TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Nestled in the woods on the southwest edge of Tyler, a collection of signs from bygone businesses shine brightly beneath the shade of trees. The unusual collection is known simply as “Tyler Boy” and is an archive of years of East Texas history.

“When I see a business closes, I just start calling to see if I can get ahold of whoever owns the building and see if I can get the sign to put out here for everyone to enjoy,” explains Mike Collins, an East Texas native who’s been collecting signs for 15 years.

First beginning with small indoor signs, Collins would put the signs inside of his workshop. Over the years, his collection quickly grew to include outdoor business signs.

A wide array of light-up indoor business signs line the walls of Mike Collins personal workshop. Beneath them, dozens of jars of workshop materials and supplies are organized neatly in bottles. Mike Collins stands to the left, looking at his collection. (KLTV)

“My sign collection just kind of grew to where I knew I couldn’t just keep all of the signs at my man-cave workshop,” says Collins. “So I decided at some point that I would share the signs with the community.”

In October 2024, he began displaying some of his larger signs to the public, along Mockingbird Hill Road in Tyler. Over the next nine months, the public collection grew to nearly 30 different signs, ranging from restaurants, corporate businesses, gas stations, street signs, even a church and putt-putt center.

Mike Collins turns on the lights of several business signs at the Tyler Boy display. (KLTV)

Combined with his private collection, the number of signs he has is countless. Asking how many signs he has, he simply responded “I have no idea,” laughing.

The signs range from businesses that closed down in the past few months to places that have been closed for several years, with some of those businesses being open for several decades.

“My personal favorite is the Bruno’s sign, just because I have such a connection,” recalls Collins. “In the late 80’s, I started eating there, and then when it closed, I was devastated. When they sold the building, I got the sign.”

His public collection has caught the attention of local residents who travel past it on their commute. One passerby, TC Smith, who has lived in Tyler for 45 years and drives by the display almost daily, has grown fond of the new sight.

“I’ve slowed down every day to look at this,” explains Smith. “It’s amazing, out in the middle of nowhere, all these signs, it’s so interesting. It tells the history of Tyler. It’s a shame that it’s on a street that doesn’t have a lot of traffic. It needs to be on Broadway so people would really enjoy it more.”

Several restaurant signs make up the left side of the Tyler Boy collection. (KLTV)

For Smith, many of these businesses were in their prime during his time living in Tyler. Seeing some of those once familiar and lively places now posted as part of a collection causes him to reflect on how the city has evolved.

“You hate to see change,” Smith reflects. “Tyler has grown so much, so fast here in the last five years. It’s unbelievable.”

As for Collins, he has no plans of slowing down his collection any time soon, and instead plans to clear the woods nearby further to grow the display.

“As long as I’m healthy enough to keep doing it, and I have enough room to put them, I’ll keep getting them,” Collins affirms. “That’s why I’ve been clearing the land next door to put more signs next door, so Tyler Boy is going to be growing.”

The mascot of Tyler Boy, who’s named “Tyler Boy,” sits in the middle of the sign collection. (KLTV)

If you would like to visit Tyler Boy, it’s free to the public, and is on the intersection of Mockingbird Hill Road and Lost Hill Road in Tyler.

Additionally, if you know of any businesses that are closing down or are offering their signs, you can reach out to Collins through the Tyler Boy Facebook page.

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