The Ace Sign Co. of Springfield, Illinois, provided a sneak peek a few days ago of a facsimile of the A. Lincoln Motel neon sign that stood along Route 66 in the city.
The sign eventually will be incorporated with the Legends Neon Park as part of the Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
The Route 66-themed development at the fair just inside Gate 2 at Sangamon Avenue and Peoria Road (aka Route 66) is expected to be finished by the highway’s centennial in 2026.
Other signs planned in the Legends Neon Park:
- Bel Air Drive-In from Mitchell;
- Chain of Rocks Motel in Granite City;
- Coliseum Ballroom in Benld.
According to the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway about the Experience:
The experience will offer visitors a chance to walk Illinois Route 66 from Chicago to the Chain of Rocks Bridge and learn about communities and attractions along the Route in microform. The project is headed by the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, with the goal of sparking interest in those who have not yet experienced everything Illinois Route 66 has to offer. […]
We will use this space located inside Gate 2 to provide a version of Illinois Route 66 that will help you experience the excitement of the legendary journey, all whilst learning about tha mazing small towns and communities along the way, lined with neons, giants, roadside attractions, mini drive-in theater, vintage style billboards and a plethora of factoids and tidbits as you traverse the decades and community highlights.
The byway and Visit Springfield received about $1.8 million from the state for the project.
According to old postcards and other data, the A. Lincoln Motel was at 2927 S. Sixth St. (aka Route 66) in Springfield. It was torn down in the early 1990s to make way for the Cozy Dog Drive-In restaurant’s new building.
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