Here are things not to miss along Route 66 in Central Illinois - 71Bait

Everyone loves the glow of neon signs, said Todd Bringuet, CEO of Ace Sign Co.

Many of these pieces in the sign company’s museum in Springfield have a connection to Route 66, he said.

“It seems like a different experience for so many visitors,” Bringuet said. “We’re going to have people from Springfield coming in and of course the international visitors.”

Like others in the tourism industry, Bringuet expected tours to not ramp up until the Mother Road’s centenary in 2026, and Central Illinois will be a big part of that, including a new Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

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Route 66 was the country’s first transcontinental highway, stretching from Chicago’s Loop District to Southern California. It was decommissioned in 1985.

Ace Sign’s move to the old Sears warehouse on First Street provided an opportunity to display the old signs, Bringuet said.

“We saw people really appreciate that, and since then, Route 66 tourism and interest in the old signs has continued to build year after year,” he said. “We love sharing this story with the community.”

Here are some of the stops on Route 66 in central Illinois, or places that further tell the story of the highway.

Ace Sign Co. Museum

Where: 2540 S. First St., Springfield. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Guided tours are free.

The museum’s collection includes a portion of the Sonrise Donuts sign that long hung on the Ninth Street off-rout of Route 66.

Visitors will also recognize the rotospheric or “Sputnik” sign that hung on the Bel-Aire Motel and was saved in 2015. The “Sputnik” was one of a mass-produced series of fiberglass units from the early 1960’s.

Other signs associated with Route 66 include “Mr. and Mrs. Dog” from the Cozy Dog Restaurant, Art’s Motel and Restaurant in Farmersville, and the former Tropics Restaurant in Lincoln.

Route 66 Motorhead’s Bar, Grill & Museum

Where: 600 Toronto Road, Springfield. The museum is open daily from 7 a.m

Ron Metzger’s restaurant just off Interstate 55 boasts the world’s largest Route 66 sign, a 32-foot by 32-foot emblem installed by Ace Sign Co. in 2020.

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The sign may be new, but Motörheads is on the site of a former Stuckey’s and the 60-foot poles the sign hangs from are remnants of the former store.

The museum includes memorabilia from Bill Shea’s former Route 66 museum (Shea died in 2013), a porcelain sign from the A. Lincoln Motel, and the four-ton concrete seal that was part of the Bel-Aire that stood from 1950-2015.

itinerary

Where: 737 E. Cook St., Springfield. Open by appointment only. Call 217-503-4129

Route History will soon give visitors the opportunity to live a “metaverse experience” using augmented reality and virtual reality. Through this experience, they can better understand what it was like for black travelers on Route 66 from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s.

The experience, which is also relayed to schools and other locations across the state, is tied in part to “The Negro Motorist Green-Book,” a guide published annually by Victor H. Green from 1936 to 1966 that pointed out places where Accommodations are offered to black travelers.

Opened in 2018, Route History is located in the former Diss Texaco gas station near the 5th, 6th and 9th streets of historic Route 66.

Route 66 Experience

Where: Illinois State Fairgrounds, Gate 2, Springfield

Visitors to the Illinois State Fairgrounds will be able to see the “Mother Road” and the communities along her route in microform when the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway introduces the Route 66 Experience in the next few years.

When complete, the experience will include QR codes and storyboards describing historic landmarks and businesses along the Illinois route

The project is expected to be completed before 2026.

International Route 66 Mother Road Festival

Where: Downtown Springfield, May 23-25 September

The International Route 66 Mother Road Festival returns to town this fall.

Related:History Lesson: The “Metaverse Experience” brings visitors up close and personal with Route 66

Friday’s Route 66 City Nights Cruise features over 2,000 classic cars and a “Hail to Heroes” honoring servicemen and women.

There is a Burnout Contest, a Ms. Mother Road Contest and entertainment from Eastbound and Down, the Blooze Brothers, Groove Daddies, One Foot In and the Neverly Brothers.

Exhibit at the Illinois State Museum

In anticipation of a Route 66 Centennial exhibit, the Illinois State Museum is collecting items related to the history of Illinois’ Route 66 that were manufactured, purchased, or used between 1926 and 1977.

Earlier this year, museum officials announced that Robert “Bob” Waldmire’s family had donated a significant collection of his art and personal effects to the museum to help kickstart the fundraising initiative.

A traveling artist and peace activist, Waldmire traveled the old Route 66 from the 1970s through the 1990s.

Those interested in contributing to the museum’s Route 66 collection initiative can visit the ISM website.

Hot Dog Statue by Paul Bunyon

Where: 112 SW Arch Street, Atlanta

Because everyone needs to see a 19 foot tall fiberglass and polyester resin statue of a “Muffler Man” cradling a hot dog.

The statue has been part of the city since 2003, inheriting it from Bunyon’s, a hot dog joint on Ogden Avenue in Cicero that closed in 2002. The statue actually adorned the top of Hamlet A. Stephens’ restaurant when he ordered it in the 1960s and became part of the street setting.

“Paul Bunyon” — the spelling avoids trademark issues — is across from the now-closed Palms Grill Cafe, reopening as Missy’s Sweet Shoppe.

Muffler Men like “Paul Bunyon” used to be found on Route 66. One sits outside of Lauterbach Tire & Auto Service at 1569 Wabash Ave.

Comfortable dog drive-in

Where: 2935 S. Sixth St., Springfield. Open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m

One of the legendary stops along Route 66 in central Illinois, Cozy Dog Drive In has been in the Waldmire family for three generations.

Cozy Dogs, the original corn dog on a stick once known as “Crusty Curs,” was officially introduced at the Lake Springfield Beach House in 1946, according to an online story.

Cozy Dog has been in its current location on the site of the former A. Lincoln Motel since 1996.

Lincoln watermelon marker

Where: 101 N. Chicago Street, Lincoln

The only city ever named after Abraham Lincoln before his presidency contains a memorial in the shape of a two-foot slice of watermelon. On August 27, 1853, Lincoln christened the town after purchasing a watermelon from a nearby wagon, cutting it open and pouring its juice on the ground.

The city would have been known to Lincoln as a traveling attorney in the old Eighth Judicial Circuit, which included Logan County.

The marker was erected by several service clubs in 1964.

Henry’s rabbit farm

Where: 1107 Historic Old Route 66, Staunton. Call (618) 635-5655 for hours.

Rich Henry, owner of Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, one of Route 66’s quirkier stops, has both four-legged and four-wheeled rabbits at the gift shop/emporium.

The vehicles will be buried nose first, a sort of ode to Cadillac Ranch west of Amarillo, Texas.

One vehicle not buried is a Volkswagen that belonged to the late Bob Waldmire, a local artist and Route 66 icon.

Of the fuzzier variety, Henry told Roadside Attractions that he had 50 at one point before retiring. Guests can get souvenirs “signed” by the rabbits.

Turkey tracks, Nilwood

Where: Donaldson Road, Nilwood

There are 34 separate turkey tracks imprinted on the road near Nilwood in Macoupin County. A domesticated turkey or turkeys made the lasting impression on the wet highway cement.

Here are things not to miss along Route 66 in Central Illinois – 71Bait

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