That didn’t take long.
One side of the iconic “Here It Is” billboard for the Jack Rabbit Trading Post near Joseph City, Arizona, was re-erected and secured just a few days after a monsoon storm Monday night blew it down.
Isabelle Jaquez, daughter of longtime Jack Rabbit owners Tony and Cindy Jaquez, posted this heartfelt and grateful Facebook reel of repair crews and volunteers helping get the downed sign back up:
Here’s a photo of a visitor in front of the storm-damaged part of the sign. As you can see, one side took the brunt of the damage. The business itself apparently suffered no damage and continued to operate.
The double-sided billboard was built about 77 years ago.
A GoFundMe fundraiser launched just hours after the storm generated over $23,500 — almost four times the initial goal of $6,500. Fundraising has been paused, and unused funds will go to other Route 66 businesses.
Jim Taylor founded Jack Rabbit Trading Post along U.S. 66 in 1949.
Glen Blansett bought the business in 1967 and passed it on to his son and daughter-in-law two years later. They, in turn, sold it to their daughter and son-in-law, the current owners, in 1995.
The old Route 66 business, off Exit 269 of Interstate 40, has inspired many travelers, including the creators of the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs for the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film “Cars.”
(Screen-capture image from video of the storm-damaged “Here Is Is” sign near Jack Rabbit Trading Post)