Above 1200 Sq/FT building my BIG PARTY garage

[don long]

the progress is slow and tedious
26 letters masked and 16 to go, then the ice cream cone
The piece that reads hamburger is porcelain and in good condition I think it was an add on

2021-04-24 18.48.13 by Ann Long, on Flickr

The sign was restored in 1991 with a paint brush and house paint (not a very good job)
It was originally built in 1946 so the electrical components should be good.

 

[drivesitfar]

now that the ice cream sign made it to the PARTY GARAGE i'm sure it will get the DL treatment and be better than new and live out a happy life there with you and Ann.

nice job picking it up (i'm sure you wish you'd picked a different day to do that though) and it looks like no glass was broken on the drive or as you remove it either.

good luck and i'm sure it will be better than new when you get done.

JUST FYI with all those people at the GAS BASH did anybody get COVID or have any health issues?

have a great rest day (if you even know how to do that)!!

 

[don long]

Thanks for the visit Drives.
Yes the sign made it home without any problems nd I've managed to get it off the trailer and out of it's mount without breaking any glass. I have over 4 hrs sanding and masking so far and that's just the first side. This will be a big project building a cement base and getting this monster painted and standing next to the diner outside. So I'm all over it this next week.

 

[don long]

I've been thinking that it's been a couple of years since I did a garage tour. when planning for the gas bash I built a garage floor plan in excel so I could figure out where to place tables for all the vendors.

So with that floor plan I've decided to show it to you guys and put pictures of my place up to go with it, hopefully to help you get a better idea of the garage layout.

So here goes. Hope you all enjoy it

2021-04-25 13.53.23 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Starting at the front door to your left is the ice cream parlor

1 by Ann Long, on Flickr

We look past the door to the back wall of the parlor

1A by Ann Long, on Flickr

Standing in the doorway looking to your left

1B by Ann Long, on Flickr

and to your right you see the back of the elevator going up to the game room

1C by Ann Long, on Flickr

And looking from the rear of the parlor toward the door

2021-04-24 13.54.54 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Stepping back out of the ice cream parlor looking to your left you see the entry to the parking garage and a display of my Indy 500 collection under the ford sign

2 by Ann Long, on Flickr

ahead and to your right is the front door and wall of the building with my latest signage and display counter

2A by Ann Long, on Flickr

And straight ahead is the speed shop and the rest rooms building

3 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Here is a shot of the store fronts on the right as you look down into the building from standing just right of the front door

4 by Ann Long, on Flickr

 

[Horror Business]

Really, really well done!

 

[don long]

Continuing on down the building on the left side is the front of the parking garage

5 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Standing in the center of the isle you see both sides of the garage clear to the rear of the building

5A by Ann Long, on Flickr

walking to the end of the parking garage looking to your left is the back side of the parking garage my blackhawk wall (those furniture dollies need to be put away)

6 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Across from the blackhawk / battery charger wall is the Texaco station
with George waiting to serve you

7 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Walking up the ramp to your left is a staging area for new items that find there way into the garage without a permanent place to reside yet.
This is the last area to build out

8 by Ann Long, on Flickr

across from the staging area is our country store, almost full of old dry goods
and stuff. Also you can see the cars loaded up on my stackers, some drivers and some projects.

9 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Turning around and looking back up to the front of the garage you see the store fronts again

10 by Ann Long, on Flickr

First building in line is the 30's garage complete with a 1929 model "A" roadster I'm redoing all the equipment in there in the Pennzoil theme

11 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Next to the garage is the sheriff office with a small jail (storage closet) along with the old general store converted to a Signal gas station where I'm displaying several finished projects.

12 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Next is the church where I keep the Ron Lee / Emmett Kelly clown collection

13 by Ann Long, on Flickr

And one must have a barber shop complete with an old towel steamer

14 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Next to the barber shop is a Barbie doll store (I don't find too many good shot of this store for some reason)
Here is what I took with this group of pic's Look past the corvette

15 by Ann Long, on Flickr

My last shot is looking into the parking garage from the back of the building

19 by Ann Long, on Flickr

I hope you have enjoyed the tour. If you see anything you'd like closer shots of just ask.

Thanks for dropping by

Don

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Everything looks fantastic, Don. It'd be cool if you could somehow get Jay Leno to come see it. I'm certain he'd be very impressed too.

Just an idea: You mentioned having a jail - with a cell? Jail bars? You should make up a mannequin to look like yourself in there as an inmate!

Hope you guys are well and hope to see you later. Best, Dan

EDIT: Oh wait, wait a minute. "Turtle habitat"??!!! Let's see a picture of that area? Are we talking water turtles or desert tortoises? I'll bet that area could be another alternate world if you wanted to make it so.

As a kid we had a neighbor that was a wood shop teacher and non-stop DIY'er. He bent up a big castle with draw bridge, etc out of some kind of chicken wire. He coated it with concrete that had a lot of gravel in it. Before it fully dried he sponged off all the concrete paste to reveal the gravel and it looked like it was built of stone. Had it in the center of a pond with lilies, big goldfish, and yes a lot of turtles!

 

[jeffmoss26]

just wow!
I love that 'keys made here sign' from Curtis here in Cleveland!

 

[shortykorte]

Thank you the tour. The floor plan really helped because I thought a couple “store” were in different locations. Absolutely magnificent place.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[jeffmoss26]

just to get my bearings, where is the body/mechanical shop located?

 

[ambenz]

Don, Just amazing, really am digging the "Map" of the building...now I know!
I did find your pictures of the upper mezzine game/ lounge area in some of your first posts. Just curious if anything changed up there?
Your whole "themed" property reminds me of visiting "The House on the Rock" just north of me in Wisconsin.
The House on the Rock has been a majestic work in progress. It began in 1945, when a man named Alex Jordan had a towering goal: to build a man-made retreat as awe-inspiring as the view from the rock upon which the house would eventually be built. From that spark of imagination, the House on the Rock has evolved to include displays and collections of the exotic, the unusual and the amazing.
So it got me wondering, what is going to happen to all your hard work in the distant future?
You think the future will see the whole project be bought to "piece it out" when you all are dust? Have you made any plans to make sure the people of the world will get to see your amazing property for many generations, like House on the Rock??? Do you really care? I imagine this is just all fun and games....
..... to engineer and design a conservators dream museum of memorabilia.
It would be a great tribute to your talent and skills that maybe someday, Don Longs Museum of the 20th Century will be a destination spot and you'll be known just as famously as P.T. Barnum....

 

[harley jim]

Great tour Don, I love everything about your big party garage. The new ice cream sign is going to be right at home.

Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[mybigwarwagon]

EDIT: Oh wait, wait a minute. "Turtle habitat"??!!! Let's see a picture of that area? Are we talking water turtles or desert tortoises? I'll bet that area could be another alternate world if you wanted to make it so.

That caught my eye as well. I wanna see the turtles.

 

[rmalkow2]

Don,
Thanks for the map and a great visual tour with all the pics. You have built a truly amazing place to enjoy and share. Your hard work shines everywhere on and in the property. It’s definitely on my bucket list to pay you a visit one day.

Bob

 

[Lou's Garage]

Thank you Don. That was amazing!

Lou Manglass

 

[Davenr]

Hi Don,
Here are some pics of Barbie Store for your buddies taken on one of my many trips to your garage.
It is a marvelous store and my granddaughter loves it!

Cheers David

 

[bugnut]

Wow

and thanks for sharing!

 

[Jayman17]

Don, thank you for the shop tour, definitely helps to see the map and then the photos taken from different perspectives.
Could you post a photo of one of the glass tubes, including the end of it, you pulled off of your sign? Do they just plug into the sign? Thanks, you have a great collection!

Jay

 

[T-handle]

Thanks for the tour Don! Your place is amazing.

Good to hear your "gas meet" had a lot of visitors, Sounds like good times

 

[Homebody]

So it got me wondering, what is going to happen to all your hard work in the distant future?
You think the future will see the whole project be bought to "piece it out" when you all are dust? Have you made any plans to make sure the people of the world will get to see your amazing property for many generations, like House on the Rock??? Do you really care? I imagine this is just all fun and games....
..... to engineer and design a conservators dream museum of memorabilia.
It would be a great tribute to your talent and skills that maybe someday, Don Longs Museum of the 20th Century will be a destination spot and you'll be known just as famously as P.T. Barnum....

Couldn't agree more. I'd hate to see such a great collection of the past sold off in pieces.
I sincerely hope there's an awesome plan in place where it can live on for years and years - as it deserves to!

 

[Blsmith]

The garage looks so open and larger with all the tables and
people gone.
The wife and I had lunch at that table under the Ford sign next to
the phone booth.
Your new ice cream sign will be a nice addition to your yard, it's going
by the diner will that be by the Koi ponds?

 

[ODIS]

Lots of work, Don! It all looks terrific! Congratulations on a grand turnout for your event!

 

[don long]

Everything looks fantastic, Don. It'd be cool if you could somehow get Jay Leno to come see it. I'm certain he'd be very impressed too.

Just an idea: You mentioned having a jail - with a cell? Jail bars? You should make up a mannequin to look like yourself in there as an inmate!

Hope you guys are well and hope to see you later. Best, Dan

EDIT: Oh wait, wait a minute. "Turtle habitat"??!!! Let's see a picture of that area? Are we talking water turtles or desert tortoises? I'll bet that area could be another alternate world if you wanted to make it so.

As a kid we had a neighbor that was a wood shop teacher and non-stop DIY'er. He bent up a big castle with draw bridge, etc out of some kind of chicken wire. He coated it with concrete that had a lot of gravel in it. Before it fully dried he sponged off all the concrete paste to reveal the gravel and it looked like it was built of stone. Had it in the center of a pond with lilies, big goldfish, and yes a lot of turtles!

Thanks Dan

I looked at some pictures today but couldn't find one with the turtles in it so I'll grab one tomorrow for you.
You mentioned the Sheriff office with bars so here is that shot for you.
Behind that door is the broom closet

2020-04-11 15.54.37 by Ann Long, on Flickr

just wow!
I love that 'keys made here sign' from Curtis here in Cleveland!

just to get my bearings, where is the body/mechanical shop located?

Thanks Jeff
I don't remember where I got that key but it's been hanging there for a few years.
The work shop is behind the big building back of the general store

Thank you the tour. The floor plan really helped because I thought a couple “store” were in different locations. Absolutely magnificent place.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

Thanks Shorty
I thought that the drawing of this place would clear up many questions.

Don, Just amazing, really am digging the "Map" of the building...now I know!
I did find your pictures of the upper mezzine game/ lounge area in some of your first posts. Just curious if anything changed up there?
Your whole "themed" property reminds me of visiting "The House on the Rock" just north of me in Wisconsin.
The House on the Rock has been a majestic work in progress. It began in 1945, when a man named Alex Jordan had a towering goal: to build a man-made retreat as awe-inspiring as the view from the rock upon which the house would eventually be built. From that spark of imagination, the House on the Rock has evolved to include displays and collections of the exotic, the unusual and the amazing.
So it got me wondering, what is going to happen to all your hard work in the distant future?
You think the future will see the whole project be bought to "piece it out" when you all are dust? Have you made any plans to make sure the people of the world will get to see your amazing property for many generations, like House on the Rock??? Do you really care? I imagine this is just all fun and games....
..... to engineer and design a conservators dream museum of memorabilia.
It would be a great tribute to your talent and skills that maybe someday, Don Longs Museum of the 20th Century will be a destination spot and you'll be known just as famously as P.T. Barnum....

Thanks for the visit and questions Ambenz
Very little has changed up there, a new old 1930's pinball machine and a couple of art pieces I know. I'll have to go back to those photos and check it out.
I have 8 kids that will be incharge of all this stuff in the dnd but thats a ways off yet and I'm not thinking that long range, still collecting.

Great tour Don, I love everything about your big party garage. The new ice cream sign is going to be right at home.

Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app

Thanks Jim
I'm glad you like the place. Hope you can make it out my way some time.

That caught my eye as well. I wanna see the turtles.

I'll be working on it tomorrow uncle Willie
It was kind of cold here today and only one of them was out when I drove by with my cell phone ready to shoot them. There are 3 African Spur tortoises

 

[don long]

Don,
Thanks for the map and a great visual tour with all the pics. You have built a truly amazing place to enjoy and share. Your hard work shines everywhere on and in the property. It’s definitely on my bucket list to pay you a visit one day.

Bob

Thanks Bob
I noticed that your name is on the welcome matt too.

Thank you Don. That was amazing!

Lou Manglass

Welcome to the party garage Lou

Hi Don,
Here are some pics of Barbie Store for your buddies taken on one of my many trips to your garage.
It is a marvelous store and my granddaughter loves it!

Cheers David

Thanks for those shots David
I seem to go right past the Barbie store when walking around my garage. I guess they don't ring my bell so I don't shoot many shots of it.

Wow

and thanks for sharing!

You are welcome Bugnut
And welcome to the party

Don, thank you for the shop tour, definitely helps to see the map and then the photos taken from different perspectives.
Could you post a photo of one of the glass tubes, including the end of it, you pulled off of your sign? Do they just plug into the sign? Thanks, you have a great collection!

Jay

Hi Jay
And thanks for the visit. The neon tubes have wires coming out of the sealed ends that touch a juiced spring down in the holes the class is just wired onto the sign by the posts sticking out on the sign. I'll snap a shot tomorrow

Thanks for the tour Don! Your place is amazing.

Good to hear your "gas meet" had a lot of visitors, Sounds like good times

Thanks "T"
The gas bash was a huge hit with everyone in attendance. It took me a week to regain my strength after the gig.

 

[don long]

Couldn't agree more. I'd hate to see such a great collection of the past sold off in pieces.
I sincerely hope there's an awesome plan in place where it can live on for years and years - as it deserves to!

Sorry to disappoint Homebody
THe plan is to build it til I can't anymore then let the kids decide what to do with all this stuff. It won't matter to me by then lol

The garage looks so open and larger with all the tables and people gone.
The wife and I had lunch at that table under the Ford sign next to
the phone booth.
Your new ice cream sign will be a nice addition to your yard, it's going
by the diner will that be by the Koi ponds?

It was nice meeting you and Mrs Smith
Since you are a neighbor you don't need to wait for another party to drop by.
Stop in any time you are in the hood.
The Foster Freeze sign will go up just outside the diner door along side the drive into the gas station, across from the fish pond.
I'm glad you guys enjoyed yourselves.

Lots of work, Don! It all looks terrific! Congratulations on a grand turnout for your event!

Thank you Ody
No one has ever accused me of being lazy but I am slowing down a bit these days.
Thanks for dropping in

Don

 

[bolensboneyard]

Don I'm slowing down too. That's why I stop in for a jump start. Bobby

 

[Lou's Garage]

Originally Posted by Lou's Garage
Thank you Don. That was amazing!

Lou Manglass
Welcome to the party garage Lou

Thank you. I've been following since the start. This was just the first time I've stuck my hand up!
Lou Manglass

 

[pwschuh]

As always, fantastic space you have built there Don.

I understand why the A is yellow, since it's in the Pennzoil Garage. But other than that, it seems like your Lincoln Coupe needs a red vinyl wrap in order to better fit in!

 

[don long]

Don I'm slowing down too. That's why I stop in for a jump start. Bobby

Thanks for that complement Bobby
It is getting harder to get started in the mornings so If I can help you that's great

Originally Posted by Lou's Garage
Thank you Don. That was amazing!

Lou Manglass
Welcome to the party garage Lou

Thank you. I've been following since the start. This was just the first time I've stuck my hand up!
Lou Manglass

Knowing that you are here is a big plug for me Thank you Lou

As always, fantastic space you have built there Don.

I understand why the A is yellow, since it's in the Pennzoil Garage. But other than that, it seems like your Lincoln Coupe needs a red vinyl wrap in order to better fit in!

pwschuh
Which Lincoln are you referring to the black 57 or the ugly turquoise 37 ?

 

[don long]

For Dan in Pasadena and mybigwarwagon
Here is my turtle habitat

2021-04-27 11.51.36 by Ann Long, on Flickr

2 males and 1 female. The biggest one weighs over 100 lbs here is a shot of Brutus next to an avocado for size reference

2021-04-27 11.50.30 by Ann Long, on Flickr

A little more progress on the Foster Freeze sign
All masked to repaint the white letters.

2021-04-27 14.22.41 by Ann Long, on Flickr

And a thin coat of primer for adhesion

2021-04-27 14.53.26 by Ann Long, on Flickr

.

 

[GGB]

Don, I really screwed up-I showed my Bride the pictures of your place thinking it would give some ideas for things she could get me for my place. Instead she picked right up on the 1961 Barbie Doll Store display and informed me that I needed to buy one like it for her “small” Barbie collection. Small only if 3500+ Barbie Dolls is small.....then add the Barbie clothes, doll houses, accessories, carrying cases, display cases and all the other items I don’t know about. I can’t complain though; she puts up with me and my car hobby and that ain’t easy!

Wait a minute-what if I offered to build another garage big enough for her Barbie Doll collection and more of my cars??? It might just work.......

Don, your garage is one my favorites among all the great places here on GJ. Thanks again for sharing.

GGB

 

[don long]

Well GGB
That's exactly how I got the big party garage. I promised her some space to display SOME of her dolls. (I had the barber shop space reserved for her but )

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Don, Thanks for the turtle photos. I'm a slob for animals, all animals. My take is animals are better than humans and it ain't even close! They look very very well cared for, healthy and happy.

Masking that sign with all the curves looks like it was a tedious pain in the you-know-where and used dozens of tape rolls. Does all of the neon still work? Can you even get people who know how to fix that stuff anymore? I can't wait to see the finished product and it's mounted location.

 

[fouckhest]

That turtle habitat is super cool, love it!

 

[don long]

Don, Thanks for the turtle photos. I'm a slob for animals, all animals. My take is animals are better than humans and it ain't even close! They look very very well cared for, healthy and happy.

Masking that sign with all the curves looks like it was a tedious pain in the you-know-where and used dozens of tape rolls. Does all of the neon still work? Can you even get people who know how to fix that stuff anymore? I can't wait to see the finished product and it's mounted location.

Thanks Dan

My wife has a huge soft spot for animals too.
We have 2 dogs a cat, a perrot too many chickens and 3 turkeys, 30 coi fish
and 3 turtles not to mention the many rabbits, squirrels, possum and raccoon

I spent 3 days masking the Foster sign and after painting it I spent 2 hours unmasking it only to remask it for the blue paint starting Friday and that is only 1/2 of the sign project

That turtle habitat is super cool, love it!

Thank you fouckhest

 

[don long]

A little progress on the Foster Freeze sign today.
The sign has one side of the white paint finished and ready to start masking it up again for the blue paint

2021-04-28 13.41.49 by Ann Long, on Flickr

I went to work on building a pole for the sign. I have a nice piece of fluted pipe about 8' long that I welded a 20" square plate to the bottom of the pipe then drill and tapped 4 holes in the top to lock the sign to the pole

2021-04-28 13.38.12 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Whet I fitted the pipe to the sign, the hole in the end of the pipe was about a 1/4 " too small so I cut the pipe 2 times before the taper of the pipe was wide enough to slide the sign into it.

2021-04-28 13.37.58 by Ann Long, on Flickr

Then I drilled and tapped the holes again now the pole is ready to get sand blasted and powder coated.

2021-04-28 13.38.20 by Ann Long, on Flickr

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Thanks

 

[pwschuh]

pwschuh
Which Lincoln are you referring to the black 57 or the ugly turquoise 37 ?

They're both beautiful, but I was talking about the 57 parked amongst the red cars.

 

[rmalkow2]

Thanks Bob
I noticed that your name is on the welcome matt too.

Hopefully next year I plan to drive the old Route 66 highway to California and see some sights while there. High on the list would be to see your place so thanks for the invite and we’ll see what 2022 brings.

Bob

 

[Davenr]

Hey there,

Here is a photo of my granddaughter outside of Ann's Barbie Shop. You can see she loves it!

Cheers from David, Down Under