09/04/2026
Menlo, Iowa is on the White Pole Road Scenic Byway!
Roll the windows down and ease your foot off the gas as you cruise into Guthrie County, because Menlo, Iowa has a shimmering slice of roadside gold waiting just for you. Standing tall against the rolling Midwestern sky is the legendary "Friendly Gas Station Man," a 12-foot sheet metal cutout that has been greeting weary travelers with a neon-rimmed wave since the golden age of the American highway. Commissioned in 1934 by gas station owner Harry Kalbach Sr., this iconic attendant was built by the Nebraska Neon Sign Company to serve as a beacon of hospitality for the Kalbach Oil Company along the historic White Pole Road.
Dressed to impress in a dapper blue service station uniform, this mechanical marvel was designed to embody the ultimate spirit of 1930s customer service. Back in the day, his outstretched arm didn't just catch your eye—it literally glowed in vibrant neon, casting a warm red radiance that could be seen for miles across the dark Iowa cornfields. The sign was such a luminescent fixture of the night that rumor has it early commercial airline pilots actually utilized the flashing blue-and-red silhouette as a dependable navigation beacon while flying across the heartland.
Sadly, the relentless march of time took its toll, and the proud attendant’s neon tubes went completely dark in the late 1940s, leaving him to weather the elements as a fading relic of yesterday. For decades, he stood in silent retirement, an obscure piece of Americana collecting dust while Route 6 traffic slowly bypassed the small town. But true roadside legends never truly die; thanks to a passionate preservation effort by the community, the sign was magnificently restored in the early 21st century to its full, mid-century neon glory.
Today, this "Worth a Detour" landmark stands proudly at 502 7th Street, serving as a must-see pilgrimage site for any dedicated explorer tracking the history of Historic US Route 6 Iowa. While the sign is currently non-operational for daily fuel, it remains a genuine heirloom of the blacktop that looks best right as the sun dips below the horizon. So pull over, whip out your camera, and take a moment to admire a time when the open road promised a friendly face and a full tank at every bend.
📍502 7th St, Menlo, IA 50164
