Vanishing Highways

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Vanishing Highways

Documenting the vanishing sights we use to take for granted found on the our roadside highways.

05/26/2025

My photo of the iconic Roy's - Route 66, Amboy, CA

In 1938, Roy Crowl opened Roy's as a gas and service station along U.S. Highway 66 in Amboy. At the time, Route 66, which was known as the "Main Street of America," was the primary east-west highway in the nation, starting in Chicago and ending in the Southwest and Los Angeles before being displaced by Interstate 40 in 1973. Even after I 40 bypassed the town, Roy's has long served as a welcome oasis in a lonely stretch of desert between Los Angeles and Barstow.

05/20/2025

My photo of "GAS"- Hwy 93, on the road to Las vegas somewhere near Alamo Road, AZ

05/09/2025

My photo of The Trails End Motel - Phoenix, AZ

Growing up on the west side of Phoenix during the 1960s (31st Ave & Indian School), i used to love it when my parents would drive past this old motel late at night with its gorgeous neon sign lighting up the Valley of the Sun's night skies hoping to lure in the tourists and truckers passing through Phoenix via Grand Ave. i can still remember watching it pass outside the window while laying in the back of our 1965 Bonneville station wagon.

The image of the Native American is taken from James Earle Fraser's iconic bronze sculpture, "The End of the Trail," featuring a broken down Native American slouched down in fatigue on his equally demoralized horse. It has endured to become one of the most recognizable Western images in the US.

When Interstate 10 was completed in 1978, bypassing Grand Avenue, the decreased tourist traffic resulted in the decay and eventual demise of many businesses along Grand. By the mid-to-late 1970s the motel had become a haven for prostitutes and drug dealers. its neon glow had faded and the motel had fallen into disrepair. Eventually the motel, and this fabulous sign, was demolished.

Apparently, the motel had come to the "Trails End."

05/08/2025

My photo of White's Motel (Demolished) - Mojave, CA

i photographed this gorgeous mid century neon sign 40 years ago when it was located ny a run down motel near the airplane graveyard in Mojave, CA. i was on my way to Las vegas, and Mojave is located 50 miles east of Bakersfield, and 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Mojave services Edwards Air Force Base.

Mojave is also the home of the National Test Pilot School (NTPS), the only civilian test-pilot school in the United States. In the 1960s, a select group of NASA test pilots including Neil Armstrong flew the X-15.

The rather prominent advertising of the word "television" is a tell-tale sign of the era this marquee came from.

02/18/2025

My photo of The R&R Lounge (Denver's Oldest Gay Bar) - Denver, CO

The location has been a bar since the 1950s, when it was known as the Coral Lounge and was considered a "mixed" bar, which is basically what people called an incognito gay bar back then. In the ’70s, the bar was renamed the R & R Lounge.

The R's don't stand for rest and relaxation, though i found it a perfect place for me to relax my dogs and rest my driving hands ❤ - But actually the R&R stands for Rick and Roger, the owners at the time. Also in the ’70s, the bar became an "out and proud, rainbow-on-the-door gay bar" and it's been that way ever since.

01/31/2025

My photo of The Horseshoe Cafe - Benson, AZ 2025

Whenever i pass through Benson; either going to, or coming from, Bisbee; i can't wait to spy the gorgeous neon sign that's been hangin' outside The Horseshoe Cafe in Benson for nearly 75 years!

Whereas the cafe opened in the 1930s the sign is probably from the early 1950s. The neon horse silhouette in the center of the horseshoe is one of the few examples of neon extensions contained within a sign's panels. It's as fragile as it is elegant; and i'm always relieved to see it burning bright each time i pass by.

01/13/2025

My photo of "Ralph's Market" in Blythe, CA

This fabulous Ghost Sign stood alone in an empty lot in lovely Blythe, CA. I'm not sure if it is there or not. It was located on the south side of Hobsonway; just a bit east of the Blue Line Motel.

01/11/2025

My photo of the Old Sky Harbor Airport control tower - Phoenix, AZ

For many years, spying this fabulous art deco tower out my plane's window as we taxied to a stop on the tarmac always made me smile. Like a lighthouse perched on a distant coastal cliff; seeing it meant I was "home."

When Terminal 1 opened its doors in 1952, modern airline transportation arrived in Phoenix. This fabulous cylindrical tower was constructed of repurposed underground fuel storage tanks that were welded together. The structure was topped with a stylish, control cab equipped with the latest communication technology. The tower's appearance was even lauded by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, someone who was notoriously difficult to impress.

Fortunately the old tower escaped demolition and found a second life. Cutter Aviation relocated the structure to its Sky Harbor facility and has used it for directing general aviation traffic since 1985.

12/28/2024

My photo of the Phoenix Greyhound Park sign - Phoenix, AZ - 1985

I photographed this sign 39 years ago. For many years, everytime I would pass by it, I would say out loud, “Here comes the rabbit, rabbit, rabbit!”

The track closed in 2009 after years of animal cruelty cases directed at dog racing surfaced locally in the 1990s and early 2000s. While the greyhounds no longer run at the former Park, bargain hunters still flock there each week to Park 'n Swap held in its massive parking lot.

In the early 1960s, my grandpa "Shorty" was one of the early pioneers of this perennial flea-market and every Saturday morning, six-year old me would happily tag along with him to this grand marketplace on East Washington. It was full of antiques, funky furniture, collectables, old clothes, used toys, and best of all . . . Indian Fry Bread!

For years my Saturdays would be a magical experience; one full of wonderment and curiosity; discovery and eating. I believe my love of collecting was born out of these halcyon days that I will never forget.

12/14/2024

My photo of The First Mexican Baptist Church - Phoenix, AZ

Built in 1920, this charming little church is located at 1002 E. Jefferson. It is one the oldest Mexican churches still standing in the Valley of the Sun. Unfortunately it lost its congregation when the City of Phoenix decided to build Chase Field and The Footprint Center and all the parking lots surrounding the area.

12/12/2024

My photo of 300 Bowl (aka Bowlero) bowling alley - Phoenix, Az

Located on the S/W corner of the intersection of 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road, across the street from the Christown Mall, is this amazing mid-century modern masterpiece!

Built in 1958, and in the Googie-style with its exaggerated roofline, this mid-century treasure transports you back to the promise of what we thought the future was going to bring for postwar Phoenix. Its triangular roof structures soar toward the sky promising customers an enjoyable recreation experience. I spent many hot summer days at this joint, throwing balls down its allies, playing pinball, and eating french fries in its glamorous Ripple Room restaurant.

This photo is included in my 2025 calendar available by clicking here https://www.vanishinghighway.com/product-page/set-of-six-animal-postcards-plus-bonus-postcard

12/08/2024

My photo of The Kingman Club - Kingman, AZ
The Kingman Club was originally opened in 1944 on Beale St in Kingman Arizona, just a block off of historic Route 66. Though "technically" not on The Mother Road, it has been one of the favorite watering holes for people traveling Route 66 for 80 years. This gorgeous neon sign was made somewhere in the mid 1950’s

And BTW, who can resist any bar sign that feature two neon cocktail glasses?

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