The Western Motel near Vinita, Oklahoma, flipped the switch Saturday on a vibrant, new neon sign that replaces a more nondescript backlit sign at the Route 66 business.
The sign features a hand-painted image of a cowboy on a horse twirling a lasso. At night, the cowboy, horse and lasso are outlined in neon, with the lasso animated.
Here’s an image of the sign from the motel itself:
Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, shot more photos and video:
The ceremony at dusk featured live music, plus food from the nearby Hi-Way Cafe.
The Western Motel last fall received a neon-sign grant through the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and the Route 66 Centennial Commission. The old sign was retired.
The motel stands at 437866 E. Highway 60 (aka Route 66), about two miles west of Vinita.
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