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Sign Of The Times: Fairfield's Iconic Hi-Ho Switches Off Neon, Turns On LED

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — A crew was hard at work last week, replacing the iconic sign atop the roof of the Hotel Hi-Ho along the Merritt Parkway in Fairfield. 

Going up: The new Hotel Hi-Ho sign is put into place Wednesday afternoon. Check out the workers climbing on the iconic sign.

Going up: The new Hotel Hi-Ho sign is put into place Wednesday afternoon. Check out the workers climbing on the iconic sign.

Photo Credit: Karen Tensa
The letters for HOTEL are lined up in the parking lot, waiting to be lifted onto the roof of the Hi-Ho in Fairfield on Wednesday.

The letters for HOTEL are lined up in the parking lot, waiting to be lifted onto the roof of the Hi-Ho in Fairfield on Wednesday.

Photo Credit: Karen Tensa
A crane lifts the letters into place for the new Hi-Ho sign. The LED sign replaces the iconic neon one on the roof of the hotel.

A crane lifts the letters into place for the new Hi-Ho sign. The LED sign replaces the iconic neon one on the roof of the hotel.

Photo Credit: Karen Tensa
The iconic Motel Hi-Ho sign just off the Merritt Parkway's Exit 44 in Fairfield, at left, is being replaced by a modern LED version. At right, the sign sits empty Tuesday, waiting for the new letters.

The iconic Motel Hi-Ho sign just off the Merritt Parkway's Exit 44 in Fairfield, at left, is being replaced by a modern LED version. At right, the sign sits empty Tuesday, waiting for the new letters.

Photo Credit: Meredith Guinness
The Hotel Hi-Ho sign is a Fairfield landmark, a beacon along the Merritt Parkway for travelers.

The Hotel Hi-Ho sign is a Fairfield landmark, a beacon along the Merritt Parkway for travelers.

Photo Credit: Karen Tensa
The old Motel Hi-Ho sign was neon.

The old Motel Hi-Ho sign was neon.

Photo Credit: Contributed photo

It was just a few days earlier that the old landmark sign came down from the roof of the hotel.   

The recently refurbished hotel on Black Rock Turnpike is replacing the over 55-year-old neon sign with a more modern LED model. Oh, and an "H" — for Hotel — will replace the "M" — for Motel. 

Though it looks a lot like its predecessor, the new sign will replace “Motel” with “Hotel” and “Restaurant Cocktail Lounge” will become “Barcelona Wine Bar,” according to the Connecticut Post. 

When the hotel reopened in November 2015 under new ownership, the landmark sign glowed again. 

It had been a beacon along the parkway for decades. The hotel first opened in 1955 but had to turn off the Hi-Ho sign after a bird flew into it and caught fire eight years ago.

Click here to read the Connecticut Post story here.

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