Las Vegas Boulevard Scenic Byway Project
The signs are owned by the city of Las Vegas, The Neon Museum and YESCO Custom Electric Signs, and now create a complete neon streetscape beginning with the gateway arches and showgirl signage all the way up Las Vegas Boulevard to The Neon Museum and Washington Avenue.
BINION’S HORSESHOE
Binion’s Horseshoe (Property: 1951-2004, sign: c. 1906s)
Native-Texan Benny Binion opened Binion’s Horseshoe in 1951. He was one of the first to introduce carpeted floors, chairs in front of slot machines, and “comps” for his guests, including free drinks and meals. In the 1970s, Binion’s Horseshoe began to host the World Series of Poker tournament, where it was held until c. 2003.
SILVER SLIPPER
Sliver Slipper (Property: 1950-1988, sign: c.1950s)
The Silver Slipper originally opened as the Golden Slipper, as there was an existing casino using the Silver Slipper name, but changed their name when that property closed in 1950. The property was originally located on the premises of the Hotel Last Frontier. Entrepreneur Howard Hughes purchased the Silver Slipper in 1968, after purchasing the Desert Inn, Sands, and the Castaways, ushering in Las Vegas’ modern, corporate era.
BOW & ARROW MOTEL
Bow & Arrow Motel (property: c. 1954-c. 1986, sign: c. 1950s)
Originally located on Wyoming Avenue in Downtown Las Vegas, the Bow & Arrow Motel opened in the 1950s. This sign, complete with its attention-grabbing bow and arrow animation, is believed to have been designed by Betty Willis, designer of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.
SOCIETY CLEANERS
Society Cleaners (property: 1946-c. 2014, sign: 1946)
Opened in 1946 by husband and wife Wayne and Braunda Gamette, Society Cleaners was located on the corner of 11th Street and Fremont for over 60 years. The top hat and cane imagery reflect the Gamette family’s involvement in the performing arts.
NORMANDIE MOTEL
Normandie Motel (property: c. 1938-c. 2002, sign: unknown)
Opened by the Huffy family in the late 1930s and located at 708 Las Vegas Boulevard South, the Normandie was located across from the current site of Gold & Silver Pawn, as featured in the television show “Pawn Stars.” Betty Willis, who famously designed the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas signage, designed the Normandie’s distinctive hatchet-shaped sign.
LUCKY CUSS MOTEL
Lucky Cuss Motel (property: 1955 – 2002, sign: unknown)
The Lucky Cuss Motel is located at 3305 Fremont Street among other small, independently owned motels. In March 2007, the Lucky Cuss Motel signage was featured in the popular newspaper comic strip “Zippy” by Bill Griffith.
HACIENDA HOTEL & CASINO
Hacienda Hotel & Casino (property: 1956-1996, sign: 1967)
Installed on the property in 1967, the Hacienda Horse & Rider signage was fabricated by YESCO and commissioned by then-owner Judy Bayley, who requested the horse be based off J.B., her own pet horse. In 1996, this became the first sign the Neon Museum restored. The Hacienda Hotel & Casino was imploded in 1996, and today the Mandalay Bay stands in its place.
APACHE MOTEL
Apache Motel (1961-2010, sign: unknown)
The Apache Motel takes its name from the Native American tribes of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, despite being located in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is another example of a property that borrowed from Native American culture without considering cultural nuances. The Apache Motel was demolished in 2010 as part of the construction efforts for the new Las Vegas City Hall building.
GOLDEN INN MOTEL
Golden Inn Motel (property: 1961-2004, sign: c. 1959)
Originally located at 120 Las Vegas Boulevard North, the current site of The Ogden Las Vegas, the Golden Inn Motel signage is emblematic of roadside design trends of the late-1950s, including its bright colors and distinct shapes. The Golden Inn Motel was designed by James B. McDaniel, a native Nevadan who worked primarily in the modernist style. The property advertised itself as “98 steps to downtown” due to its convenient location.
CLARK INN MOTEL
Clark Inn Motel (property: 1949-1970, sign: c. 1950s)
The Clark Inn Motel, located on East Fremont Street, was opened by O.W. Clark in 1947 and remained in the Clark family through its closure in 1970. The Clark family gardened on the property extensively, using the Clark Inn Motel’s basement to store their surplus of fruits and vegetables. The building, noted for its rounded corners and oval windows, was demolished in 1988.
LONE PALM MOTEL
Lone Palm Motel (property: 1954-1990s, sign: late 1950s)
Incorporating local flora into its signage, the Lone Palm Motel opened in the 1950s where the New York-New York Hotel & Casino stands today. The property included two separate wings, as well as apartment accommodations and an RV park. Its location on Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard meant it was a convenient place for families of casino workers to stay.
DOMINIO MOTEL
Domino Motel (property: 1953-1995, sign: c. 1960s)
Advertising itself as “In the Heart of Las Vegas,” the Domino Motel opened in 1953 and featured simple, effective signage. The property was conveniently located in the Downtown area, near where the Strat (formerly the Stratosphere) stands today.
FUN CITY MOTEL
Fun City Motel (property: c. 1950s-2020, sign: c. 1980s)
Originally opening as the Glenn Vegas Motel in the 1950s, and later becoming the Vegas Holiday Motel in the 1960s, the property re-opened as the Fun City Motel in the 1980s. The property was well known for its bright pink and white design, featuring in numerous film and music video shoots in town.
PAR-A-DICE MOTEL
Par-A-Dice Motel (property: 1953-c. 2010, sign: unknown)
The Par-A-Dice Motel, utilized both a clever pun and the theme of casinos to market itself among the many motels and motor courts of the 1950s. It was located at 2217 East Fremont Street, which is today a vacant lot.
RUMMEL MOTEL
Rummel Motel (property: 1952-2017, sign: c. 1958)
Ralph Roles, Southern Nevada Bowling Hall of Fame inductee and founding member of the Southern Nevada Bowler’s Association, co-owned the Rummel Motel with his wife, Treva, for over 20 years. The property fell victim to a fire in 2017 that shut the property down, and a subsequent two-alarm fire in 2018 that damaged about two-thirds of the building.
