadside sign are gone. 07-26
Lariat Bar-B-Q
Lariat Bar-B-Q sign close-up
Ranch
Restaurant (Closed)
Mars Restaurant (Gone)
Marv's Broiler (Gone)
Bob's Restaurant (Gone)
Bob's Restaurant
