Universal CityWalk Hollywood is hiding a piece of Los Angeles history in plain sight. Tucked among the restaurants and retail shops is a collection of 20 historic neon signs that date back as far as 1923, and most guests walk right past them.
The Universal Orlando Blog this week spotlighted the collection, which stretches across the two-block entertainment district. Nearly all 20 signs originated in Southern California, making the display an ode to local history that fits naturally into Universal Studios Hollywood’s L.A. identity.
The History Behind the Collection
When Universal CityWalk Hollywood opened in 1994, it was designed by architect Jon Jerde, the same planner behind landmark entertainment districts from Las Vegas to Japan. Jerde was a pioneer of “placemaking,” the idea that a shopping district should feel like a destination in itself, not just a row of storefronts.
The original CityWalk included a 1,000-square-foot retail and exhibit space run by the Museum of Neon Art. When a sign arrived too large to fit the dedicated space, the team made a decision that shaped the district’s identity: the signs would be displayed throughout CityWalk itself, turning the entire promenade into an outdoor museum.
Ben Mayberry, the senior manager of CityWalk Operations who has spent 25 of his 30 years at Universal Studios Hollywood working on the CityWalk team, maintains close stewardship of the collection. A dedicated vendor keeps each sign maintained, and the team takes pride in keeping the neon flowing.
Signs Worth Seeking Out
Here is a closer look at a few standout pieces in the collection:
Melrose Theatre Ladies (1923)
Standing 13 feet tall near the Universal Studios Hollywood Globe, the Melrose Theatre Ladies are the oldest piece in the collection, and the only one that is not actually neon. The sign was built in 1923, one year before neon lighting was invented, so it uses incandescent bulbs instead. For 50 years, the sign sat atop the Melrose Theater, which was designed in a Babylonian style. Find it on the second building from the Universal Studio Store at the park-side end of CityWalk.
Richfield Eagles (Mid-20th Century)
In the mid-20th century, this neon eagle topped nearly every Richfield gas station across the southwestern United States. What makes this particular set distinctive is the porcelain enamel coating, a glossy, baked-on finish that enhances the neon glow. Spot it facing the Universal Studios Hollywood Globe on the theme park side of the VIVO Italian Kitchen building.
Wendy’s Western Woundup (1980s)
This sign has a movie connection. In the 1980s, a Western clothing boutique on Sunset Boulevard called Wendy’s Western Woundup displayed this piece, gifted to the shop owner by the same designer behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic movie posters. Look directly above the “H” in the Hot Topic sign, across from VIVO Italian Kitchen.
The Condes’ Restaurant Sign
Originally from a restaurant in Gardena, California, this 20-foot-long sign features a flickering chef welcoming diners. The brothers Ben and Raymond Conde, who co-owned the restaurant, would periodically repaint the chef figure to more closely resemble whichever brother was running the kitchen at the time. Find it three stories up, above Sephora and behind the VIVO Italian Kitchen sign.
Steele’s Motel (1950s)
Originally located just five miles from CityWalk on Ventura Boulevard, Steele’s Motel was built in 1934 with this sign added to the facade in the 1950s. Named after cowboy movie star Bob Steele, the 20-foot marquee features a four-part animation of a female diver piking and somersaulting beneath a neon palm tree. Look for it above the Condes’ sign, with its palm trees framed against real-life palms.
Visiting Universal CityWalk Hollywood
The neon collection is free to view and accessible any time CityWalk is open. The signs are worth checking out both during the day, when the vintage style and detail stand out in sunlight, and at night, when the neon is fully illuminated.
For guests planning a full visit, Universal Studios Hollywood also offers reduced parking deals at the CityWalk parking structure.
Looking for more things to do at Universal Studios Hollywood? Check out our guides to Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026 and Universal Horror Unleashed.
Source: Discover Universal Blog
