TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Someone swiped the faces from the iconic No-Tel Motel sign late last week.
In 2022, the City of Tucson bought the motel at 2425 N. Oracle Road, and tore it down to build Milagro on Oracle, a low-income senior housing complex. The yellow, rectangular sign, long a symbol for the seemingly dirty deeds that went on at the motel, remained.
It was scheduled to officially come down on Saturday. It was to be transported to the Ignite Sign Art Museum, 331 S. Olsen Ave.
When Jude Cook, owner of Cook & Company Sign Makers and founder of the museum, showed up with a crew at 7 a.m., the frame was still there, but the faces of the sign, arguably the most important part of any iconic sign, were long gone.
"What had been worked out with the State Historic Preservation Office was that the sign would come down and be on display at the Ignite Sign Art Museum," says Cook.
Cook said when he asked the staff on-site what happened, they told him that a man had shown up in a bright orange vest on Friday and told them that he was there to pick up the sign.
Assuming he was from the museum, the staff let him take the faces, Cook said.
Tucson Police have confirmed that the sign faces were stolen and an investigation is underway.
Cook said the rest of the sign was taken down on Saturday and transported to the sign museum.
"I mean, we know it's tacky. It's been around for so long and it's come up in conversations for years," says Cook.
The museum is a vibrant homage to the city's rich history and culture. Cook says about 90% of the signs are from the heart of Tucson and would like the iconic 1970 No-tel Motel sign to be added to the collection.
"We're not trying to get anybody. We just want to get the sign back. It's really the only thing we want. It would be nice to have it preserved here where people can actually see it, Cook said.
If you come across the No-tel Motel sign, please contact the police department.
