At 8:10 p.m. Saturday, the switch was flipped to show the restored neon signs and window accents for the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois, during a relighting ceremony. The aim of the restoration was to show what the Route 66 restaurant looked like shortly after it opened in Litchfield in July 1935. The Ariston originally … Continue reading Switch is flipped on Ariston Cafe’s neon restoration
Category: Preservation
Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington holds its grand reopening
The Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, held its grand reopening Friday, although the Route 66 restaurant had been open for several weeks to long lines to test its food offerings. Holly Barker and Tully Garrett purchased the long-closed restaurant in the fall of 2017. According to The Herald-News in nearby Joliet: Barker said they … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington holds its grand reopening
Restored Ariston Cafe sign reinstalled; relighting ceremony is Saturday
Historic neon signs that hung above the entrance of the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois, for decades were reinstalled Monday after their restoration, days before a relighting ceremony this Saturday. Jim Thole passed along some details about the reinstallation by a St. Louis sign company: The "Ariston Cafe" sign had been repainted sometime during its … Continue reading Restored Ariston Cafe sign reinstalled; relighting ceremony is Saturday
Ozark Trail obelisk near Stroud cleaned of graffiti
The historic obelisk that marked a crossroads of the Ozark Trail near Stroud, Oklahoma, recently was cleansed of graffiti. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association stated in a Facebook post Friday: The Ozark Trail obelisk near Stroud, OK has long been marred by graffiti. Thanks to the efforts of Route 66 enthusiast Sam Murray, the old … Continue reading Ozark Trail obelisk near Stroud cleaned of graffiti
Volunteers replace broken blade at The Mill in Lincoln
A group of volunteers on Friday repaired the blade at The Mill Museum in Lincoln, Illinois, that broke off during high winds a few months ago. High winds in December snapped off one of the faux blades of the windmill structure of the former Route 66 restaurant. According to the National Weather Service, gusts of … Continue reading Volunteers replace broken blade at The Mill in Lincoln
Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James to close for good Friday
Citing a "decline in physical attendance," the Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James, Missouri, announced Tuesday it will close its doors permanently Friday. The Facebook page for the museum put out this message Tuesday: The post does not elaborate on what will happen to the extensive vacuum collection. The museum at 3 Industrial Drive in … Continue reading Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James to close for good Friday
Launching Pad Drive-In’s grand reopening weekend set for May 3
The grand reopening of the Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois, is set for the weekend of May 3, coinciding with the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival. The gala begins May 3 with the Route 66 restaurant's first cruise night by the Rusty Nutz Car Club. The Red Carpet Festival begins that … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In’s grand reopening weekend set for May 3
473 Bar in old Phillips 66 gas station to hold grand opening Saturday
The 473 Bar, in a repurposed 1929 Phillips 66 gas station in Tulsa, will host its grand opening Saturday with lawn games, music, food trucks and its ever-present locally based beverages. The bar, also known as Four. Seven. Three., at 2224 E. Admiral Blvd., takes its name from the fact it was built as Phillips … Continue reading 473 Bar in old Phillips 66 gas station to hold grand opening Saturday
Coleman Theatre in Miami to mark 90th birthday on Thursday
The Coleman Theatre in Miami, Oklahoma, will mark its 90th anniversary Thursday with a screening of "The Wizard of Oz" and other festivities that night. The theater asked the public on Facebook which film it would most like to see, and "Gone With the Wind" was the winner. However, management nixed it because of its … Continue reading Coleman Theatre in Miami to mark 90th birthday on Thursday
Neon sign installed at Kum & Go at old 66 section in Springfield
The owners of the soon-to-open Kum & Go convenience store at a corner in Springfield, Missouri, that contained an original stretch of Route 66 pledged it would pay tribute to the Mother Road. It appears to have kept that promise. Jonathan Sharp posted these pictures on Facebook of an elaborate neon sign on the side … Continue reading Neon sign installed at Kum & Go at old 66 section in Springfield