TYLER, Texas — Many local businesses have come and gone across East Texas - each with beloved memories attached to them. The landscape of Tyler, Longview and more has changed over the years, but it can be fun to go down memory lane.
Community members can feel the nostalgia at a Tyler property that has become an outdoor museum of sorts with a giant golf ball-like mascot known as "Tyler Boy." On the site, visitors can find signs from now-closed businesses, such as Putt-Putt Golf & Games in Tyler, Salsarita's in Tyler, Tradition's in Tyler and more.
The signs can be found at 10691 County Road 159 in Tyler (off Old Noonday Road and north of Grande Blvd). The anonymous curator says on the Tyler Boy Facebook page that he's been collecting light-up signs and enjoys sharing them.
Some of the signs to be restored include The Bruno’s on Vine Ave. (the original location of the restaurant closed in 2023) and Johnny Cace's out of Longview.
A local business owner said he was inspired to create this spot after seeing the Neon Museum in Las Vegas and the Smiling Bush in Lubbock.
"I decided to combine the two and share both with the community. Since we did not have a bush anywhere to dress up for holiday, I made a giant head, or as we like to call it - a mascot. I could not find anything like it on the Internet, so I was in unchartered waters," the post read.
The post explained that local shops couldn't build a 12-foot round sphere. So he took the job on himself starting from scratch -- a notepad that is. He bent some metal and with the help of a local plaster master and four men, the creation was wrapped with mesh, coat and smoothed out until a giant baby blue head was born. That gigantic head would then be named "Tyler Boy!"
He added his mission with this project is all about saving local history. He hates to see history get lost when the relics, such as these signs, are not preserved.
"I can think of so many businesses and landmarks that just disappeared without an attempt to save the history. I made it my mission to save what I could and keep the memories alive, share the history and hopefully make you smile along the way. Save the signs!"
The owner asked people to not come after the lights turn off, which is around 10 p.m. seven days a week.
PHOTOS: Unique outdoor museum saves East Texas history by restoring old neon business signs
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