Del Mar Mobile Home Park
Grants Pass, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Del Mar Mobile Home Park sign is one of those roadside signs that makes you take a second look. At first glance, the little figures on top look like a pair of playful doggies keeping watch over the entrance. 03-06

Located along old Highway 99, the park has greeted travelers and residents for decades with its distinctive entrance sign. Whether they were meant to be doggies or not, those little characters gave the sign a personality all its own and made it much more memorable than the average trailer park entrance.

The sign is a good reminder of a time when even trailer parks tried to stand out with a little creativity. Instead of a plain name on a board, many featured colorful artwork, unusual shapes, or playful designs that caught the attention of motorists passing by.

UPDATE: Del Mar Mobile Home Park remains open today, and much of the original roadside sign still survives. The distinctive character figures that once topped the sign, however, have since disappeared, giving the landmark a much simpler appearance. Word is the custom hand-painted wooden silhouette cutouts of cartoon seahorses were a visual nod to the park's coastal-themed name. 07-26

Hillman Minx (Closed)
Cottage Grove, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Hillman Minx sign is one of those rare survivors from the days when imported British cars were still a novelty on American roads. Hanging above the sidewalk in downtown Cottage Grove, the old marquee still catches the eye even though its neon tubing has long since disappeared. 03-06

The building once housed the English Motor Company, where customers could shop for everything from economical Hillman Minx automobiles to elegant Packards. That's an unusual combination today, but it made perfect sense at a dealership that offered both imported and domestic cars.

What makes this sign so special is that it never had to be flashy. Its bright porcelain face and simple design did the job, while the neon tubing added just enough glow after dark. Even without the neon, the old marquee remains a wonderful reminder of an era when nearly every car dealership had its own distinctive sign.

The neighboring Packard sign still survives as well, making this one of the few places where a pair of vintage dealership signs can still be seen together. It's a nice glimpse into a time when Main Street was lined with independent auto dealers instead of sprawling dealerships on the edge of town.

UPDATE: The former dealership building has been repurposed for other businesses, but the Hillman Minx marquee remains in place. Although the neon tubing is gone, the sign continues to add a bit of automotive history to downtown Cottage Grove. 07-26

Prints Charming
Roseburg, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Prints Charming sign is enough to make you smile before you even walk through the front door. The name might have you expecting a certain Disney hero to make an appearance, but instead you'll find a longtime Roseburg business that's been turning out custom shirts, signs, and embroidery for decades. 03-06

Prints Charming has been a downtown Roseburg fixture since 1976, providing everything from screen printing and embroidery to custom signs and promotional items. Over the years, the family-run business has grown along with the community, helping create shirts, hats, and other items for schools, businesses, clubs, and local events.

Downtown Roseburg still has a number of independent businesses that give the area its character, and Prints Charming is one of them. It's nice to see both the business and its distinctive sign still greeting customers after all these years.

UPDATE: Prints Charming continues serving the Roseburg community from its longtime downtown location. The familiar sign remains part of the city's Main Street streetscape. 07-26

Buy Here (Gone)
Roseburg, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Buy Here sign didn't waste any words. Along Roseburg's Stephens Street, it got right to the point with a simple message: "Buy Here... Pay Here." 03-06

Signs like this were once a familiar sight along old Highway 99, where independent used car lots lined the roadside. There wasn't much mystery about what was being offered. If you needed a car and financing, this sign let you know you'd find both in the same place.

It may not have been the flashiest sign in town, but its bold lettering and straightforward message made it memorable. Sometimes the simplest signs are the ones that stick with you the longest, especially when they become part of a highway lined with service stations, motels, drive-ins, and used car lots.

UPDATE: The original used car lot has since disappeared, and the familiar "Buy Here, Pay Here" sign has been removed as Stephens Street has gradually changed over the years. 07-26

Apex Ace Home Center
Roseburg, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The Apex Ace Home Center sign is hard to miss along Stephens Street in Roseburg. Its oversized letter "A" has been catching the eyes of passing motorists for years. 03-06

Apex has been a longtime stop for hardware, plumbing supplies, tools, and just about anything needed for a project around the house. While many independent hardware stores have disappeared, this one has managed to stick around.

The giant "A" gives the sign its own personality. It isn't flashy, but it's the kind of roadside landmark that's easy to recognize from down the street and one that becomes part of the drive through town.

UPDATE: Apex Ace Home Center is still serving the Roseburg community, and its distinctive roadside sign continues to welcome customers along Stephens Street. 07-26

Boans
Tacoma, WA
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

The Boans sign is one of those that can fool you at first glance. Drivers passing through Tacoma might do a double-take, thinking it says "Loans" instead. A closer look reveals it's actually Boans. 11-08

The old sign has plenty of roadside appeal, especially if you're seeing it for the first time. It's a reminder that not every memorable sign has to be flashy. Sometimes all it takes is an unusual name and a quick glance from the road to make you look twice.

Whether you were looking for a loan or not, this is one sign that's likely to leave you smiling once you realize what it really says.

Harkness Furniture (Closed)
Tacoma, WA
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

The Harkness Furniture sign has been a familiar sight along South Tacoma Way for decades. Its towering marquee, complete with twin circular arrows, is the kind of roadside landmark that's hard to drive past without noticing. 11-08

Harkness Furniture opened in 1920 and remained a family-owned business for more than a century. While the furniture drew in customers, the sign did its part by standing tall over one of Tacoma's best-known commercial strips.

The circular arrows give the marquee a little extra personality. They add movement to an already impressive sign and make it one that's easy to spot from down the road.

UPDATE: Harkness Furniture closed in early 2024 after 104 years in business. The historic marquee still stands, although the business lettering has been removed as the property begins a new chapter. 07-26