Restoration of Gemini Giant completed

The restoration of the Gemini Giant, the famous fiberglass mascot of the Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois, was finished a few days ago.

Here is a before-and-after photo the restaurant posted on Facebook:

Tully Garrett and Holly Barker stated Sunday on the restaurant’s Facebook page:

Success! The Gemini Giant’s paint is finally complete! His fiberglass repairs are finished as well. Thank you to Sunbelt Rentals out of Joliet, Famous Dave for his hand-crafted lettering of the rocket, and our favorite caretaker/painter John Mercer Painting. Special thank you to Randy Brott for his fiberglass work on his legs and feet.

Next week we will work on lighting the Gemini Giant from the base. We will have a revealing event for that once that’s complete in the next week to 10 days at sundown.

Garrett said before the restoration the 28-foot-tall giant’s paint had worn off in some places, its feet had cracked and bolts holding up its helmet had rusted through.

The couple, who purchased the long-closed restaurant in the fall of 2017 and held a grand reopening last month, said they plan to exchange their marriage vows under the Gemini Giant on the 50th anniversary of the U.S. moon landing, which is July 21.

The Launching Pad and Gemini Giant were inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame in 2000. Both long have been one of the biggest photo opportunities for Route 66 travelers.

John and Betty Korelc opened a Dairy Delite at the site in Wilmington in 1960. It was renamed the Launching Pad after an expansion in 1965. The Gemini Giant landed there that year after John Korelc saw a Muffler Man during a restaurant convention. Most Muffler Men at the time were cowboys or lumberjacks. Korelc instead had his specially made so it looked liked an astronaut. John Korelc retired in 1986.

Morey Szczecin bought the property in 2007 after longtime owners Jerry and Sharon Gatties retired. But the restaurant struggled and closed in 2010.

(Images of the Gemini Giant via Facebook)

2 thoughts on “Restoration of Gemini Giant completed

  1. Looks great! I was wondering if they might turn it a bit to its right to allow photo ops in the sun a bit longer than mid/late morning.

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