The Route 66 Association of Missouri announced Thursday it had acquired four neon signs — including from the Ozark Court and La Casa Grande Motel — for a future neon park development.
Rich Dinkela, president of the association, bought the signs for $44,400 from the estate of St. Louis-area sign collector Greg Rhomberg so they could be preserved.
Rhomberg had hoped to build a neon museum at the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis by 2025, but he died last year.
According to a news release from the association, it plans to feature these signs in a future neon park, with St. Louis County as a potential location.
“We believe a neon park should not be exclusive to Route 66 signage but should include all neon signs
that tell a story or display artistic brilliance,” an association spokesman stated.
These are the signs that were acquired:
Ozark Court sign: Once a beacon for travelers near St. Clair, Missouri, along Route 66 and Interstate 44, the sign features a prancing deer design. Removed in the 1990s, the sign resurfaced in 2019 and later was acquired by Rhomberg. The Ozark Court building, though dilapidated, still stands. This sign, which reflects the character of other Route 66 treasures like John’s Modern Cabins and Abbylee Under the Trees, requires a full restoration.
La Casa Grande Motel sign: Located in St. Louis County along Route 66, this sign was fully restored by Rhomberg. The motel building still operates as long-term rental housing.
Buses Flowers sign: Although not from a Route 66 town, this sign holds deep personal significance for Dinkela, who grew up a few blocks from the original Buses Flowers location in downtown St. Charles, Missouri. The building was razed for the St. Joseph Hospital expansion, but the business still operates today. This sign requires minimal restoration.
Safety First sign: Believed to have once hung at the Stupp Brothers steel foundry headquartered in St. Louis, this restored sign connects to Missouri’s industrial legacy. Stupp Brothers supplied critical steel components for many Route 66 bridges, tying this piece of history to the Mother Road.
“Neon has always represented life along Route 66 and small-town America,” Dinkela stated in the news release. “It beckons travelers and enthusiasts. I truly feel we’ve rescued these signs from being stashed away, and hopefully soon, they will be back out for everyone to see and enjoy. I hope they inspire the art of neon to live on.”
The association is pursuing grant opportunities, including from the Route 66 Centennial Commission, to make its vision for a neon park a reality.
To support the neon park initiative, email info@missouri66.org or you can make a donation to the association here.
(Images of La Casa Grande Motel and Ozark Court signs courtesy of the Route 66 Association of Missouri)