Golden Steer (Gone)
Sheridan, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

This vertical marquee sits in the parking lot of the Golden Steer Restaurant in Sheridan, Wyoming. Check out the large steer perched atop the sign. The western-themed marquee was hard to miss and helped make the Golden Steer one of Sheridan's better-known roadside dining spots.

The Golden Steer traces its roots back to a building near Fort Road that was originally known as the Halfway House. Over the years, the restaurant grew into a popular gathering place for locals and visitors alike. In addition to dining, the Golden Steer became known for its lounge, live music, dancing, and western atmosphere. For many Sheridan residents, this was the place to celebrate a special occasion or enjoy a night on the town.

UPDATE: The original Golden Steer on North Main Street closed in the early 1990s. The restaurant later made a brief attempt to continue operations at another location on Sheridan Avenue before closing permanently. While the restaurant is gone today, the Golden Steer remains a fondly remembered part of Sheridan's roadside history. The place is now vacant. 06-26

Kitty Pappas Steak House (Demolished)
Woods Cross, UT
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

This interestingly shaped sign stood tall at the Kitty Pappas Steak House just north of Salt Lake City. The towering marquee featured a distinctive winged design and was hard to miss for motorists traveling along Highway 89. The tall, eye-catching sign alone was worth slowing down for. 10-06

Kitty Pappas traced its roots back to 1947 and became a longtime favorite for locals looking for a good steak dinner. The restaurant remained family owned for decades, and Kitty Pappas herself became something of a local legend, continuing to cook and greet customers well into her 90s. Stepping inside was like taking a trip back in time, complete with classic décor, homemade desserts, and a no-frills atmosphere that seemed increasingly rare in the modern world.

UPDATE: The Kitty Pappas Steak House closed following the passing of its beloved namesake in 2022. Despite efforts by community members to save the iconic sign, the building and marquee were ultimately demolished to make way for redevelopment. While the restaurant is gone today, many Utah residents still remember Kitty Pappas as one of the state's classic roadside dining destinations. 06-26

Harman KFC
Photo courtesy Shawn Church

The glowing Colonel at Harman KFC makes quite an impression against the Salt Lake Valley night sky. That oversized face gives the sign a slightly eerie appearance, but it certainly catches your attention. There’s some important chicken history beneath it, too.

Pete and Arline Harman’s restaurant became the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in 1952. Pete’s partnership with Colonel Sanders helped turn a chicken recipe into a national business. He also helped popularize the family bucket, introduced in 1957.

UPDATE: The original restaurant was replaced in 2004, but the South Salt Lake location continues serving KFC and displaying memorabilia from its early years. The familiar sign adds another reason to stop where the franchise story began. 06-26

Dee's Family Restaurant
Salt Lake City, UT
Photo courtesy Jack Wright

The neon at Dee's Family Restaurant gives Salt Lake City a familiar roadside welcome. Its glowing lettering makes you think about breakfast and coffee before you’ve even checked the menu. That’s a pretty effective advertisement after a long drive.

According to the company’s history, Dee Anderson borrowed $35 in 1931 to buy hamburger ingredients and begin selling five cent burgers. The business grew into a Utah institution, eventually including more than fifty drive-ins alongside its family restaurants.

UPDATE: Dee’s continues serving customers in Salt Lake City and Taylorsville. Many early locations have disappeared, but the surviving restaurants keep the name in use. YESCO’s work on the familiar sign has also helped preserve the roadside glow that first caught my attention. 06-26

Irma Grill
Cody, WY
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The Irma Grill offers a good reason to slow down along Sheridan Avenue in Cody. The historic frontage belongs to a hotel built by Buffalo Bill himself, giving this restaurant considerably more western history than a few wagon wheels hung on the wall.

William F. Cody opened the Irma Hotel in 1902 and named it for his youngest daughter. Inside, the elaborate cherrywood back bar is a major attraction. Hotel tradition identifies it as a gift from Queen Victoria, making it quite a souvenir of Buffalo Bill’s international fame.

UPDATE: The Irma continues welcoming diners and overnight guests. You can admire the bar, enjoy a meal, and hear stories about the old hotel. For anyone exploring Cody, this is one place where the history extends well beyond the sign out front. 06-26

Denny's (Closed)
Boise ID
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

The older lettering on this Denny's sign gives the Boise restaurant a familiar roadside look. For anyone who spent long evenings traveling western highways, that glow could mean breakfast, coffee, or simply somewhere to sit before continuing the trip.

Chain restaurant signs are easy to overlook because they were once so common. Yet designs like this have gradually disappeared as buildings were remodeled and branding changed. The familiar lettering becomes more interesting when you realize how few examples you’ve noticed lately.

UPDATE: This Boise location has closed, and its vintage sign has been removed. The photograph preserves an everyday roadside sight from a time when spotting Denny’s could settle the question of where to stop next. 06-26

Pass Key (Closed)
Pueblo, CO
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Here's the sign for the Pass Key in Pueblo, Colorado. This longtime sandwich shop is known for its Italian sausage sandwich, a local favorite that has been drawing hungry customers for generations. The vintage sign out front is a reminder of the days when family-owned eateries helped define the roadside landscape. 10-05

The Pass Key traces its roots back to 1952 and grew alongside Pueblo's historic steel industry. Originally operating as a drive-in, the restaurant became a popular stop for steelworkers, locals, and travelers alike. Its signature Italian sausage sandwich remains the star of the menu and has earned a loyal following well beyond southern Colorado.

UPDATE: While the original Abriendo Avenue location closed in 2022, the Pass Key tradition lives on. Family members continue serving the famous sausage sandwiches at other Pueblo-area locations, keeping one of the city's best-known roadside food traditions alive. The original sign may bring back memories, but fortunately the sandwiches haven't disappeared. 06-26