Along Route 66, the Hi-Way Cafe Sign Shines Again
Encinos Signs in Tulsa, Oklahoma, painstakingly restored the iconic pit stop sign.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Priya Chhaya
Hi-Way Cafe Sign Restored (2023-05-17) by Rhys MartinNational Trust for Historic Preservation
In 2022, thanks in part to grants from the National Park Service's Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program, the Vinita, Oklahoma-based Hi-Way Cafe's iconic sign was restored.
Lighting up Route 66 since '63
Tom Schwartz opened the cafe in 1963, and it became a beloved Route 66 stop. Elizabeth Hilburn and her family have owned and operated the business for the past 12 years. The grant also enabled them to to create an outdoor seating area and provide upgrades to the main entryway.
Hi-Way Cafe Sign Restoration: Sanding (2023-05-25) by Encinos SignsNational Trust for Historic Preservation
A painstaking restoration process
When the Hi-Way Cafe sign first arrived at Encinos Signs in Tulsa, the staff detached the sign faces from the frame to begin the restoration process. They sanded the sign face to remove impurities that had developed over the decades.
Hi-Way Cafe Sign Restoration: Paint Colors (2023-05-25) by Encinos SignsNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Meet the new paint, same as the old paint
Once the sign was detached from the frame, other restoration work began, including painting the sign. To correctly identify the correct hues, Encinos Signs used a swatch to color match the old sign face so that the new paint was the same as the original.
Interior design
Once the sign faces were removed, restorers could see the inside of the sign cavity. The numbers helped Encinos Signs know where to place the wires for the installation of the neon units and other power supplies.
Hi-Way Cafe Sign Restoration: Before (2023-05-25) by Encinos SignsNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Removing the rust
The labeling system also served as indicators to reassemble the sign correctly. They added in new metal parts where the old metal rusted away completely. These reinforced parts strengthened the metal so that the sign will last a few more decades.
Hi-Way Cafe Sign Restoration: Painting (2023-05-25) by Encinos SignsNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Lettering with love
The letters were hand painted back to match the original lettering on the sign face. The traditional methodology used by the restoration company is to make a pattern and then use clear tape to outline where the painting occurs.
Hi-Way Cafe Sign Restoration: Neon Replacement (2023-05-25) by Encinos SignsNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Turn on the neon
One of the final steps in the restoration process was adding the neon back onto the sign. New neon units were installed using the guides and markings from when the sign was first disassembled, ensuring precise placement. The sign now has working neon, just as it had thirty years earlier.
Hi-Way Cafe: Restored Sign (2023-05-17) by Rhys MartinNational Trust for Historic Preservation
A celebration to remember
In March 2023 a crowd gathered for the relighting of the Hi-Way Cafe sign. With a number of notable community members present, this moment marked a return to form for the cafe and a promising future.
Hi-Way Cafe Sign Dusk (2023-05-17) by Rhys MartinNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Tom Schwartz, the original owner who built the cafe and sign in 1963, flipped the switch to relight the newly restored neon sign.
Learn more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation's campaign to preserve Route 66, sign our petition to advocate for the Mother Road, and then share your Route 66 story with us.
Explore other stories on the Mother Road
Carol Highsmith on the Alluring and Enduring Route 66
A Grant for the U-Drop Inn Helps a Town Feel Lucky
Adapted by Tim O'Donnell from Along Route 66, the Hi-Way Cafe Sign Shines Again by Priya Chhaya.
Priya Chhaya is the associate director of content at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Tim O'Donnell is a former editor at Preservation magazine and freelance journalist who covers architecture and urban design.
This story is made possible by the generosity of David and Julia Uihlein.
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