Restoring the Hi-Way Cafe Neon Sign
In February of 2022, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association was engaged by the owners of the Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Oklahoma along with members of the Route 66 Association of Missouri’s Neon Heritage Preservation Committee to help re-light the historic neon sign at the restaurant. There had been discussions to apply for the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Grant as far back as 2014 and it was finally time to move forward.
Bob Gehl and Jim Thole of Missouri had helped with numerous neon sign restorations in the Show-Me State (as well as a few in Illinois); this would be their first time partnering with a business in Oklahoma go through the process.
Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, engaged multiple parties across state boundaries to gather endorsement letters for the project while Beth Hilburn, owner of the Hi-Way, worked with vendors to get cost details. In the end, 20 letters of recommendation were submitted with the grant application…more than any other neon sign project submitted to the NPS grant program in its 22 year history. Encino Signs of Tulsa was selected to do the restoration work. The grant was awarded in late 2022 and on January 6th, 2023, the sign was removed from its perch. The crew at Encino’s workshop started their work.
Restoration was done the old-fashioned, authentic way. The sign cabinet was analyzed and patched in areas where rust had eaten away at the metal. The paint colors were matched and new lettering was hand painted. The glass tubes were shaped by hand. Thanks to a lucky 1980s photograph from long-time Route 66 advocate Jerry McClanahan, the exact colors of the long-lost neon were accurately restored.
March 25th, 2023 was the big day. A crowd of about 200 people came to the roadside restaurant in late afternoon. Some brought their classic cars, some brought their families, but everyone brought their excitement. Brian Lee Dunning provided the entertainment until the sun had set. The crowd was filled with local supporters and roadies from at least six states, including Mayor Chuck Hoskin and the Presidents of the Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri Associations. State Senator Michael Bergstrom and State Representative Rusty Cornwell presented an official proclamation to Beth and Alan Hilburn, celebrating their hard work and success. Assistant Chief of the Delaware Tribe of Indians Tonya Anna also commended the Hilburns on their achievement.
When the time came to flip the switch, it was the most special guest of all that had the honor. Tom Schwartz, the original owner of the Hi-Way Cafe and the man that had the sign built in 1963, brought light to the sign that had been dark for over three decades.
The crowd cheered! A few tears were shed. Under the glow of the restored sign, Beth thanked her loyal patrons, her devoted family, and all of those that had supported her dreams since buying the restaurant 12 years ago. And she had one more announcement: the Mobil 1 Muffler Man, which had a temporary home at the café in the fall of 2022, was coming back…this time permanently.
It was a tremendous night celebrating the joy of roadside attractions, neon artistry, historic preservation, and local-owned business. All things that make Route 66 such a special place; the Oklahoma Route 66 Association was proud to be a small part of it.
