The very first Dairy Queen restaurant, located in Joliet, Illinois, is being resurrected as a Route 66 landmark.
According to WGN-TV, the Joliet Area Historical Museum, which acquired the building in 2023, is leading the project along with the city. Dairy Queen is providing historical and archival documents for the project.
J.C. McCullough and Sherb Noble opened the Dairy Queen on June 22, 1940, at 501 N. Chicago. St. in downtown Joliet, though the building itself dates to the 1890s.
The goal is for the restoration to serve as a stop on the 2026 Centennial of Route 66.
The building has been home to a church, an insurance agency, a lawn mower shop and even a motorcycle dealership over the past 86 years.
“Joliet’s distinction as the home of the world’s first Dairy Queen location, one of the most beloved brands in the world, is one of its greatest hidden historic gems,” said CEO of JAHM Greg Peerbolt. “It seems appropriate that International Dairy Queen (IDQ) also shares its story with another American icon—the original alignment of Route 66, one of the most recognizable roads in the world.”
The Joliet Patch reported that the building façade is anticipated to function as a “selfie stop” for Route 66 visitors.
Dairy Queen has more than 6,800 locations around the world.
(Image of the first Dairy Queen in Joliet, Illinois, via Facebook)