History Main / NeonSignHideout

* ''WesternAnimation/MegaMind'' had a variation of sorts. Roxanne was able to easily find Megamind's hideout because it was the only building in town with a fake observatory on the roof, but she couldn't have gotten in without the doormat that said "Secret Entrance".

* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' had a base with a giant flag.
** A bit of a subversion: Nega-Duck knows that Darkwing won't notice the huge flag, so he also leaves a single breadcrumb behind at the site of a fight between them, [[GPSEvidence knowing Darkwing would figure out exactly where it came from]].

* Also done in the ''WesternAnimation/SuperMarioWorld'' cartoon, where Bowser's Castle has the same sign as in the game, except it lights up letter by letter. And is apparently called the ''Coney Island Disco Palace''. A menacing name it is not.

** A bit of a subversion: Nega-Duck knows that Darkwing won't notice the huge flag, so he also leaves a single breadcrumb behind at the site of a fight between them, [[BatDeduction knowing Darkwing would figure out exactly where it came from]].

[[folder:{{Film}}]]
* A version of this takes place in ''Film/SpyHard'', as the villian's headquarters has a clearly marked "Intruder Entrance" sign on one of their doors, and it isn't SchmuckBait either, it's actually pointing out the best place for intruders to enter.
* The live-action ''WesternAnimation/DudleyDoRight'' movie had this with Snidely Whiplash and his secret hideout.
* ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (1939): While going through the Haunted Forest to the castle of the Wicked Witch of the West, our heroes encounter a sign that says "Witches castle 1 mile" [sic]. Mind you, the Witch is the ruler of the country, and has no need of secrecy.
* ''WesternAnimation/QuestForCamelot'': Kayley says there should be a sign declaring the border of Dragon Country, despite the fact that the air suddenly turns gaseous, the sky is orange, and the heroes walked over a dragon skeleton to get there.

* Justified in ''Film/{{Blade}}'' where the vampire safehouse is marked with symbols in UV paint.
* Mr. Freeze's lair in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' is an ice cream factory lit up with a bright neon sign and moving spotlights lighting the place up like it's a Hollywood premiere. Really, if Batman and the police can't figure out that's where he's hiding they really don't deserve to defeat him.

[[folder:RealLife]]
* Driving around British country roads, every now and then you'll see signs directing you to a "[[http://www.secretnuclearbunker.com/ SECRET]] [[http://www.hackgreen.co.uk/ NUCLEAR]] [[http://www.secretbunker.co.uk/ BUNKER]][[note]](other bunkers exist)[[/note]]" or similar. Generally it's because they're decommissioned and living a new life as tourist attractions, but it's still entertainingly surreal.
* Did you know the [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bat Cave]] is real, and it's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Cave,_North_Carolina in North Carolina]]? Obviously this is a subversion as Bat Cave is just a small town and you won't find any Dark Knights there (that we know of), but the road signs leading there never the less hilariously evoke this trope and it's fun to think Alfred went off his nut and [[https://i.imgur.com/wZhxrry.jpg put]] [[https://i.imgur.com/S4F52co.jpg up]] [[https://i.imgur.com/lNAwh7e.jpg signs]].
[[/folder]]

* In one issue of ''[[Franchise/ArchieComics Jughead's Diner]]'', Jughead and his Dinersville pals have to lure a giant gelatin monster to the secret lab of [[BigBad Sal Monella]], but don't know where it is. Luckily, there are signs pointing the way. ("See the secret lab!") When Jughead lampshades the concept of signs leading to a ''secret'' lab, one of his pals suggests that the lab was so secret even Sal couldn't find it!

* The 1960s ''Series/Batman1966'' series, naturally.

* The various signs on the way to Don'tgonearthe Castle ("Last Chance Not To Go Near The Castle!" "Don't Go Near The Coach Park!") in ''Discworld/CarpeJugulum''. Justified in that the Old Count ''wants'' visitors, and understands SchmuckBait.

* The 1960s ''Series/{{Batman}}'' series, naturally.

* In the 1946 ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' short "WesternAnimation/TheGreatPiggyBankRobbery", WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck (as "Duck Twacy, the famous detec-a-tive") takes a streetcar (labeled "To Gangsters' Hideout") past neon signs that read, "Gangsters' Hideout," to one that reads, "This is IT! Entrance."

*** In "Bugsy and Mugsy" Bugs Bunny is living in an abandoned house that two criminals use for a hideout. Bugs invokes this trope by putting up a literal Neon sign that says "Rocky's Hideaway." naturally it doesn't take long for the police to find them. Rocky never noticed the sign and thought that idiot sidekick had turned him in. Poor Mugsy gets a beatdown for nothing.

* Driving around British country roads, every now and then you'll see signs directing you to a "[[http://www.secretnuclearbunker.com/ Secret]] [[http://www.hackgreen.co.uk/ Nuclear]] [[http://www.secretbunker.co.uk/ Bunker]][[note]]Other bunkers exist[[/note]]" or similar. Generally it's because they're decommissioned and living a new life as tourist attractions, but it's still entertaining.

* MrRobot has fsociety's [[HackerCave base of operations,]] a derelict arcade that was once called "Fun Society," but the broken sign now reads "F Society". [[spoiler: The FBI agent who eventually discovers it lampshades how long it took them to find it.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda1 It's a secret to everybody.]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda1 It's a secret to everybody.]]

** A bit of a subversion: Nega-Duck knows that Darkwing won't notice the huge flag, so he also leaves a single breadcrumb behind at the site of a fight between them, knowing Darkwing would figure out exactly where it came from.

* In one issue of ''[[ArchieComics Jughead's Diner]]'', Jughead and his Dinersville pals have to lure a giant gelatin monster to the secret lab of [[BigBad Sal Monella]], but don't know where it is. Luckily, there are signs pointing the way. ("See the secret lab!") When Jughead lampshades the concept of signs leading to a ''secret'' lab, one of his pals suggests that the lab was so secret even Sal couldn't find it!

* In ''Ride/DoctorDoomsFearfall'' at [[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal's Islands of Adventure]], the location of the "Tower of Doom" is made very blatant due to the ride's name being displayed in big letters on a massive sign that can be seen from quite afar.