Myself standing in the middle of the exhibit space.

Looking back at Halloween in Anaheim

September 28, 2023, Leave a Comment on Looking back at Halloween in Anaheim

This year mark’s the 100th anniversary of Anaheim’s Fall Festival, and to celebrate this occasion, the Muzeo has put together not one, but two exhibits showcasing not only Anaheim’s Halloween history, but some Halloween’s earliest traditions in a unique antique postcard exhibit. Halloween at the turn of the 20th century looked much different than today,…

View of myself on the porch of our room.

Our First Visit to the Kitschtastic Madonna Inn

September 20, 2023, 3 Comments

For as long as I can remember I’ve always wanted to stay at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. Since its opening in 1958, this sprawling complex has become iconic, beloved by generation after generation. And recently Patrick and I had the perfect excuse to stay there, as I was in a wedding in…

Overall, angled view of the Baskin Robbins, with its pink roof and palm trees out front.

A-Frame Icon: The Scoop on Baskin-Robbins History

August 16, 2023, Leave a Comment on A-Frame Icon: The Scoop on Baskin-Robbins History

Amid a plethora of auto body shops stands a bubblegum pink A-frame building, at first glance someone could mistake it for a life size version of Barbie’s ski shop mistakenly plopped near LAX instead of the mountains of Mammoth. But you won’t find Barbie here, this is a Baskin-Robbin’s and it’s said to be the…

Myself standing outside of the bright yellow and red Munch Box building, wearing a white shirt with a clown marionette on it and text reading "From Hollywood Bob Baker's Marionettes" and red shorts with yellow pockets.

The Munch Box: A 1950s Chatsworth Icon

July 19, 2023, Leave a Comment on The Munch Box: A 1950s Chatsworth Icon

Just past the railroad tracks of Chatsworth sits a small bright yellow burger stand, The Munch Box. This tiny walk-up has been serving Chatsworth locals and others since 1956. Today the ketchup and mustard colored building continues to be family owned and operated. When The Munch Box opened in 1956 it made root beer on…

A Night at the Neon Museum on Film

July 5, 2023, Leave a Comment on A Night at the Neon Museum on Film

A Note from Janey: Today I’m handing the blogging reins to Patrick. He was so excited about both the opportunity to shoot night photos at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, and with his end products! Enjoy! As Janey mentioned in her post about our return to the Las Vegas Neon Museum I spent most…

A small single story Streamline Moderne style building, abandoned with collapsing wood frame.

Lonesome Spots along California Backroads

June 29, 2023, Leave a Comment on Lonesome Spots along California Backroads

Today I’m rounding up California sights from our road trip, including many more abandoned buildings, neon signs, and even a Twilight Zone filming location! Rustic Oasis Motel, 2005 U.S. 395, Olancha. “Temporarily Closed” according to Google. Airflite Cafe, US-395, Olancha. Abandoned. Invisible Theme Park cited a CalTrans survey (although I could not locate the survey…

Overall view of the front building, which is a single story building, curved ever so slightly with square pillars supporting the overhang. Turquoise diamonds are painted on the pillars, while the rest of the motel is covered in graffiti. In the distance a sign features a palm tree and reads "Arnie's Royal Hawaiian Motel"

A Return to the Abandoned Royal Hawaiian Motel

June 27, 2023, Leave a Comment on A Return to the Abandoned Royal Hawaiian Motel

Back in 2015 en route home from Vegas, Patrick and I found ourselves in the tiny town of Baker, home to the world’s largest thermometer. We also happened upon Arnie’s Royal Hawaiian, an abandoned motel. We snapped photos of it back then, when there was still a fence around part of the property, but a…

Myself standing in front of the Bonnie and Clyde car.

The Bullet Riddled Death Car of Bonnie & Clyde

June 23, 2023, 2 Comments

Primm is the first and last chance for gambling for those coming and going between California and Nevada along Interstate 15. The small town is not much more than a glorified truck stop with several hotels and casinos, but it is also the unlikely home to Bonnie and Clyde’s bullet riddled death car. Yes, the…

An ameba shape neon sign reads "Sky Ranch Motel" with a moon and stars on the top.

The Neon Spectacle of Las Vegas

June 21, 2023, Leave a Comment on The Neon Spectacle of Las Vegas

Las Vegas became famous for its casinos that boasted glitz and glamor with big, brilliant buzzing neon signs. Sadly, these days many have switched to LED, and while some signs have had a second life at the Neon Museum, there is still plenty of neon to be seen in the wild. From the massive kicking…

A large neon sign features fire made of neon and script reading "The Flame" below backlit plastic reads "Prime Rib Breakfast Lunch Dinner" and in small blue neon reads 24 HRS"

Revisiting the Las Vegas Neon Museum

June 19, 2023, 3 Comments

Back in 2017 Patrick and I visited the Las Vegas Neon Museum, and had an absolute blast, taking both their daytime and nighttime tours. Recently they added a “Photo Walk” option, which is a time for photographers to have respectful free-reign (no touching of the signs!) of the boneyard, and since Patrick has gotten more…

Atomic Redhead

Places to Explore

Looking back at Halloween in Anaheim

Our First Visit to the Kitschtastic Madonna Inn

A-Frame Icon: The Scoop on Baskin-Robbins History

The Munch Box: A 1950s Chatsworth Icon

A Night at the Neon Museum on Film

Lonesome Spots along California Backroads

A Return to the Abandoned Royal Hawaiian Motel

The Bullet Riddled Death Car of Bonnie & Clyde

The Neon Spectacle of Las Vegas

Revisiting the Las Vegas Neon Museum