Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Vintage Vegas....The Neon Boneyard!


 Vintage Vegas!
I love Vegas kitsch...it's so tacky it's cool 
 I made this header from individual sign letters from my Neon Boneyard photos.
A whole folder of letters...Vegas Font!

Hi!
Welcome to the Boneyard!
Sigh...I even love the sign.
I am sure most people know about the Neon Boneyard.  At one time it was just a vacant lot where old signs from demolished casinos were stored.  You've seen it in music videos...The Killers for example...and in movies and TV shows.  Clark Griswald's daughter Audrey danced on top of one of the signs in "Vegas Vacation".  In fact the park was closed right after we left...a TV show was going to be filming.  It was a big secret...so I don't know which one it was...lol! It's an amazing place...and it's impossible to take bad pictures there...the signs are too photogenic!

La Concha Motel...1961 to 2003

The lobby and gift shop of the outdoor museum is the salvaged lobby of the old La Concha Motel. It minded it's dignified business at 2955 South Las Vegas Boulevard.


Motel Sign...all that remain of the MOTEL letters are M-O-T.
I saw them lying on their side in the Boneyard...sad and forlorn.

The Letter "O"

This part of the sign has been fully restored to working order.
There are several restored signs in the park.

Stardust!
Stardust Casino...1958 to 2006.
Last of the Mob-run casinos.
The sign is ginormous!
I never realized the scale of a casino sign until I saw...

Each space-age letter is around 8 to 10 ft. high.
Look how small our guide is in comparison.
The lettering is "Googie" a futuristic "atomic age" style of architecture.

The pieces of the sign are so massive they are stacked all over the park.


We found these everywhere in random corners.

A Few Favorites...
I love the Sassy Sally sign...in the boneyard all you have to do
is point and shoot.  Every photo looks like an art collage.

This "B" with the star has a circus feel.

Lady Luck!
You just can't take a bad picture.
I plan to make a collage for the Vegas condo.
Costco makes large canvas wrap prints...I can't wait.

Ugly Duckling.
I chose some pics that were a bit less common.
You can find almost any sign in a google search.

Silver Slipper and Fremont Street...
Before...
This picture I found on Pinterest...it shows how the old slipper looked until recently.
Silver Slipper Restored

The Neon Museum has twelve restored signs throughout the old Downtown Las Vegas area...some can be seen on a walk through the Fremont Street Experience.  Three others have been added to the median of Las Vegas Boulevard near the entrance of the Boneyard.  Our guide mentioned that in the future more signs will be restored and added to the median along that section of the boulevard.
Seen in Fremont Street...


If You Go...



  • Hours of operation:
    The museum is open for tours 7 days a week. Hours vary by season. Guided tours available every half hour starting at 10 a.m. Guests should arrive at least 15 minutes before scheduled tour. The visitor's center is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

    Restored, electrified signs are on public display in downtown Las Vegas 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Cost:
    $18 for adults; $12 for students and Nevada residents (with valid ID), senior citizens and veterans.

  • I hope you enjoyed this new installment of "Vintage Vacation."  I have another couple of posts on Vintage Vegas coming soon!  If you visit the Neon Boneyard, bring sunscreen and a water bottle and...most importantly...
    Don't forget your camera!











    10 comments:

    ~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

    That looks like fun! Would love to find some of the old postcards, wouldn't you? Sweet hugs!

    Blessed Serendipity said...

    I didn't know there was such a place where these old signs still existed. What a fabulous place to photograph these bits of Vegas history. I love the slipper.

    Danielle

    Christine said...

    loved this post...... love Vegas........love to go back......
    Thank you for sharing

    ~Damita's Pretty Wrap~ said...

    How neat to have found all those old signs! So fun!! :) xo Holly

    ImagiMeri said...

    I didn't get to see that when I was there last year. I guess I'll have to go back, cuz that really is cool.

    Hugs,
    Meri

    Tammy's in Love said...

    What a tour guide you are! I know that there a lots of attractions in Vegas in addition to the influence of affluence type casinos. I want to go, Mr. isn't interested so my neighbor and I are planning!

    Perfectly Printed said...

    What a fun tour!! I haven't been to Las Vegas for almost 40 years! Well, other than to change planes! I did not know about the Boneyard, it looks like tons of Neon fun! chris

    Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

    Now how come I have never heard of this Neon Boneyard? I love vintage letters and numbers from signs! In fact, I bought a large O that was a gas station number to use somewhere in my basement. I love all of the pics. Thanks for the tour!
    hugs,
    Jann

    Unknown said...

    Those are some great photos! I've never heard of that place before, but would love to visit there.
    Thanks for sharing,
    Dorothy

    vintage grey said...

    Hi Shirley!! Oh, what a neat place! I have actually never heard of it, so thanks!! Love that ducky sign! Have a great week! xo Heather