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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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| Florida Signs (page 2) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| Ferris Groves Floral City, FL |
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| Ferris Groves has been growing and selling fruit since 1930. In 1944, the company added a packing and shipping plant. Shortly thereafter, the retail store was built out front. The neon sign is probably from the 1950s. Where the digital display is now at the bottom, there was sign panel which read "Juice Bar" originally. The was also a giant orange on top of the sign. For more, see this postcard. [map] |
| Lester's Diner Fort Lauderdale, FL |
Winwood Motor Lodge Fort Lauderdale, FL |
Thunderbird Drive-in [gone] Fort Lauderdale, FL |
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This Lester's Diner opened in 1967. This sign was one of four built for other locations in Phoenix, AZ, Bryan, OH, and Daytona Beach, FL. It originally had a bulb arrowing pouring out of the coffee cup like the others. For more, see this website. [map]
The Winwood Motor Lodge was here by 1959. The sign appears to be from the 1950s. [map] The Thunderbird Drive-in Swap Shop is a permanent indoor flea market style mall. This photo is from 2009. I tried to find this sign inside in 2021 and it seems to be gone. |
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More Fort Lauderdale:
Sea Watch Restaurant Fort Myers:
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| Florida Motel [gone] Gainesville, FL |
Sands Motel Gainesville, FL |
Lillian's Music Store Gainesville, FL |
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The Florida Motel was probably built in the 1950s. The sheet metal representation is about 15 feet tall. I don't know if it was ever outlined with neon. In 2018, the motel was demolished and the sign was removed and put in city storage. For more, see this website.
The Sands Motel was built in 1962 and this sign appeared to be from then. It was removed in 2021. In 2023, I was told that the sign is now on display downtown but I don't know where yet. Lillian's Music Store became a bar, using the same name, in 1974. The sign is probably from the 1950s. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Doug's Dairy Twist Gainesville, FL |
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| Doug's Dairy Twist opened in 1964. The sign was built by Gainesville Neon & Signs. The name was changed almost immediately to Doug's Dairy Twirl when it was discovered that someone from another business in South Florida was already using the Dairy Twist name. The hamburger and text panel below it were later additions to the sign. The business operated until at least the late 1970s. It has been closed since at least 2007. The local Swamp Head Brewery produces ice cream flavored beer with the Doug's Dairy Twirl name. For more, see this website. [map] |
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Gibsonton:
East Bay Motel [vintage; gone] |
| R.W. Caldwell Realtors Gulfport, FL |
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| R.W. Caldwell Realtors was established in 1937. This sign is probably from the 1950s. [map] |
| Cadillac Motel [gone] High Springs, FL |
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| The Cadillac Motel sign was probably built in the 1950s. Around 2020, it was adapted with plastic panels and letters for the Blue Gem Motel. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
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Hilliard:
Dixie Motel |
| Hollywood Bread Building Hollywood, FL |
Beach and Town Motel Hollywood, FL |
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The Hollywood Bread Building was built in 1969. In the late 1990s, the company folded and the building had been vacant since then. In 2021, just after this photo was taken, the building was demolished. The signs were saved and will be incorporated into the new development, installed at the top of the new building. [map]
The Beach and Town Motel was built around 1951. There was originally a simple, rectangular pole sign. The letters were only on the side of the tower. By 1953, the letters had been added to the front of the tower and a nicer neon pole sign was installed. There is no pole sign now but the letters remain on both sides of the tower. The brickwork is now missing from the front of the tower. For more, see this website. [map] |
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Inglis:
Inglis Motel [gone] |
| La Jolla Resort Islamorada, FL |
Blue Fin Inn Islamorada, FL |
Islander Resort Islamorada, FL |
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The La Jolla Resort was built in 1956. The lower sign panels might be from then but the top panel might be from later. I don't know if this was the original motel name. [map]
The Blue Fin Inn and the Key Lantern Motel seem to be one and the same with the same owners. Their neon sign is believed to be from the early 1950s when the Inn was built. The sign was revitalized in 1997, adding more neon. The original owner, Finley Wilson, had a boat named the Blue Fin as well. This photo is from 2009. At some point between 2011 and 2014, the neon text had been replaced with backlit plastic letters. By 2019, the remaining neon was replaced with LED tubing. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] The Islander Motel, now the Islander Resort, opened in 1951. This sign was built in 1962. [map] |
| Lorelei Restaurant Islamorada, FL |
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| The Lorelei Restaurant was established in 1952. This plywood mermaid sign is 20 feet long. It was repainted around 2020. [map] |
| Green Turtle Inn Islamorada, FL |
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| The Green Turtle Inn restaurant opened in 1947. By 2010, a replica sign was installed. The original sign was going to the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, OH. However, it was damaged in transit and scrapped. For more, see this website. [map] |
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More Islamorada:
Sunset Inn Motel [gone] |
| FL (page 1) | FL (page 3) | FL (page 4) | FL (page 5) | FL (page 6) | FL (page 7) | FL (page 8) |
| Main Signs Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |
Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com. |