Roadside Peek : Petrol Pumps Rocky Mountains

Amoco Gas Station (Gone)
Colorado Springs, CO
Photo courtesy Mike Lascuola

This Amoco sign stands tall above the roadside in Colorado Springs. For many travelers, the familiar red, white, and blue torch logo was once as recognizable as the Golden Arches or the Holiday Inn sign.

Gas station signs used to have a lot more personality than they do today. The oversized torch logo made it easy to spot an Amoco station from down the road, especially at night when the sign was fully illuminated.

I always liked how simple the design was. You didn't need to read the name to know exactly what company it represented.

UPDATE: Amoco disappeared from much of the West following its merger with BP in 1998, and the classic torch signs gradually vanished from the roadside. The station has since been modernized, and the vintage Amoco sign is gone. Fortunately, photographs like this preserve a familiar sight from the golden age of American road travel. 06-26

Here's a Stinker Station located in Idaho Falls. It's hard not to smile at a gas station called "Stinker," especially when the company mascot is a skunk.

The chain dates back to 1936 when founder Farris Lind opened his first station in Twin Falls. Rather than trying to sound like one of the big national oil companies, he embraced the unusual name and built a brand around the cartoon skunk. Decades later, it's still one of the more memorable names you'll find along the roadside.

I've always thought the skunk logo was part of the charm. It's the kind of sign that catches your eye and makes you wonder about the story behind it.

UPDATE: Stinker Stations are still going strong today, with locations across Idaho and neighboring states. While many of the older stations have been modernized over the years, the company continues to use its famous skunk mascot, keeping a unique piece of roadside Americana alive. 06-26

This Stinker Station can be found in Twin Falls, the birthplace of the entire Stinker chain. The skunk on the sign still looks like he's ready for another round.

The first Stinker Station opened here in 1936 when founder Farris Lind was just 20 years old. According to company lore, competitors weren't too happy with his low fuel prices and started calling him a "stinker." Rather than taking offense, Lind embraced the nickname and turned it into a brand. Before long, the company mascot, a boxing skunk known as Polecat Pete, became a familiar sight along Idaho highways.

I've always thought the boxing gloves were a nice touch. They perfectly fit the story of a small independent station taking on the big oil companies.

UPDATE: While the original station has changed considerably over the years, Stinker Stores continues to thrive across Idaho and the Intermountain West. The company still proudly uses its skunk mascot, keeping alive one of the more unique roadside brands in the region. 06-26

Here's an old Sinclair station sitting out in Elberta, Utah. The familiar Sinclair colors have faded after years under the desert sun, but the building still has plenty of character.

What makes this station especially interesting is that it wasn't originally built here. The structure was constructed in 1917 in the mining town of Dividend, Utah. When the nearby Tintic mining operations declined and the community began to disappear, residents moved many of their buildings to other towns. This station was relocated to Elberta and eventually became a local repair shop and roadside landmark.

The faded paint and weathered siding only add to that feeling here. 09-08

UPDATE: The station has been closed for decades, but the building still stands and remains a popular photo stop for travelers exploring Utah's back roads. The site has gradually become a roadside attraction, complete with vintage vehicles and other nostalgic decorations that celebrate its long history. 06-26