Desert Inn
Motel
Phoenix, AZ
Photos and i info courtesy Elgin MacMillan
Here are a couple of photos of the Desert Inn Motel,
located on Van Buren Avenue in Phoenix. And a picture of this sad little rough
looking sign (Bottom right) that no longer has
any resemblance to a neon sign.
It's located on the northeast corner
of the Inn between Grand Ave and the bigger sign. I can only guess that
the little sign was possibly put up first and the bigger sign came later
as the Inn's revenue grew but again that is just my guess, I have no evidence
to back it up.
The main entrance of this Inn is located at 10th Ave & Van Buren
but this sign (top left) is located 1 block
north at 10th Ave & Polk (northwest corner of the Inn's property -
back entrance) this would be the entrance most likely spotted first by
anyone coming in from California through Wickenburg to Phoenix by way
of Grand Ave.
![](desertinnphxaz-2.jpg) Desert Inn marquee on 10th and Polk as of 04/08
Photos courtesy Jodey Elsner
Does anyone remember "ON TV"? Short lived but I think I remember
it as sort of a precursor to cable TV in the late 70's or early 80's.
UPDATE 05/08 : It appears that the Desert Inn sign at 10th Ave and Polk has been mostly destroyed. Here's what the sign looks like now in a photo shot on April 30, 2008 from the same angle Elgin MacMillan took his photo.
According to this postcard dating from 1951, the sheared-off sign was originally located down on Van Buren. The sign must have been moved up to Polk when they did a big updating on the place in the late '60s. Many thanks to Jodey Elsner for photos and update. 05-08
Desert Inn postcard from 1951
Postcard courtesy Jodey Elsner
UPDATE 01/13 : The old sign for the Desert Inn Motel is now long gone and replaced by a plastic version. It looks like the motel is still open. 01-13
Google Street View Image
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