The newly restored neon sign for Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket restaurant along old Route 66 in Willowbrook, Illinois, was dedicated Monday afternoon with a relighting ceremony. About 200 people attended the event, which included a car show, live music and commemorative T-shirts. Below is an image of the restored sign at night: The ceremony … Continue reading Restored Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign is dedicated
Category: Signs
Restoration begins on The Tropics sign
The fabled neon sign for the now-closed The Tropics restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, this week was moved to a shop for restoration work for the next six months. The Lincoln Courier reported the sign was moved Tuesday to Ace Sign Co. in nearby Springfield, where the company will undergo restoration work on it through late … Continue reading Restoration begins on The Tropics sign
Sign stolen from Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City
An old sign at the historic but long-closed Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City was stolen between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Owner John Dunning, who bought the property at 742 W. Britton Road about 12 years ago with plans to eventually restore it, said the sign probably is worth $800 to $1,000, he told … Continue reading Sign stolen from Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City
Professors honored for preserving vintage neon-sign drawings
Two professors from the University of New Mexico were given a state preservation award for saving hundreds of old drawings from the state's oldest neon-sign company. Many of them mock-ups of signs eventually were installed on Route 66. The New Mexico Historic Preservation Division honored Ellen Babcock and Mark Childs in the Heritage Publication division … Continue reading Professors honored for preserving vintage neon-sign drawings
The Tropics neon sign may return to Lincoln by spring 2018
The historic neon sign for the now-gone The Tropics restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, may return to a parking lot at a McDonald's along Route 66 by spring 2018. That scenario became more likely after the city approved an easement with Franchise Realty Investment Trust on behalf of the McDonald’s to install the sign at the lot … Continue reading The Tropics neon sign may return to Lincoln by spring 2018
An overview of the western ends of Route 66
Justin Scarred of Randomland Adventures is a blabbermouth, but the surprisingly well-informed host explains the various western ends of Route 66 -- downtown Los Angeles, Olympic and Lincoln boulevards in Santa Monica and, finally, the traditional end at the Santa Monica Pier. https://youtu.be/84XY0JRCbEM A bit of news: A Mel's Drive-In at Lincoln and Olympic in … Continue reading An overview of the western ends of Route 66
Neon sign returns to Kingman’s Route 66 for first time in nearly 70 years
This week, a neon sign on Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona, that was taken down during the late 1940s was returned to the Mother Road in the same city where it was erected. Route 66 author Jim Hinckley explained in an email: The sign stood on Chadwick Drive. This road carried National Old Trails Highway … Continue reading Neon sign returns to Kingman’s Route 66 for first time in nearly 70 years
Surprise wedding at Route 66 Neon Festival
Those who attended the Arcadia Route 66 Neon Fest headquartered last weekend at Jim Ross' house off old Route 66 near Arcadia, Oklahoma, got a surprise -- the wedding of two longtime roadies,officiated by a third longtime roadie. Ross and Shellee Graham -- both who have photographed and researched Route 66 for at least 20 … Continue reading Surprise wedding at Route 66 Neon Festival
Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign comes down — temporarily
The famous and historic neon sign for Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, Illinois, recently was taken down. But don't panic -- it will be gone only a few weeks so it can be fixed and renovated so it looks new again. WBBM-TV reports that owner Patrick Rhea said he didn't look forward to his … Continue reading Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign comes down — temporarily
The Tropics building in Lincoln torn down
Residents of Lincoln, Illinois, saw the end of an era Saturday when the long-closed building for The Tropics restaurant was torn down. The razing of the building had been planned for months to make way for a McDonald's restaurant. However, the Lincoln Courier reports that the demolition crew let Tami Goodrich, daughter of longtime The … Continue reading The Tropics building in Lincoln torn down