The relighting of the restored 66 Motel neon sign in Needles, Calif., will occur at 9 p.m. Saturday, said Ed Klein at Route 66 World.
He wrote on his website:
I will be in town late Thursday night working most of the day Friday and Saturday installing the neon, transformers and wiring to complete the restoration of the sign.
We will have a good size crowd that night so if you are traveling Route 66, or even are close to Needles, stop out.
The sign was last lit over 15 years ago so this has been a long time coming.
Klein raised over $2,000 in donations to help restore the sign from an indiegogo campaign. The sign is at Desnok and Broadway in Needles (map here).
It’s hoped that the new sign will persuade the owners of the motel to reopen it to overnight travelers. For now, the seven-unit 66 Motel is used as apartments.
(Photo of the 66 Motel sign courtesy of Ed Klein)
Thelma & Jolly Cox (owners in the 60’s and my grandparents) will be smiling in heaven, driving out from San Diego to celebrate!
This very exciting! Looking forward to photos, video, anything from the relighting!