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…

Myself, with my back to the camera, the back of my sweater visible which reads "The Twilight Zone" and in the background the elements from the opening sequence.

Putting Around the Twilight Zone

June 16, 2023, 1 Comment

The Twilight Zone ranks among one of the best television shows of all time, and one of my favorites. So when I heard there was an entire mini golf course dedicated to the show, I knew we had to go! Located in the basement of the Horseshoe, fans of the show and lovers of mini…

Various costumes worn by a variety of performers.

The Art of the Striptease on Display at the Burlesque Hall of Fame

June 14, 2023, Leave a Comment on The Art of the Striptease on Display at the Burlesque Hall of Fame

In Las Vegas’ Art District resides the Burlesque Hall of Fame, here one can learn the origins of burlesque and even try their hand at performing, as it’s also a school so this unique art form can live on. The road to the museum that exists today is long and dusty and begins with Jennie…

Large bulb and neon sign reading "Golden Gate" across the side of the hotel.

Golden Gate: Las Vegas’ Oldest Hotel & Casino

June 12, 2023, 1 Comment

With a wide variety of places to stay in Las Vegas, it can be difficult to choose, but I do love history, so we opted to stay in Vegas’ oldest operating hotel and casino, the Golden Gate. Back in 1906 Las Vegas was a nothing town in the middle of the desert, a train stop…

Overall view of the Perish Motel" a Googie style sign reads "Perish Motel TV" in red and white with a large white arrow pointing toward the rooms.

One-of-a-Kind Roadside Sights from Oregon, Idaho & Utah

June 9, 2023, 2 Comments

After Nevada, we continued briefly into Oregon before arriving at our destination of Idaho. While visiting with my mother, we still took some time to drive around and I found so many great signs and more! After wrapping up our visit, we drove into Utah before eventually arriving in Vegas. So today I bring you…

Myself walkings through the lobby wearing a white peasant top with floral embroidery and blue jeans.

Inside Boise’s Enchanting Egyptian Theatre

June 7, 2023, 1 Comment

While Idaho is known for its potatoes, it has so much more to offer, including one of the best examples of Egyptian revival style architecture, Boise’s Egyptian Theatre, which has been entertaining audiences for almost 100 years. A product of the Egyptian craze that swept the world after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in…

Atomic Redhead

Places to Explore

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

Putting Around the Twilight Zone

The Art of the Striptease on Display at the Burlesque Hall of Fame

Golden Gate: Las Vegas’ Oldest Hotel & Casino

One-of-a-Kind Roadside Sights from Oregon, Idaho & Utah

Inside Boise’s Enchanting Egyptian Theatre