Mesa Unveils Neon Garden Featuring Restored Vintage Signs

Mesa, Arizona, has revitalized its downtown area with the creation of the Neon Garden, a vibrant outdoor community space showcasing restored vintage neon signs from local businesses dating from the 1940s through the 1970s. The project, a collaboration between the city and the Mesa Preservation Foundation and partially funded by a 2018 voter-approved bond, features signs from iconic establishments such as Bill Johnson’s Big Apple, Watson’s Flowers, Dairy Queen, Smiley Ford, and the Frontier Motel, along with a replica of the Starlite Motel’s animated “Diving Lady.” The restoration effort, which took over 15 years, aims to both celebrate the city’s rich neon history tied to its midcentury post-war boom and create new memories for future generations. The neon signs, which use traditional neon gas rather than LED lights, were re-lit in a public ceremony attended by hundreds, symbolizing a revival of Mesa’s cultural heritage and downtown vibrancy. Local leaders, including Mayor Mark Freeman and State Representative Loren Austin, have expressed strong personal connections to the signs, emphasizing their role in preserving community identity and history. The project not only illuminates Mesa’s past but also serves as a cultural landmark fostering downtown revitalization and civic pride.