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As one classic neon sign came down in Las Vegas during June, another went up in this city where the preservation of historic signage is a growing business.
Vegas Vickie, the neon cowgirl that towered over Fremont Street for nearly 40 years, has been lowered from her perch and put in storage. Originally named โSassy Sally,โ the sign was removed in mid-June as part of plans to tear down the old Las Vegas Club to make way for a new hotel-casino.
The Red Barn is Back
Vickieโs demise doesnโt mean a reduction in the amount of historic signs around town. In fact, one has just been erected on the Strip in front ofย Fashion Show Mall.
The Red Barn stood for years outside a business with an eclectic history. Located along East Tropicana Avenue near Maryland Parkway, it opened as an antique store in the late 1950s. By the early 60s, it morphed into a tavern which, in 1969, evolved into a gay bar.
The Red Barn sign is the first of what will be a rotating lineup of signs to grace the Strip. They will come from the collection of theย 330 feet of neon tubing
As one classic neon sign came down in Las Vegas during June, another went up in this city where the preservation of historic signage is a growing business.
Vegas Vickie, the neon cowgirl that towered over Fremont Street for nearly 40 years, has been lowered from her perch and put in storage. Originally named โSassy Sally,โ the sign was removed in mid-June as part of plans to tear down the old Las Vegas Club to make way for a new hotel-casino.
The Red Barn is Back
Vickieโs demise doesnโt mean a reduction in the amount of historic signs around town. In fact, one has just been erected on the Strip in front ofย Fashion Show Mall.
The Red Barn stood for years outside a business with an eclectic history. Located along East Tropicana Avenue near Maryland Parkway, it opened as an antique store in the late 1950s. By the early 60s, it morphed into a tavern which, in 1969, evolved into a gay bar.
The Red Barn sign is the first of what will be a rotating lineup of signs to grace the Strip. They will come from the collection of theย Neon Museum, located near downtown at 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North.
Let there be light
The museum is the force behind theย Las Vegas Signs Project, which publicly displayed its first sign โ the Hacienda Hotelโs horse and rider โ at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street in 1996.
In more recent years, signs from other long-gone businesses have been placed along downtown streets. They include 5th St. Liquor Store, Binionโs Horseshoe, Bow & Arrow Motel, Lucky Cuss Hotel, Normandie Motel, Silver Slipper and Society Cleaners.
The museum has aย guide and mapย to help you find the signs.
Other, often-familiar signs can be viewed at the museum, once just a storage yard known as the Neon Boneyard.
330 feet of neon tubing
The museumโs latest additions come from Palace Station on West Sahara Avenue. Thanks to a remodel of the hotel-casino, the signs that have greeted guests since 1983 now have a new home. Each of the letters in the hotelโs name is between 4 and 6 feet tall. Theyโre surrounded by more than 330 feet of neon tubing.
Where and when Vegas Vickie will be resurrected remains unknown.
โWe are on the active hunt to find the best home possible for our girl,โ downtown casino developer Derek Stevens said in a prepared statement.
Late-night tours
The Neon Museum has just expanded its after-dark tours to include new ones beginning every 20 minutes between 10:20 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. The hour-long tours are offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Both guided and self-guidedย toursย are available at varying prices. The late-night guided tours cost $28.
Info:ย Neon Museum, (702) 387-6366.