Photo Gallery: Tucson's Neon Glow

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Some of Tucson's best and most historic neon signs grace the night.

Tucson Inn

Tucson Inn — Tucson Inn, 143 W. Drachman St. The Tucson Inn was the largest and first two-story motel in Tucson when it opened in 1953 to fanfare with “bathing beauties,” television broadcasts and tours. It featured a covered balcony around the second floor. The massive entrance sign, a Tucson icon, is illuminated at night. David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

The Gateway Saguaro

The Gateway Saguaro — The 30-ft-tall neon public art piece, by local artist Dirk J. Arnold, shows people traveling northbound on Oracle the history of the roadway, and if they are traveling southbound it welcomes them to Tucson.
Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Ghost Ranch Lodge

Ghost Ranch Lodge — Ghost Ranch Lodge, 801 W. Miracle Mile. Opened in 1941, the lodge was one of the first tourist accommodations along Miracle Mile. Tucson architect Josias Joesler designed the original eight buildings in his signature Spanish Colonial Revival style. Now the lodge and cactus garden are being restored and converted into housing for the elderly. Georgia O’Keeffe had a hand in the design of the sign, which is undergoing repairs. This file shot of the Ghost Ranch Lodge & Restaurant is from the early 1990's but currently isn't working due to demolition at the ranch. David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Neon signs

Neon signs — Neon signs on the side of Hotel Congress downtown.
David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Hotel Congress

Hotel Congress — The Hotel Congress sign, top, will cast light over the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation's party on the hotel roof to raise money to preserve neon signs. David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Magic Carpet Golf

Magic Carpet Golf — The Magic Carpet Golf Sign, stored at De La Cruz Neon, 1918 North Stone Avenue. Tucson Historical Society is working to save three neon signs. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

Medina Sporting Goods

Medina Sporting Goods — The Medina Sporting Goods Sign is located in a garage on East 23rd Street. Tucson Historical Society is working to save neon signs in Tucson. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

The Arizonan Motel

The Arizonan Motel — Among the neon signs to be saved is the Arizonan Motel sign, which is currently in a storage lot near Ash Avenue and Fifth Street. Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star

The Buffet

The Buffet — David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Neon signs

Neon signs — The Shelter, 4155 E. Grant Road. Outside, the name of the bar is displayed prominently on top of the building in light-blue neon.
David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Rincon Market

Rincon Market — Rincon Market, 2513 E. Sixth St. Ron Abbott bought Rincon Market nearly three years ago. He says the store’s white neon sign has been around “probably since the 1950s.” The letters are capitalized, outlined in white and separated by a painted sign that reads, “Since 1926.” David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Caruso's

Caruso's — Caruso’s Restaurant, 434 N. Fourth Ave. Caruso’s was started in the 1930s by Nicasio “Caruso” Zagona and remains a family enterprise. Originally located a block away, Caruso’s moved about 50 years ago when an August rainstorm washed the place away. The sign was designed to flash on and off, creating fork and pasta movement. David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Neon signs

Neon signs — Airport Control Tower, 7005 S. Plumer Ave. The Tucson Airport Authority opened its 11-story, $535,000 tower in October 1958.
David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Fox tucson Theatre

Fox tucson Theatre — Fox tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. Dimmed in 1974 after the theater closed out its 44-year run, the sign came tumbling down, literally, in February 1986. A replica sign went up in June 2002, and 200 people turned up for the relighting. 5/10/07 PHOTO BY JAMES S. WOOD / ARIZONA DAILY STAR 2005 - People walk from their vehicles into the restored Fox Theatre for its reopening gala on New Year's Eve in 2005. James S. Wood/Arizona Daily Star

Frontier Motel

Frontier Motel — Frontier Motel, 227 W. Drachman St. The Frontier was built in 1941 in a 20th-century Revival style, with a 1965 addition at the rear. Ornamentation includes exposed red brick, carved wooden columns and red concrete floors. This property has remained intact and is a fine example of an early highway motor court. The original neon sign lighted up at night. Ron Medvescek/Arizona Daily Star

Tiki Motel

Tiki Motel — Tiki Motel, 2649 N. Oracle Road. The simplified pueblo deco complex opened in 1940 and featured exposed red brick buildings and attached carports. The original art deco sign was discarded in the mid-20th century when the property was renamed the Tiki Motel. It was replaced with a sign in the shape of a Polynesian war shield and mask outlined with neon. APRIL 9, 2003 E1 Photo by Ron Medvescek / Staff Ron Medvescek/Arizona Daily Star

Owl Lodge

Owl Lodge — Owl Lodge, 2015 E. Benson Highway. In 1957, the cost of a week at the Owl Lodge was $18. Today it’s $135. The sign out front no longer lights up. Owner Chuck Uhlig says he tried to fix the sign, but the birds had other ideas. “I spent $3,500 trying to get that thing up and going,” he says, “and within 30 days, the pigeons had wrecked it again.” Benjie Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

The Grill

The Grill — Grill, 100 E. Congress St. In 1950, Minerva Café was remodeled and renamed to The Stag Grill, “Tucson’s Newest Downtown Eating Place,” serving 24 hours a day. By 1957, the business had been renamed the Rallis Grill. Today it’s simply “Grill.” Inside, a glowing red turkey in a baking pan illuminates the room. The roof sign reads “Cafe.” David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Mama Louisa’s

Mama Louisa’s — Mama Louisa’s, 2041 S. Craycroft Road The restaurant was built on a dirt road leading to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in 1956. Since 1973, it has been owned and operated by the Elefante family. Mama Louisa’s neon sign has been around since the 1950s. It is maintained by Fluoresco Lighting and Signs, whose president is married to Tish Cassidy, the granddaughter of Mama Louisa Cassidy. David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

The Riviera Motor Lodge

The Riviera Motor Lodge — Riviera Motor Lodge, 515 W. Miracle Mile. The streamlined Moderne sign of the hotel, which opened in 1953, originally extended toward the road from a steel post that rose from a brick plinth in a small reflecting pool. The sign is now taller and projects away from the street. The courtyard retains its original palm trees and pool. David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Rialto Theatre

Rialto Theatre — Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St. In 2001, the Rialto Theatre received $61,000 to improve its facade. The new sign, with letters that blink, one at a time, replaced a 35-foot-tall art deco gold, blue and red neon “Paramount” sign that graced the front of the Rialto until it was condemned and torn down by the city in the mid-’80s. 10/19/06 Photo Greg Bryan

Tucson's neon signs

Tucson's neon signs — The Fox Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., dimmed in 1974 after the theater closed out its 44-year run, the sign came tumbling down, literally, in February 1986. A replica sign went up in June 2002, and 200 people turned up for the relighting. 5/10/07 PHOTO BY JAMES S. WOOD / ARIZONA
James S. Wood/Arizona Daily Star

Tucson's neon signs

Tucson's neon signs — Ghost Ranch Lodge, 801 W. Miracle Mile. Opened in 1941, the lodge was one of the first tourist accommodations along Miracle Mile. Tucson architect Josias Joesler designed the original eight buildings in his signature Spanish Colonial Revival style. Now the lodge and cactus garden are being restored and converted into housing for the elderly. Georgia O’Keeffe had a hand in the design of the sign, which is undergoing repairs. This file shot of the Ghost Ranch Lodge & Restaurant is from the early 1990's but it was restored in 2010.
David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star

Rialto Theatre

Rialto Theatre — File photo
Greg Bryan

Vintage glow

Vintage glow

Tucson's old road into town, the "Miracle Mile strip," was a haven for neon in the 1950s and 1960s, when flashing signs beckoned to visitors with promises of swimming pools, grassy courtyards and $2 steak dinners. Now, a group of historical preservationists are hoping to bring back the neon buzz.

Neon in Tucson

Neon in Tucson

While not all of Tucson's neon signs qualify for historic status, all of them will brighten your day.

Celebrate Historic Miracle Mile on Saturday

On Saturday, the Historic Miracle Mile Tour and Festival will celebrate the mid-20th century heyday of the original Miracle Mile with its neon…

Tucson museum to give old signs new life

Tucson museum to give old signs new life

They say the neon lights are bright at 331 S. Olsen Ave.

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