Canute, OK — A piece of Route 66 history came back to life Saturday night as a large crowd gathered in Canute to witness the relighting of the historic Cotton Boll Motel sign.
The neon sign, dark for decades, was officially turned on again following a full restoration, drawing residents and visitors eager to see the landmark glow once more along the Mother Road.
The Cotton Boll Motel, originally built in 1960, closed in the mid-1980s and has since been converted into a private residence. While the motel itself no longer operates, its iconic roadside sign has remained a symbol of Canute’s Route 66 heritage.
The restoration was made possible through a broader revitalization effort. In April 2025, the Town of Canute was awarded nearly $700,000through the Oklahoma Route 66 Revitalization Grant program. The funding supports multiple projects aimed at preserving and enhancing historic landmarks in the community.
In addition to restoring the Cotton Boll Motel sign, the grant includes repainting the Washita Motel sign, making cosmetic improvements to the town’s DX and Texaco gas stations, and renovating the Village of Canute building into a tourism center and artisan market.
The Cotton Boll sign project was a collaborative effort between the Town of Canute and the Canute Preservation Society. As part of the restoration process, the sign was obtained by the town to ensure its preservation and continued display.
Saturday’s relighting marked not just the return of a sign, but a renewed sense of pride in Canute’s place along historic Route 66, as the community continues efforts to celebrate and preserve its past for future generations.
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