The Landing Pad, a Route 66-themed souvenir shop, opened in early May just steps from the new location of the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois.
The shop will be open from Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m. through November. It’s at 110 S. Park St. (map here), just off Route 66 in Wilmington.
Wilmington Mayor Ben Dietz posted a few photos from the shop before it opened:
According to a story by Farmers Weekly Review about the Landing Pad:
The shop will offer an exclusive collection of one-of-a-kind collectibles, souvenirs, and memorabilia that capture the spirit of the Mother Road and celebrate this legendary stretch of American history.
“We are excited to be able to meet and welcome all our Route 66 visitors, local and from afar, with a smile and help make their trip as memorable as possible! We can’t wait to see you there!” said Kirsten Van Duyne, Executive Director of Wilmington Park District in a press release.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 22 at 11 a.m., followed by a festive celebration featuring food for purchase, music, and family-friendly entertainment.
The opening occurred during the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival.
The refurbished, 28-foot-tall Gemini Giant returned to Wilmington late last year and was installed at South Island Park, less than a mile from its old location at the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant.
The Gemini Giant sold at auction in March 2024 for $275,000. The Joliet Area Historical Museum in nearby Joliet, Illinois, placed the winning bid on the fiberglass giant and turned it over to the city. The museum used a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Buying and securing the Gemini Giant took on \urgency when the Launching Pad’s owner, Holly Barker, threatened to destroy it if it didn’t sell for $100,000.
Barker and her former business partner, Tully Garrett, bought the closed restaurant in 2017 and reopened it about 18 months later. They shuttered it during the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened it only sporadically.
The Gemini Giant initially landed at the Launching Pad in 1965 after original owner John Korelc saw a Muffler Man during a restaurant convention.
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