Thursday, January 3, 2013

The Neon Boneyard

Traveling to Las Vegas? Carve out a couple hours to check out the "Neon Boneyard" Museum, where cool old neon signs go to die (or more correctly, be viewed by the public). It's interesting to me that there is so much interest in "vintage" Las Vegas, with its rough edges, smokey casinos, and Rat Pack images. Present day Las Vegas seems downright tame by comparison!
I remember thinking when I took this photo (about 5 weeks ago) that it might be suitable for Skywatch Friday... under bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds! Click on the link to check out beautiful skies from all over the world! Keep reading to see some of the signs contained in the Boneyard.
The lobby of the Neon Museum is the old La Concha Motel, which was cut into pieces and moved to this location. I like the wild architecture, which looks like a throwback to the '50s or early '60s.  Cool, eh?





Walking through the Boneyard is pretty amazing. This is a one-hour outdoor tour with a guide, which was great in December, but probably a little on the toasty side in the summer months! It's a great photo opportunity, so make sure you bring your camera!
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35 comments:

  1. Jackie McGuinnessJanuary 3, 2013 at 8:10 PM

    We're planning on doing this tour next week!

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  2. tinyskilletJanuary 3, 2013 at 8:22 PM

    Nice photo op, and perfect for sky watch Friday. I would love it there. A neighbor has that color TV sign in his window and it makes me smile every time I see it.

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  3. UnknownJanuary 3, 2013 at 8:40 PM

    What a cool place I must check out next time I head to Vegas! Perfect subjects for HDR photos. Thank you for sharing your amazing captures and for commenting on my blog!

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  4. AVCr8teurJanuary 3, 2013 at 8:46 PM

    I always thought about coming here. It looks like a photographer and historian's paradise.

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  5. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2013 at 10:29 PM

    Wow - what a fabulous series of shots.

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  6. AartiJanuary 4, 2013 at 1:35 AM

    Wow, what a funky place...

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  7. eileeninmdJanuary 4, 2013 at 2:04 AM

    What a neat place to visit! Great shots! Happy Skywatching!

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  8. LOLfromPasaJanuary 4, 2013 at 2:15 AM

    Thanks for the reminder....next trip :). BTW - super photos, all of them.

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  9. Stewart MJanuary 4, 2013 at 2:28 AM

    That is a cool looking collection - but then again I'm a bit of a geek really!

    Nice new header.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne.

    PS: good spot on the wide angle lens - 12 mm if I remember.

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  10. Yogi♪♪♪January 4, 2013 at 3:31 AM

    Hah, I finally have a reason to go to Las Vegas.

    There is a sign company here in Tulsa that has rescued lots of old signs including Neon signs and they have reinstalled them on their property and they light them up at night. They don't allow you on the property but their fence is one that you can easily take pictures through.

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2013 at 4:40 AM

    What a cool place!!! I love visiting here and learning about all these different places. Thanks!!

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2013 at 6:22 AM

    My brother would have a field day at a neon boneyard, he loves neon signs & has a few himself. I'll send him this post link & have him swing by, cuz he likes Vegas, too.
    Thank & great colorful shots! =)

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  13. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2013 at 6:24 AM

    ps I LOVE Dean Martin!!! =)

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  14. KusumJanuary 4, 2013 at 10:57 AM

    Lovely set of pics!

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  15. Joanne OlivieriJanuary 4, 2013 at 11:00 AM

    These are so cool. Bright colors and great detail. I've not been there and absolutely have to visit some day. Great shots.

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  16. s.cJanuary 4, 2013 at 1:43 PM

    Very interesting posting. You have museums for everything that exist on earth and even beyond.Thanks for showing.

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  17. Gail DixonJanuary 4, 2013 at 3:13 PM

    These were so awesome! I think it's neat that they have a place in which to go and still be seen by the public. This is probably the best collection of vintage signage I've seen. Wow!

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  18. Sally in WAJanuary 4, 2013 at 7:23 PM

    I definitely have to put this on my must see list. Quirky and fun for sure!

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  19. UnknownJanuary 4, 2013 at 8:02 PM

    These are awesome. Thanks so much for sharing!!

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  20. ShoshanaJanuary 5, 2013 at 12:47 AM

    What an interesting place! Lovely signs.

    My skywatch is here: http://midasfive.com/?p=511

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  21. 黄清华 Wong Ching WahJanuary 5, 2013 at 2:09 AM

    I like this place!

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  22. JoyfulJanuary 5, 2013 at 2:21 AM

    Very cool signage!

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  23. LadyD PianoJanuary 5, 2013 at 2:49 AM

    So cool! Love the look with bright, primary colors. I haven't been to Las Vegas since I was 8! Thanks for stopping by. It was great to hear from you again. Wishing you JOY this new year!

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  24. Kerri FarleyJanuary 5, 2013 at 5:40 AM

    Cool signs and LOVE the colors!

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  25. GeorgeJanuary 5, 2013 at 9:44 AM

    What a neat place to visit. I think there is something special about neon lights, and I'm glad these have been preserved and can be seen. The museum building is pretty special itself. Thanks for the tour.

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  26. Small City ScenesJanuary 5, 2013 at 12:17 PM

    Kinda sad in a way. Those signs are what I see when I think of Las Vegas. Nostalgic for sure. MB

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  27. UnknownJanuary 5, 2013 at 2:27 PM

    Okay... Now this is really awesome! We were just in Vegas recently and i wanted to swing by and check out this place but didnt have time. Thank you for sharing, i feel like i visited it after all. Love the processing you chose the pop of color is wonderful. (Kyle's buddy Jen)

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  28. PatJanuary 5, 2013 at 8:00 PM

    Those bright neon signs go well with the brilliant blue sky above LV. I love the vivid colors. Photo ops all over the place!

    My husband and I did ride a camel 5 days before we were in Eilat. Our camel ride was in the Judean Desert east of Jerusalem. I neglected to have someone take a picture of us on the camel, but I took some photos aimed ahead of me of the back of the camel's head. It's a bit unnerving when the camel stood up; it felt as though we were going to fall off the camel head-first. Its back legs go up first, then its forelegs. One camel ride was enough for us.

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  29. johnJanuary 5, 2013 at 8:40 PM

    I didn't ever know this place exists, but how can it not since neon is such an integral part of Vegas. I will try to check it out next time I am there. The pictures are incredible.

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  30. LaloofahJanuary 6, 2013 at 6:24 AM

    La Concha looks like something out of "The Jetsons!" :-) How appropriate the Neon Museum, with all its pop culture history, would be housed in its lobby. :-) There's little in Las Vegas that would draw me there, but I'd sure have fun poking around the Neon Boneyard!

    Great sky in the first photo, by the way, and I love the effects you gave the skies in photos #2 and #3!

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  31. Sallie (FullTime-Life)January 6, 2013 at 7:28 PM

    Such an interesting post Peter! Haven't been to LV for years... pre-digital camera even. Lots of photo ops now it looks like...might make me enjoy it more. Have to think about that for next time we're in the west.

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  32. Oakland Daily PhotoJanuary 8, 2013 at 2:23 AM

    This post is a public service to those of us who love old neon. It must have been fun to walk the "bone yard."

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  33. TexWisGirlJanuary 10, 2013 at 8:52 AM

    really cool! :)

    (fyi, i get your feed really late thru google reader. that's why i'm always late to the party here.)

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  34. EbieJanuary 10, 2013 at 10:42 AM

    A place I should consider as a stop! Nice display of old signs, especially neon!

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