Route 66, the Illinois Leg!

It all started with the Route 66 cookbook! Dannelle Gay, The Traveling Cheesehead and I both reviewed this fun cookbook. We decided on a whim to travel from Chicago to Santa Monica, stopping at diners profiled along the way. Over 2,400 miles, eight states, and vistas from the Illinois plains to the panhandle, to hills, valleys, forest, mountains, dessert and the ocean. America the beautiful is not just a song. It is a statement about the beauty of our land, and I had the amazing opportunity to see it all firsthand.

A heartfelt thanks goes out to Illinois Route 66 Scenic By Way and Mark and Kelli Dozier for assisting us on the Route 66 Illinois leg of the journey!

The Illinois Leg

The Illinois portion of Route 66 is not new to me. I live close to the Mother Road and have been writing about and profiling sights along the way for years. But two things, I still saw new things on our two days in Illinois, and it was fresh, seeing it through Dannelle’s eyes.

Our journey began when we picked up our rental car in Chicago. My friend Linda put me up overnight. Then she dropped me off at the airport to pick up our car.

Chicago was the beginning of the journey.

Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket

Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, Illinois has been on my Illinois list for a while. Danelle and I enjoyed hamming it up. We took advantage of photo ops before heading in to get our “chicken” on. Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket began in the late 30’s or early 40’s as an old gas station lunch counter. The two car repair bays were later turned into a dining room.  In 1946, the restaurant opened along Route 66 and was the perfect stop for auto and bus travel. It was a place where you could get your Blue Bird bus pass, and a great chicken dinner.

After falling into hard times, Dell Rhea and his wife Grace bought the restaurant. They brought people back to this chicken palace. The Lombardi family today continues this tradition. Dannelle and I split a chicken fried chicken dinner. We loved everything about it, from the chicken décor to the tasty chicken and perhaps best cornbread ever!

Joliet

In all my years I have never really been in downtown Joliet!

The Reubens Rialto Square theater in Joliet was a fun surprise. Opening May 24, 1926, she was crowned the “Jewel of Joliet” along Route 66. Beginning as a vaudeville movie house, it has now been restored. Today they offer shows, concerts, and more. Now I just need to go to a show along with the lovely architecture inside.

Downtown Joliet we saw a cool space for people to gather. There was turf lawn, and a permanent stage. Joliet City Square park, a Unity Dome created by the Sinai Chen studio. The area offers fun murals and easy parking.

We also did a quick drive by the historic site of Old Joliet State Prison. Besides being its notable law and order history, it is also where the famous Blues Brothers was filmed!

Dwight & Odell

Dwight has long been of my favorite Route 66 stops. During the mid 1880’s, Dr. Leslie E. Keeley was among the first medical pioneers to recognize alcoholism as a disease. With funding from Major Curtis J. Judd, John Oughton, a pharmacist, and Dr. Leslie Keeley established the Keeley Institute. “Dr. Keeley’s cure was exercise and diet,” Bob Ohlendorf of Dwight once shared. Along with exercise and diet he also provided his “gold cure” which he never shared the contents of in his lifetime.

The Keeley Institute brought many to Dwight making it a Mecca for the wealthy seeking a cure. “There were 28 hotels in town. We had two opera houses as entertainment. There were seven barbershops open seven days a week,” Bob shared.The town exploded to accommodate the burgeoning population during the Keeley boom.

Another architectural fascination is the Frank Lloyd Wright designed bank. The bank began with the name, The Frank L. Smith Bank. Still an active bank, the outside of the building appears simple. However, as always with Wright there are wonderful surprises inside! Located along Route 66, this is one of the stops along the Mother Road!

There is a historic depot and the Ambler/Becker Texaco station.

Dwight Veteran Connection

An army veteran, Dannelle, was also impressed with the Veteran’s Memorial. On the back are the important words, “They have fallen for their county and will be remembered forever.”

Dwight, Illinois has the fun Old Route 66 Family restaurant with colorful booths, Route 66 soda and more. On previous visits I enjoyed dining at Cherry Red Roasters BBQ. They offer slow-smoked BBQ and homemade sides.

There is also a historic Standard Oil Gasoline one in nearby Odell that I saw during previous Route 66 travels.

Pontiac

While we didn’t stop in Pontiac on our epic road trip, I had experienced the museum complex before. Housed in the former fire station and city complex, there are also former jail cells! The huge building has ten museums inside! There is the Livingston County War Museum, which is quite touching.

As a Springfieldian, I am always impressed to find Bob Waldmire art. You can see his art and more in Pontiac.

Bloomington

In Bloomington they have some fun Route 66 history too. A few years back I enjoyed a visit to the e McLean County History Museum.

Housed in what was McLean County’s 4th courthouse, it was built according to their brochure, after “the great Bloomington fire of 1900 destroyed most of the downtown.” Builders completed construction on the courthouse in 1903. The 3-story museum has an amazing rotunda, so be sure to look up! The building was the official courthouse for 70 years. It became the McLean County History Museum in 1991.

It was Valentine’s time when I was there. I saw this great Route 66 car display.

Atlanta

The American Giant Museum has the largest collection of vintage fiberglass “Muffler Men” on Route 66. The giants were used as advertising for roadside stops during the 1960’s.

The new owner Lee Wood and his wife Diane are collectors and pickers. They and opened a fun souvenir store. They have property in Hot Springs, Arizona. Besides the Woods, the giants are on loan from Joel Baker. He, researches and finds the giants, then restores them.

Don’t miss the original Hot Dog Muffler Man during your stop. Then there is the Pie Lady at Country Aire Restaurant, representing the amazing “Pie lady” that bakes delicious pies for the iconic diner.

While Atlanta, Illinois is perhaps best known for their “Muffler Men” they also have a beautiful library, the only eight-sided Library in the state of Illinois.

Atlanta’s wooden grain elevator!

Those interested in Ag will love the story the J. Hawes Grain Elevator. and Museum. It is the only fully restored wooden grain elevator in the state of Illinois. The 55foot tall elevator, with a 30,0000-bushel grain capacity was built in 1904, and was open until 1976.

Lincoln

Lincoln, Illinois has a brand-new Museum of Route 66. Dannelle and I stopped, the day of the grand opening earlier in the day. We were able to take a photo of the outside with the new Giant Penny.

The penny is 2-foot in diameter and stands about 16 feet tall. This stop was especially perfect. Abraham Lincoln, Illinois’ honored son, is the face of the penny, a coin that soon will be obsolete.

Elkhart

Elkhart, Illinois, is a town with Abraham Lincoln history and Route 66 history too! My favorite stop there is the WWI statue.

A stop at the Wild Hare Cafe is also in order. 

Springfield

Illinois’ Capital City is rife with Route 66 stops. Dannelle and I had both been in Springfield before where they offer cool dining spots like Charlie Parker’s. You can get a breakfast horseshoe. The horseshoe was invented in Springfield, check out the sign. Springfield has its own horseshoe trail.

Maldners, is the oldest restaurant in Springfield along Illinois Route 66. Chef Michael Wiggins uses seasonal local and regional ingredients, and his menu is influenced by Mediterranean cuisine.

Then there is Cozy Dog Drive Inwhere the Cozy Dog was invented. Motorheads is a diner, entertainment center and Museum. Plus, they have the largest Route 66 sign!

The Route 66 Experience and more in Springfield

A wonderful Route 66 stop perfect for kids of all ages, is Springfield’s Route 66 Experience. Located at the Illinois State Fairgrounds inside Gate 2 on the corner of Route 66 & Sangamon Avenue, early evening is the best time to enjoy the colorful neon signs. 

The Illinois section is just part of the 92 communities along the Illinois Route. Open every day, this is a stop that doesn’t require any plans, reservations, or appointments!

An eye opening experience if you can find the museum open is the Route History Museum & Souvenir Shop on Cook Street, where the Green Book comes to life. The museum provides a virtual reality experience highlighting Black experiences on Route 66 during the Civil Rights and Jim Crow eras.

Chatham and Auburn

Chatham and Auburn both have fun murals.

In Chatham Sangamo Brewery has a wonderful Brewmania collection. It along with other books is featured in the upcoming Unique Eats & Eateries of Illinois book, and is part of the new Route 66 neon trail.

One of our last stops for Dannelle and I on our first day on Route 66 was the original brick road.

Between Chatham and Auburn Illinois is a 1.4-mile stretch of preserved brick segment of the route that was built in 1931. This is a favorite spot for pictures.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn recently lit the way for Route 66 travelers with a beautiful stained-glass cross. Located along Route 104, the cross replaced one that came down during a past renovation. Curt Diemer designed the stained-glass section of what was a group effort to share Jesus’ love to travelers along the roadway.

Virden, Girard and Nilwood

Virden is filled with mining history and a stop at the square will reveal the beautiful bronze memorial from the Battle of Virden.

The monument recounts the 15-minute gun battle that left 13 dead when the coal company hired 104 non-union African American miners. When the train arrived, they were surrounded by armed local miners, and violence followed.

While the Illinois Scenic Byway is filled with murals, many new, one of the latest is the Stan Lomelino and Joe Hendricks mural on the side of Sav-mor. This mural profiling drag racing history joins a historic mural also on the wall. Designed by mural artist Bernie Gietl, this is a one-of-a-kind central Illinois story.

A favorite family place for us is Doc’s Just off 66 in Girard Illinois. The owner of Docs, Casey Claypool, is also the director of the Illinois Scenic Byway.

Doc’s is a former pharmacy and serves as both a delicious dining option and pharmacy museum. When stopping ice cream from the original soda fountain is a must.

To me one of the most fun stops along the Illinois section of the Mother Road is the Turkey Tracks outside of Nilwood, Illinois.  You can clearly see the imprint of a group of wild turkeys that traveled across the fresh cement that had just been freshly poured in the 1920’s. It is fun to imagine the thoughts of the road workers when the concrete dries!

First night on the farm

Our first night on the road, my farmhouse was right on the path.  We live just a hop skip and jump from the Mother Road. Dannelle got a chance to see some of Keith’s collectibles before heading out the next morning. She was also partial to our farm cats!

Raymond

Right off I-55 near Raymond, Illinois is The Lady of the Highways Shrine, also known as the roadside Madonna.

This beautiful stop is to offer a spiritual guardian and remind travelers to travel safely. The lovely 12-foot-tall Virgin Mary is carved of imported marble from Italy, and an inscription at the base readers, “Mary, Loving Mother of Jesus, protect us on the highway”.

A similar prayer to the one Dannelle and I made every morning during our journey following my mother’s admonishment to always “Say a travel prayer”.

Litchfield

Day two of our Illinois journey began with Jubelts Bakery and Restaurant. It was our Litchfield, Illinois Route 66 breakfast stop. Danelle was amazed by the thick pancakes, and we had to get a Route 66 cookie!

Jubelts was first established in May of 1922 in Mt. Olive, Illinois by Paul, Fred and Albert Jubelt, Paul continued with the business as they expanded. When son John joined the business, after returning from the Korean War, he started a bakery in Litchfield, Illinois. While other stores opened, it was the Litchfield Bakery and restaurant that continued thriving on Route 66. Located across the street from the Ariston, the longest continuously operating restaurant along Route 66.

Litchfield also has a drive in theater right along the route.

Litchfield’s has much to offer and you can learn more at the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center.

Mt. Olive

The Mother Jones Memorial in Mt. Olive is intertwined with the unique coal mining history of Illinois. Mary Harris Jones was born in Cork, Ireland before immigrating to North America to escape the Potato Famine. A dressmaker she suffered tremendous loss while living in Memphis with her husband and four children. She lost them all to yellow Fever, then moved to Chicago owing her ship in the Chicago fire.

Affected by the immense differences in the circumstances of the wealthy and poor. After the fire Mother Jones began assisting miners fighting for better conditions and stricter child labor laws. Once considered the “most dangerous woman in America” she insisted on being buried in Mt. Olive, the only miner cemetery by her “boys” the victims of the Battle of Virden.

Livingston

The Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston is the Queen of Quirky stops. This former Livingston High School building built in 1929, has been converted to stop like no other with “giant” forms from President Donald Trump to Jumbo, aliens and a Lincoln icon. With 30,000 square feet of antique shopping and there is a fudge/candy and an ice cream shop. Here you can find the perfect photo op among the many! Dannelle and I enjoyed acting like kids on this part of the journey.

Hamel

Our last Illinois dining stop was at Weezy’s Bar and Grill in Hamel. Decorated with signs, chrome tables and chairs Karen Weismeyer has made the interior not cozy. She offers up great American food fare. Before becoming Weezy’s in 2009, the restaurant had a few owners but began as the Tourist Haven in 1938.  We had a soda and signed the guest book which has signatures from visitors from all over the world.

The IllinoisWrap

Illinois is filled with Route 66 stories and stops. There are more places not mentioned, but there needs to be some treasures that you hunt while getting your kicks on Route 66. Dannelle and I made the best of the miles on the first leg of our iconic journey!

Stay tuned to read more about our iconic trip!