Hot Lake Sanitorium (Closed)
La Grande, OR
Photo courtesy Allen Sandquist

At first glance, the grand brick Hot Lake building looks like an old hotel sitting quietly outside La Grande. It was actually built as a sanitarium, where visitors came hoping the area's famous mineral springs could help restore their health. 08-09

The hot springs have attracted people for centuries, long before the first buildings appeared here in the 1800s. By the early 1900s, Hot Lake had grown into one of the largest health resorts in the West, complete with hundreds of guest rooms, a hospital, and naturally heated mineral baths.

Like many grand old buildings, Hot Lake experienced years of decline, surviving a devastating fire, decades of changing uses, and a long period of abandonment. Fortunately, the old sanitarium escaped demolition and has been carefully brought back to life.

UPDATE: The former Hot Lake Sanatorium now operates as Hot Lake Springs Resort, where guests can once again stay overnight and enjoy the historic geothermal hot springs. 07-26

Fluhrer's Bread (Gone)
Medford, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The old Fluhrer's Bread building definitely makes you do a double take. At first glance, the lettering almost looks like it says something else entirely, but it's just one of those quirky old logos that belonged to a longtime Southern Oregon bakery. 03-06

Built in 1933, Fluhrer's became a familiar name throughout the region, baking bread for communities across southern Oregon and northern California. It was also one of the first local bakeries to introduce pre-sliced bread, something that was quite a novelty at the time.

The handsome Art Deco building has outlasted the bakery itself, and it's easy to imagine delivery trucks once pulling away with fresh loaves headed to grocery stores throughout the Northwest.

UPDATE: Bread is no longer baked here, but the restored building lives on as a commercial and retail center. The original Fluhrer's signs have been removed. 07-26

Dixon Dry Goods (Closed)
Grants Pass, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Sometimes the best sign in town isn't made of neon. The faded lettering on the Dixon Dry Goods building has been watching over downtown Grants Pass for well over a century, reminding passersby of a business that's been gone for generations. 03-06

The brick building was constructed after a devastating fire swept through downtown in 1894. Dixon Dry Goods soon opened its doors, selling clothing, shoes, and other everyday necessities before eventually giving way to a long list of new businesses over the years.

Fortunately, someone recognized that the old painted advertisement was worth saving. Today it's one of those wonderful ghost signs that adds a little extra character to a downtown stroll and gives visitors a glimpse into Grants Pass' early shopping district.

UPDATE: The building is now home to Josephine Interiors & Market. The historic Dixon Dry Goods painted sign has been preserved and remains one of downtown Grants Pass' best-known landmarks. 07-26