Entry No. 23 — the Anchorage file — filed under: roadside-oddity
Spenard's Neon Palm Tree
“sold a pound of meth to an FBI informant in the basement”
A 33-foot steel palm tree — neon-originally, now LED-lit — stands on a gravel corner in Spenard, the last artifact of the Paradise Inn, a 1960s tiki-styled hotel whose final owner sold a pound of meth to an FBI informant in the basement and forfeited the property to the U.S. Marshals. The inn was bulldozed in 2019; the sign was nearly discarded during the federal cleanup before a legal battle returned it to government custody and eventually to private owner Cindy Berger, who spent $48,000 restoring it and re-electrified it on October 2, 2025. It doesn't appear on any Anchorage visitor list — no top-tens, no travel guides — just a softly glowing tropical anachronism at Spenard Road and 30th Avenue, surrounded by subarctic sky and "The Eyes of Spenard" mural on the wall behind it.
The story
Before it was a solitary beacon on a gravel corner, this 33-foot steel palm tree anchored the Paradise Inn, a 1960s tiki-styled motel that stood as a monument to Spenard’s notoriously loose edges. The inn slowly degraded over the decades until its final owner handed a pound of meth to an undercover FBI informant in the basement, prompting federal law enforcement to seize the entire property under criminal forfeiture.
When the government sent contractors to haul away garbage before demolishing the motel in 2019, the cleanup crew loaded the massive palm onto a flatbed and stashed it off-site, insisting they had permission to keep it. The U.S. Marshals disagreed, filing federal court motions to reclaim the sign as property attached to the land. After years in legal limbo and federal custody, local advocate Cindy Berger bought the artifact, poured $48,000 into replacing its fragile neon tubes with glowing LEDs, and brought it back home.
On October 2, 2025, the palm tree was re-erected at 3001 Spenard Road—the exact spot where the hotel once stood. You won't find it listed on municipal tourist brochures or hotel concierge guides; it's simply a glowing, absurd subarctic anomaly standing guard over a patch of gravel, framed directly against "The Eyes of Spenard" mural painted on the wall behind it.
What it's like
You are pulling up to an open, undeveloped lot at the intersection of Spenard Road and 30th Avenue—there is no building, no entrance, and no attendant. If you visit under the near-midnight sun of June or July, the structure reads as a quirky daytime steel sculpture; wait for the dark shoulder months from autumn to spring, and the LED fronds cast a bright tropical glow over the snow and pavement. You can take it in from the sidewalk or pull into the small adjacent lot for a quick photo, but keep the stop brief out of respect for the private property before heading down the strip.
The move: Drive Spenard Road after dark so the palm's LED fronds glow properly against the Alaska night, then grab a drink at one of the neighborhood's dive bars within walking distance — it's the kind of corner that rewards showing up without a plan.
📍 Before you go The sign sits on a freestanding corner lot at Spenard Road and 30th Avenue, where the Paradise Inn once stood, so there's no building or entrance — you take it in from the street or pull into the small adjacent lot. It glows best in true darkness, which in Anchorage means the fall-through-spring shoulder months; under the near-midnight sun of June and July it reads as a daytime curiosity. The lot is private, so keep it respectful and quick. Spenard itself is a walkable, eccentric strip — pair the stop with one of the neighborhood's dive bars or diners nearby.
- 📍 Spenard
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 3001 Spenard Road, Anchorage, AK 99503
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- "Spen" — the Spam Can & Raven Sculpture — Located two blocks down Spenard Road, this giant bronze Spam can with a raven on top makes an easy next stop on a roadside oddities walk.
- Bear Tooth Theatrepub — Pair your nighttime palm photo with a pizza, a house margarita, and a movie booth two blocks down the street.
- The Nave (the old Church of Love) — This converted 60-year-old church turned community arts commons sits 0.3 miles away and was one of the neighborhood venues championing the palm's return.
- Chilkoot Charlie's (Koot's) — A quick 0.4-mile trip down the road lands you at an iconic 1970-era bar complex featuring eight themed rooms and retro arcade cabinets.
Good to know
Where exactly is the palm tree located?
It stands on a corner lot at 3001 Spenard Road (at 30th Avenue) in the Spenard neighborhood of Anchorage, Alaska.
What are the hours and admission price?
There are no hours or admission fees. It is a freestanding outdoor installation visible 24/7 directly from the street.
Why was the original motel demolished?
The federal government seized the Paradise Inn after its last owner was caught selling meth to an FBI informant in the basement, leading to the motel being bulldozed in 2019.
Is the sign still illuminated by neon?
No. During its $48,000 restoration, the delicate original neon tubing was upgraded to weather-resistant LED lighting before its October 2025 re-lighting.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: adn.com · alaskasnewssource.com · mustreadalaska.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-09