A group of local leaders has been formed to restore The Tropics sign that once stood along Route 66 in Lincoln, Illinois.
The committee includes those from Logan County Economic Development Partnership, Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County, Logan County Alliance, Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation, the city of Lincoln and family members of the restaurant’s former owners, reported the Lincoln Courier. Bill Thomas, a big booster of Route 66 in Atlanta, Illinois, also is a member.
After reviewing several bids, the group is aiming to raise $50,000 for the project. Approximately $30,000 of that will go towards the restoration and the costly transportation of the sign, while the remaining money will be used for unforeseen costs and for the city to use for maintenance. […]
The committee is also applying for several grant applications seeking funding support from the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Program, the Danner Trust, and The Woods Foundation. The amount of grants applied for will be just shy of $10,000.
Currently, approximately $850 has been donated from the Lincoln and Logan County Chamber of Commerce, which is held in a bank account designated for the project.
The group has formed a Facebook page and a GoFundMe.com page to help raise money:
The group also is planning a big fundraiser this fall, plus a silent auction April 9.
The neon sign was taken down in April 2014 after the property changed hands, with the city’s plan it would be “carefully stored.” However, the city didn’t have an indoor facility big enough, so it was stored outdoors near the city landfill, exposed to the elements.
Route 66 advocates became outraged in March 2015 when they learned of the city’s less-than-ideal treatment of The Tropics sign. The sign still is there, but it’s been lifted off the ground and covered, the Courier reported.
The Tropics opened in 1950. Original owner Vince Schwenoha once lived in California and was inspired by its palm trees when he dreamed up of his business in Illinois. The restaurant went through a spate of closings and reopenings after Interstate 55 bypassed the town.
(Image of The Tropics sign via GoFundMe.com page)