Pink Neon Sign of the Times: Going Out of Business, Must Sell

Palm Desert Lodge & Motel lists iconic pink sign on eBay

As the strains of Don McClean's "American Pie" play somewhere in the distance:

The vacuum discharge tubes of a surviving example of kitchy post-War Americana will flicker with life one last time this Monday. The next day, the famous Palm Desert Lodge & Motel will pull the plug on its iconic neon sign, and itself.

To make way for a Long's drug store, the roadside inn at 74-527 Highway 111 will close forever on April 1st and consign its sign to the care of a winning eBay bidder.

Michael Noto, whose family has operated the Southern California motel since 1974, told the Desert Sun that the closing is all about modern economic realities.

"The land had become more valuable than the business," he said.

So the famous pink sign is now up on eBay, with an auction set to close the day the motel does. The starting bid is $2500 and DO NOT even THINK about inquiring about shipping!