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…

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…

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…

A massive neon sign features a cowboy on horseback being chased by a Native American with a bow shooting arrows, and below reads "Pony Express Lodge"

More than Las Vegas: Neon Gems of Nevada

June 5, 2023, Leave a Comment on More than Las Vegas: Neon Gems of Nevada

Never go on a road trip with me unless you’re prepared to pull off the road whenever I see a neon sign, abandoned building, or something weird. When Patrick and I weren’t on freeways, we took many backroads and old highways during our trip, and even though we had made this drive before, we still…

Myself standing in front of one of the three screens, wearing a copper crown, blue jean jacket, pale green shirt featuring Humpty Dumpty and a castle reading "Enchanted Forest", pink corduroy pants, and holding a blue purse.

Van Buren Drive-In

April 12, 2023, Leave a Comment on Van Buren Drive-In

Earlier this year the sun set on Mission Tiki Drive-In, which had become our regular drive-in since moving to California. Thankfully we live near a few others, and recently Patrick and I went to the Van Buren Drive-in in Riverside to see Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Named after the street it is located…

Small, single story, boarded up adobe buildings sit just past a sign reading "Casablanca Inn"

The Remnants, Remains, and Random Snapshots of 2022

February 1, 2023, 1 Comment

Sometimes when Patrick and I go out we find ourselves pulling over when we spy a vintage sign, or a unique or abandoned building. Often these places never have enough meat to them for their very own post (and more often than not, the photos get forgotten about as a result), or they get relegated…

The large rooftop neon sign for the "Roosevelt Hotel" which spells out its name in red neon letters.

The Neon Gods We Made – Revisiting the Los Angeles Neon Cruise

September 21, 2022, 3 Comments

Unless you’re super new to the blog, then you know I adore neon. There is something about the almost alchemy like art that is neon, and I love seeing it. One of the best ways to see the neon of Los Angeles in the wild is by taking the Neon Cruise, offered by the Museum…

Myself, wearing a light blue shirt with rainbow script reading "93/KHJ Boss 30" and red and yellow corduroy shorts, standing in front of the massive hot dog shaped building.

Eating a Little Hot Dog at a Giant Hot Dog! The Return of Tail o’ the Pup

July 26, 2022, 1 Comment

It has graced book covers, it has been seen featured on the big and small screen, it has been visited by celebrities like Betty White, Sigourney Weaver, and the band Devo, just to name a few. What is it? It’s a 17 foot long hot dog stand, dubbed Tail o’ the Pup, one of the…

Myself, leaning against the concession stand, wearing a straw hat, a black t-shirt that reads "Ian Malcom was Right" and green shorts, in the background one of the screens is visible.

One More Summer at the Mission Tiki Drive-In

July 21, 2022, Leave a Comment on One More Summer at the Mission Tiki Drive-In

Due to Oregon’s rainy weather my local drive-in growing up, the 99W, only operated seasonally, opening sometime in the late spring and staying open until autumn. So summer was really drive-in season, nights spent with friends and popcorn in front of a massive screen. Because of this, despite now living in California, where the remaining…

Atomic Redhead

Roadside Americana

Lonesome Spots along California Backroads

A Return to the Abandoned Royal Hawaiian Motel

The Neon Spectacle of Las Vegas

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

More than Las Vegas: Neon Gems of Nevada

Van Buren Drive-In

The Remnants, Remains, and Random Snapshots of 2022

The Neon Gods We Made – Revisiting the Los Angeles Neon Cruise

Eating a Little Hot Dog at a Giant Hot Dog! The Return of Tail o’ the Pup

One More Summer at the Mission Tiki Drive-In