Neon Museum aims for Oct. 27 opening date

Converting a boneyard into a full-fledged museum has been an arduous process, but the Neon Museum is receiving it s final touches before its expected Oct. 27 opening.

Everything from the "new" lobby, originally the lobby of the old La Concha M otel, to the oldest sign in the yard, belonging to The Green Shack, a restaurant on Fremont Street in 1932, have been meticulously placed, arranged and, in some cases, restored.

The museum serves as an homage to the boom of innovative architecture and design that characterized mid-century Las Vegas, according to Bill Marion, chairman of the nonprofit museum's board of trustees.

"Neon in Las Vegas is both an art form and an architectural form," Marion said. "These signs were meant to be evocative and impressionistic."

But in some cases, he added, the building was the sign, such as the La Concha M otel's lobby with its distinctive clam shell shape.

The museum spent approximately $600,000 to cut the lobby, formed entirely of poured concrete, into nine pieces and transport it from its original location next to the Riviera to its present location at 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North. The money came from a $300,000 grant from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and fundraising.

"It's a real engineering feat," Marion said of the lobby, which was constructed in 1961 and designed by renowned architect Paul Revere Williams. "It's truly a historic building and really was the catalyst in the evolution into the museum we are today."

Newly finished office space was built into the back of the lobby, as was a large, covered outdoor reception area designed for hosting parties.

The yard itself is mostly unchanged, but signs have been added and shuffled around in order to accommodate more tours and heavier foot traffic, according to Debi Puccinelli, the museum's director of marketing.

A few of the neon signs have been restored, but much of the collection's lure stems from the signs' weathered state, she added.

"It is important to embrace the forward movement of this city," Puccinelli, a native of Reno, said. "But it's equally important to pause and marvel at the past."

She said almost everyone who visits the museum experiences some sort of emotional reaction to one or more of the signs.

Marion can relate. He was born four blocks away from the museum, grew up in the city, graduated from Las Vegas High School and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas , and said he has a special attachment to the museum.

He said his favorite story of the museum is an example of visitors' emotional reactions.

A brother and sister from South America were on a private tour and began crying after the guide pointed out the Stardust sign, he said.

"The guide asked (them) why they were crying after having seen the sign," Marion said.

It turned out their parents had visited Las Vegas to get married. It was the only time they would ever visit Las Vegas, and the only proof of the event was a photograph hanging in their house of their parents standing in front of the Stardust.

"These signs are irreplaceable treasures," Marion said. "They help to remind us where we came from and where we're going."

This fall, the museum hopes to share the 450 pieces of "irreplaceable treasures" - such as the Betty Willis-designed Moulin Rouge Hotel sign - with more people.

Puccinelli said the museum hopes to offer 60 percent more tours annually than it did as a private collection. Once it is open, 45-minute guided tours are scheduled to run every half-hour and cost $18 for adults and $12 for locals, veterans, students and seniors. The tours are to be free for children 6 or younger .

The museum and the neighboring Boneyard Park are available year-round for private events and parties.

For more information, visit neonmuseum.org.

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Nolan Lister at nlister@viewnews.com or 383-0492.