Daytime views of the Laughing Jackalope motel signs on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3969 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign owner: Dan, Ron and Randy Horowitz
Sign details: The motel resides on the east side of the strip, and is one of the larger properties on the southern tip of Las Vegas Blvd The facility fits into the typical model of the roadside motel on this portion of the strip. An official building sits on the north side of the property and precedes a span of pavement centered with a pool, and backed by the flanking wings of rooms. A pylon side is on the north end of the property, across a span of pavement from a grass island with a rather large statue of an elephant made of fiberglass. In the near distance behind the island, the pool house for the said pool, is adorned with distinct neon as well.
Sign condition: Structure 3 Surface 2 Lighting 4 Notes: Certain neon tubes around the top of the building are falling and in disarray. Besides that, the signage seems to be in good repair.
Sign form: Pylon; Fascia
Sign-specific description: On the north face of the building, two internally lit, horizontal, rectangular cabinets. Located on the right hand side of the plane of the wall, the yellow steel cabinets hang in close proximity to each other. One in the top right-hand corner, and one sitting right below the former. Both signs are identical in size and a yellow raceways which are lined with incandescent bulbs. The face of the top cabinet reads "Laughing Jackalope", in smaller text on the left hand side, while the rest of the sign is occupied by all capital, yellow, text reading "Bar & Grill." The bottom sign reads "Progressive Video Poker," and "24 HR." Moving around to the west face of the building, another internally lit cabinet rests on the wall above the main entrance. This cabinet has rounded ends, but is the same as the previous two in color and design. This surface reads "Bar & Grill" in yellow text, flanked on either side by the angled logo text, which reads "Laughing Jackalope," also in yellow text. Further south, down the face of the building, above the driveway to the covered valet, a cabinet hangs, which is identical to the one above the main entrance. The only difference is the text. The text reads "Video Poker" in large, all capital, yellow letters. The same two signs seen on the west face are represented on the south as well. The one that reads, "Video Poker," hangs on the left near the "Bar & Grill" cabinet. The pylon sign resides further south in the parking lot. A two sided rectangular pylon rests atop a square post which transforms into a "V" shape. The inverted triangular section supports, an internally lit, black, double-backed cabinet. The face of the cabinet is designed with two sections. The top third of the face is an LED message center, while the remaining two-thirds is purple backlit plastic with Yellow text. The text reads in two lines, "Motel, Bar, & Grill." The rectangular cabinet rises out of the top of the previous cabinet, with the vertical edges angling slightly outward. At the top of the sign, upon the purple steel surface, the "Laughing Jackalope" logo text is spelled in yellow channel letters, and outlined with neon. The interiors are lined with yellow neon on the interior, and on the outside is lined with red. The remainder of the face of the cabinet is occupied by a two-dimensional cabinet. It is crafted into the shape of jackalope/ man figure, playing a slot machine. The surface of the cabinet is graphically treated with the details of the figure and apparatus. Silver coins adorn a pink face, complete with the proper details of a slot machine. The figure is treated appropriately as well, with brown antlers, and white tuxedo. The exterior of the cabinet is painted yellow with a yellow raceway border, lined with incandescent bulbs.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Graphics; Paint
Sign animation: Chasing, flashing
Notes: Each one of the letters on the laughing jackalope pylon illuminate one at a time, starting from left to right. They all simultaneously flash off then on then off before restarting the sequence
Sign environment: The environment for the Laughing Jackalope is interesting. Not only is it present on the declining, and simultaneously growing southern end of the strip. It stands out in the dusty remains of the south standing in purple and yellow, screaming at who ever walks by, with an atmosphere that is reminiscent of the garish imagery portrayed by authors such as Hunter S. Thompson. It almost seems surreal, yet fits right in with the surroundings as well. The motel portion fits into the typical design of the roadside motel. Across the street, the Mandalay Bay and the Luxor remind the laughing Jackalope of its place, and maybe imminent fate. The signs are very pedestrian friendly, providing access right up close.
Sign manufacturer: Diamond Head Sign Co.
Sign - date of installation: 1997
Sign - date of redesign/move: Before the Laughing Jackalope was opened it was a property called the Sunbird Inn.
Sign - thematic influences: An interesting theme presented in this southern Las Vegas Blvd Property is centered around the fictitious animal called named the Jackalope, presumably a presentation of the marriage of an antelope and rabbit bodies. Other than the presence of him as a mascot, the theme presented is none other than the aesthetics of hue and nature of the establishment. The hanging wall cabinets are adorned on the edges with raceways lined with incandescent bulbs that chase each other in a rapid fashion, along with a uniform design of font in a combatant duel of the complimentary colors of purple and yellow. It definitely fits into the common design rubric of animation and placement as well as that of the roadside motel. The low level bank of rooms further east on the lot from Las Vegas Blvd is accompanied by a bar and grill. The Laughing Jackalope
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Flashing; Pylon; Fascia; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Graphics; Paint

Daytime and evening views of a McDonald's sign on the Strip at 3999 S Las Vegas Blvd. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3999 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: The McDonald's pylons sits in the parking lot for a Strip mall, located in the South end of the Las Vegas strip. The sign sits northwest of the actual McDonald's Restaurant and faces north south. It also act as the main advertising pylon for other shops which are located in the strip mall. The pylon consists of four cabinets including the McDonald's main marquee cabinet. The cabinet directly below the McDonald's crown reads "Golf" and advertises for a golf store the other two are internally lit rectangular cabinet with advertisements for Las Vegas Clubwear, Panda Express, a shoe store which reads "Boots and Wide Shoes", and for the local radio station 97.5 KVEG.
Sign condition: Structure 5 Surface 4 Lighting 4
Sign form: Pylon
Sign-specific description: The pylon located on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard South, and is facing north/south. The structure contains four double-faced cabinets, two of which are internally lit, while the other pair are steel cabinets containing neon and incandescent bulb treatments. The entire structure of the sign itself is essentially a narrow, square, vertical pole, with three cabinets cutting transversely the horizontal plane of the design, and integrated into it's construction. The surface of the sign is stucco with four bars of vertical neon rising vertically up the face of the pole where there are breaks between the internally lit cabinets. The tubing starts as a purple color but transforms into a red as it reached the top and spreads out into the supporting T form, which supports the McDonalds cabinet. The cabinet itself is constructed of a red painted steel, with the arches made of yellow painted steel. The letters that spell McDonalds is spelled in white channel letters, with the sides of the cabinet adorned with miniature golden arches logo. Red incandescent bulbs are laden across the face of the sign. The crowning features of the sign are the golden arches, which are wrapped with repeating bands of golden neon The each face of the cabinet is lined with red neon tubing. The "M" emblem created by the miniature golden arches are lined with the corresponding. yellow neon. The cabinet just below the main attraction is a horizontal rectangular cabinet made of steel and painted green with rounded ends. Yellow channel letters spell the word golf and occupy the majority of the center of the sign. Flanking the text is a three-piece graphic design pattern representing a golf ball and two other geometric elements. It is not obvious what the symbol represents but its is comprised of two non-descriptive shapes in yellow and a circular shape in green. All of the yellow shapes are lined on the interior border with yellow neon. The circular shape is internally lit, with the face matching the shape of the cabinet in color. The cabinet below the golf cabinet is an internally lit, double backed cabinet advertising for a local radio station on the south face of the sign. The black script, set upon a field of various red and orange blended tones, reads the call letters KVEG 97.5, with a white oval backing up the letters and centering the red field. The north face contains a back lit yellow and red advertisement for the Panda Express restaurant. The third and last cabinet closest to the ground is internally lit with different advertising on either side as well. The south face of the cabinet is a three sectioned graphically treated advertisements for the Panda Express, Las Vegas Club Wear, and the Boots and Wide Shoes text for Leonard's Wide shoes which is what dominates the north side of the pylon. The face of the blue steel cabinet is lined with blue neon. At the bottom of the pylon there is a small plaque used to illuminate the blue and white address plate.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Paint
Sign animation: Chasing, oscillating
Notes: The incandescent bulbs found on the face of the sign are constantly oscillating at a quick pace. The neon bands which wrap around the golden arches, start in the very middle at the bottom and chase each other upward from the center, leaving every bar illuminated in it's path, until the entire arch itself. Once the arches rapidly fill up, the entire arch flashes off, on, then off again, before restarting the entire sequence.
Sign environment: Headed south, across a small drive on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd from the McDonalds, is a shiny, new fueling station and mini mart, brightly illuminated, creating a constant current of arriving and departing travelers with the McDonalds restaurant. In relation to the larger scale Luxor and Mandalay Bay, the presence, which the McDonalds environment portrays, is like the smaller satellite's to the standing vision of new development on the Strip. Instead of this sign being evidence of what was and was is dying on the southern en of the strip it is actually evidence of the modern development and new life welling up.
Sign manufacturer: YESCO
Sign - thematic influences: The theme of the McDonald's establishment is in the realm of the well-established McDonalds corporation. The golden arches, and solid red hue, have become synonymous with the name " McDonald's," and is an image, which has been communicated to the masses of people for half a century. It is an icon, which is associated with America all over the world. McDonalds has created it's own realm and thematic influence over the years from all of it's extensive advertisements and marketing. Therefore, the theme of the establishment's signs draws from itself and the world that the name has created. Being one of the most commonly seen images in America, this sign is tailored to fit into the illustrious, illuminative properties held on the Las Vegas Strip. It fits into the category of everyday images and businesses dressed up for Las Vegas, which include, Arby's, Arco AM/PM, Walgreen's, and Fatburger.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Oscillating; Pylon; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Paint

Daytime and nighttime views of the Polo Towers signs on the Strip. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 3745 S Las Vegas Blvd
Sign details: The Polo Towers actual facility is located behind the shopping center, further to the east. The small pylon resides outside in the very front of the property, in close proximity to Las Vegas Blvd It is surrounded with a planter and bushes, in a pedestrian environment, shadowing a seated courtyard, just to the south. The tower itself is lined on its major edges with tubes of purple neon. The tower also contains internally lit cabinets as well as polished metal treatments.
Sign condition: Structure 4 Surface 3 Lighting 4 The building itself is in great shape, with the structural integrity, lighting, and surface being is good condition. The small pylon adjacent to Las Vegas Blvd is in some disrepair in all of the categories.
Sign form: Pylon; Fascia
Sign-specific description: The Polo Towers lies Just north of the McDonalds plaza, along with a shopping plaza out front near the street. The plaza has a different name, this is designated by the polo towers pylon facing north/south on the east side of the street. The Pylon sign for the polo towers sits in this parking lot for this plaza. The pylon consists of a double backed backlit plastic message cabinet, a color LED matrix screen, two square message boxes on either side, one diamond shaped one then the marquee and logo for the polo towers. On the bottom of the sign, on the side closest to Las Vegas Blvd, a clear plastic front, diamond shaped message center reads "polo tourist center" behind the glass. A bulb laden center pole is noticeable at the bottom along with two larger legs on either side. The text is painted in red and then overlaid with red neon. Just above that, a light blue, backlit message center, boasts a white plastic surface with purple text. Incandescent bulbs border the edges of the cabinet. Directly above this is a color LED screen. The center-pole continues up past the message center, eventually transforming into a diamond shaped cabinet. On either side of the center pole, just above the LED screen are two smaller, square, message cabinets. They too are painted the same light blue as the large cabinet, as well as possessing incandescent bulb raceways as borders. One contains the Polo Towers logo of the silhouetted horse's head, with the text "Polo Towers Tourist Center," in black and purple. The other reads text or free maps and discount show tickets. From the tops of these cabinets, two sections reach upwards following the bottom edges of the diamond created out of the center pole. These two angled sections are both striped with a repeating series of red neon along their width. The previously mentioned center pole is flat, with the face laden with incandescent bulbs. This flat front pole continues up to form a diamond, with the actual pole section running along the bottom edge of the diamond, between the neon laden angled sections, and the marquee cabinet. The continuation of the pole, extends to run along the top of the diamond, but stops short of totally enclosing it. The incandescent bulbs cover the face of the pole along this edge also. Red neon tubing runs up the edges of this centerpiece. The top cabinet, which the centerpiece seems to he holding, is also painted light blue, with a purple face, and the black horse silhouette logo for the Polo towers. Two pieces of red neon are bent to act as glowing pieces of the horse's mane. Just below the top image of the horse, "Polo Towers" is spelled, floating above the surface of the sign in purple, channel letters. Below that in purple channel letters, on the same plane, the text "& Plaza" is crafted in the same fashion. Both rows of text are filled with incandescent bulbs that oscillate. The surface of the body of the sign, excluding the cabinets, is finished in stucco and laced with the smatterings of the lavender and light blue hue found throughout the sign. The building of the Polo Towers itself has pieces of purple vertical neon running up the edges of the building in several places. The radius section on the east west faces of the tower is also lined purple across its vertical edges. Giant purple channel letters spell Polo Towers across the very top of the building's West face. On the North and South faces of the tower, the giant diamond shaped cabinets with the Polo Towers logo hang with steady confidence. At the base of the west side of the building, there is also the internally lit, diamond shaped cabinets with the horse's head, rendered in black/ the white cabinets are bordered with a hot pink colored neo, recessed behind the polished metal, to create a halo on the wall.
Sign - type of display: Neon; Incandescent; Backlit
Sign - media: Steel; Plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Paint
Sign animation: Chasing, flashing, oscillating
Notes: The incandescent bulbs inside the text reading "Paris" on the balloon oscillate rapidly.
Sign environment: The small pylon sits outside a Starbucks Coffee located in the front row of shops, surrounded with bushes. The environment is pedestrian heavy.
Sign manufacturer: Federal Signal
Sign - date of installation: 1985-1989
Sign - thematic influences: The theme present in the polo towers revolves around its name, and references to the sport of polo. But the only exterior images that reference the theme are the logos themselves. The sign itself is more akin to roadside pylon signs, utilizing a number of different sign techniques functions to create an interesting mix of design. The color scheme does seem to reference the time of its inception, that being the eighties. The eighties is recognized with the usage of teal, pink and gold. The brass cabinet enclosed in plexiglass, references the typical Vegas adornment.
Surveyor: Joshua Cannaday
Survey - date completed: 2002
Sign keywords: Chasing; Flashing; Pylon; Fascia; Neon; Incandescent; Backlit; Steel; Plastic; Paint; Oscillating

The sign for the permanently closed Davy's Locker dive bar sits at 1149 East Desert Inn Road. Information about the sign is available in the Southern Nevada Neon Survey Data Sheet.
Site address: 1149 E Desert Inn Rd
Sign owner: Was Cindy Slight since 2010. Albert Hamika bought the property in 2016. Derek Stonebarger went to the property after they took the sign down and the fish portion of the sign is currently in his possession.
Sign details: The property was originally opened in 1968 by Davey Pearl, who was most known for being a boxing referee and later inducted to the World Boxing Hall of Fame. The actual opening date of the bar is unknown, but property records have shown that its building was constructed in 1968. The bar was known for the welcoming environment inside and inexpensive drinks. The sign itself drew people in because of its unique design. Right before their closure they started to have a variety of events taking place there such as: open mic night, trivia, and genre specific music nights. The current owners have demolished the iconic and beloved sign for the bar. The only portions that remain are white sign that reads "Cocktails" in red and the waves that the fish once "swam" above. The current owner of the property has told the Las Vegas Weekly, "I want to emphasize I wasn't like, 'Ok let's destroy this sign.' I like the sign, and I like the historic memorabilia"I tried. The only thing I can I can say is, it was time for it to come down." After hearing about this news Derek Stonebarger, who owns ReBar on Main Street, was distraught when he heard the news of the sign being taken down so he went to the property to find its remains. He hopes to restore as much of the sign as he can and possibly display it in a Nevada-themed restaurant he plans to open up.
Sign condition: Since the sign has been taken down it is a 0.
Sign form: Roadside pole sign
Sign-specific description: This sign was designed to look like a fish was swimming in the ocean. The top of the sign give the appearance of waves. A neon tube was attached to the implied waves. Underneath this was a large, white fish whose tail and nose extended beyond the confines of the square shape of the sign. The fish appeared to have a large smile and two smaller fish "swimming" beside it. One of these smaller fish was near the larger fish's mouth and the "L." The other fish was located right under the "ker" in "Locker." Both of these fish were a light blue color, the same blue that matched the wave on top of the sign and surrounded the larger fish. In the middle of the large fish that makes up much of the sign were the words "Davy's Locker" in bright red and an elaborate cursive style font. Neon tubes outlined these letters, as well as all three fish included in the sign. Underneath all of this is a neon tube in the shape of a wave that is difficult to see in photos of the sign during the day, but glowed brightly at night. Below this signage was a back lit plastic sign reading "Cocktails" in a red script and "Gaming Spirits Pool" under that in a sans-serif, bold, dark blue font. Extending from the top of the sign at the end near the street was a pole with two, small square signs attached to that. The top one was yellow and read "OPEN 24 HRS." The one below that was white and read "COLD BEER." There are other photos of this sign where the plastic portion of the sign reads "COCKTAILS" in red still, but "Slots Video Poker" in blue and "Package Liquor" under that in red.
Sign - type of display: Neon and backlit plastic sign
Sign - media: Steel and plastic
Sign - non-neon treatments: Plastic backlit portion
Sign environment: The surrounding environment of Davy's Locker was in a district that was close to UNLV as well as another popular bar that still caters to locals, Champagnes Cafe. It was located in a bustling area along to Maryland Parkway that locals travel on a daily basis. Davy's Locker was a popular watering hole for many people in the neighborhood due to its convenient location.
Sign - date of installation: Around the 1960's
Sign - date of redesign/move: It was first restored in 2011 and another time in 2014. Sign was taken down from the property in 2017.
Sign - thematic influences: The theme of the sign appears to take inspiration from the phrase "Davy Jones' Locker." This is a common phrase that refers to "the bottom of the sea" or even "the mythical resting place of drowned mariners." Davy Jones is also believed to be an evil spirit from the bottom of the sea; therefore, the sign shows the influence of these aquatic origins that possibly inspired the name of the property.
Sign - artistic significance: The theme of the sign is aquatic, which also ties into the name of the property. The name of the property appears to take influence from the myth of Davy Jones, the evil spirit of the sea.
Survey - research locations: Las Vegas weekly articles https://lasvegasweekly.com/as-we-see-it/2016/mar/23/beloved-dive-bar-davys-locker-sold-old-vegas/ https://lasvegasweekly.com/intersection/2017/jan/11/davys-locker-neon-sign-demolished/ https://lasvegasweekly.com/intersection/2017/jan/13/davys-locker-bar-neon-sign-recovered-stonebarger/ , Las Vegas Sun article https://vegasinc.lasvegassun.com/business/2016/mar/25/popular-dive-bar-to-take-a-breather-while-sports-b/ , Roadside Architecture http://www.roadarch.com/signs/nvvegas3.html , Phrase website http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/davy-jones-locker.html
Surveyor: Lauren Vaccaro
Survey - date completed: 2017-08-22
Sign keywords: Steel; Plastic; Backlit; Neon; Roadside; Pole sign; Back to back