Iconic 'Flying Eagle' Takes Flight Once More as SLU Takes Steps to Enhance Area Safety

ST. LOUIS (Nov. 13, 2024) — On Tuesday night, Anheuser-Busch relit its “Flying Eagle” sign facing Interstate 64 near the Saint Louis University campus. The relighting is part of a series of holiday initiatives the company is introducing for St. Louis this season.

Installed in 1962, the 32-foot-high neon sign towers over a building originally constructed in 1948 for the Missouri Jewelite sign company. In recent years, the building has increasingly become a target for vandalism and other illegal activities.

SLU purchased the property in February and has secured the building to deter further vandalism. While there are no immediate plans to redevelop the building, making the surrounding area safer remains a priority. 

“We saw this as an opportunity to help preserve a piece of St. Louis history while — and most importantly — improving the safety of SLU’s neighborhood, especially for our students,” said David Heimburger, the University’s chief financial officer. 

As the building’s owner, SLU will receive ongoing income from leasing space for the sign. Additionally, the University will now have two rotating messages alongside AB’s flag graphic on the digital billboard, helping build awareness of SLU among tens of thousands of westbound passersby each day.