Hi friends! Today we are going on a little field trip to look at a some cool and historic signs in the Boise Valley.

Rudy the Rooster

Rudy the Rooster is the seven-foot-tall bird perched on top of Capri Restaurant’s rotating sign. Rudy is a landmark that is particularly beloved by longtime North Enders, as he used to rest above the door to Jim’s Coffee Shop, a neighborhood coffee joint on Fort Street where 208 Pho & Vegan is now.

When Jim’s closed, Rudy was in need of a new coop.

According to the Idaho Statesman, Rudy was purchased by Nick West, owner of Capri Restaurant. He decided to make Capri Rudy's new home to keep him close to the North End. Also if you've never been to Capri, it's a damn good breakfast.

Cabana Inn

The Cabana Inn is a little budget motel at the west end of downtown Boise, and its darling neon hat has become a Boise landmark. There isn't really a story behind the Cabana Inn's sign (not that I could find anyway). It's just adorable! Also it kinda feels like the Cabana Inn is in danger of being leveled and turned into a big tall building, so appreciate it while you can...

The Palomino at Somewhere Bar (Ranch Club)

In 2021, Garden City got its first gay Bar – Somewhere. It marked the beginning of a new era for the historic building and its iconic rearing palomino. Before Somewhere, Ranch Club was here for many, many years.

The Ranch Club opened in the mid-1940s by Helen Guyer – and it wasn’t in Garden City. In fact, Garden City didn’t exist then. The original Ranch Club was in New Plymouth, where gambling was legal. A few years later when Garden City was incorporated as a new village, Ranch Club was moved from New Plymouth in pieces and rebuilt in its current location. It opened in Garden City in 1950.

Back then, gambling was still legal and the Ranch Club was the place to go to play slot machines, which were made illegal in 1953. It was a place to socialize over a smoke and a cocktail up until it closed.

Its most notable feature is the giant horse rearing above the sign. The horse you see today is not the original. The first horse had a rider – a cowboy sat atop a rearing horse, poised in roping position with a giant neon lariat that looked like it was spinning.

According to the Idaho Statesman, the cowboy blew off in a storm in the mid 60s. Then people kept climbing up and trying to ride the horse, so then the saddle had to go too. Eventually it was replaced with the palomino we see today, which now welcomes people to Somwhere.

Betty the Washer Woman

If you’ve ever driven down Vista, you’ve seen Betty the Washer Woman. She’s been hard at work for decades.

According to Boise & The Treasure Valley History Facebook page, Betty was originally created by Andy Teague and first appeared in the 1950s on top of the sign for Maytag Laundry. When that businesses closed, Betty disappeared for about 15 years. She was eventually restored by Bruce Whittig and places back on top of the sign on Vista Ave.

Betty has dressed up in different outfits, like a Red Cross outfit and vet scrubs. And one time in 2019, someone knocked her head off! These days, she’s hard at work welcoming folks to Cucina di Paolo, an amazing take and bake lasagna restaurant.

The Olympic

The Olympic Venue, a concert venue and event space upstairs of Mulligan’s Bar on Main street, was once a hotel. This space sat empty for years until owner Alicia Wagner bought the space in 2005. She began renovating the space in 2014, preserving and protecting as much of the original building as possible. The Olympic Venue opened in 2015 and now hosts shows and events several nights a week. I couldn’t find much for history on The Olympic, so if you know more about it, let me know!

The Torch

The Torch is a strip club with an undeniably cool neon sign. It’s also supposedly the birthplace of Chef Milo’s famous finger steaks. That's all I know about it.

Westside Drive In

Speaking of finger steaks, Westside Drive In is another historic (and delicious) local landmark. You can’t miss the pink neon signs and baby blue painted drive-in, especially at night.

Westside Drive in opened in 1957 on State Street. Chef Lou came along and purchased the business in 1994, creating the mouth-watering menu that we know and love today. It’s known for perfectly greasy burgers, finger steaks, milkshakes, and its famous ice cream baked potato.

Alright that's all I've got for today. Which signs did I miss? What's your favorite sign or local landmark in the Boise area? Let me know!

Thanks for reading!

With love from Boise,

Marissa

Photos by Ted Harmon @ted_the_capitalist​

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