The Town of Normal, Illinois, recently named Terri Ryburn, ambassador of the Route 66 landmark Sprague's Service Station, as its 2026 Citizen of the Year. Mayor Chris Koos recognized Ryburn's renovations of the station and other work documenting the history of Route 66, reported WGLT radio. More from the town's Facebook page: The honor serves … Continue reading Town of Normal names Terri Ryburn its Citizen of the Year
Tag: Sprague Super Service station
Terri Ryburn at Ryburn Place of Sprague’s Super Service to retire at the end of 2026
Terri Ryburn, the de facto savior of the historic Sprague's Super Service gas station in Normal, Illinois, recently announced she is retiring from the station's Ryburn Place shop and visitor's center at the end of the year. Ryburn stated on Facebook: "I have loved meeting so many interesting and fun people at Ryburn Place at … Continue reading Terri Ryburn at Ryburn Place of Sprague’s Super Service to retire at the end of 2026
Sprague’s Super Service station in Normal receives $150,000 grant
The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau won a $150,000 state tourism grant for further restorations to Sprague’s Super Service in Normal, Illinois, before Route 66's centennial next year. According to WGLT radio, the money comes from the Route 66 Grant Program, which aims to preserve and educate travelers along the state's Route 66 corridor. The funds … Continue reading Sprague’s Super Service station in Normal receives $150,000 grant
City of Normal to return Sprague’s Super Service Station to its original footprint
The town council of Normal, Illinois, recently voted to spend $300,000 on work on three historic properties in the city, including the Sprague's Super Service Station along Route 66, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The station's previous owner, Terri Ryburn, told Route 66 News the work will include removing the 1960s one-bay garage and restoring the … Continue reading City of Normal to return Sprague’s Super Service Station to its original footprint
Route 66 bike trail extension in Normal would link to Sprague’s Super Service station
The town council of Normal, Illinois, on Monday will consider whether to approve a bid for an extension of a bicycle trail along Route 66 that would connect to the historic Sprague's Super Service station. According to WGLT, an National Public Radio affiliate at Illinois State University: The roughly $471,000 contract would extend the trail … Continue reading Route 66 bike trail extension in Normal would link to Sprague’s Super Service station
Chat ‘n Chew near Route 66 in Normal catered to black customers in Jim Crow era
The Route 66 Bloomington-Normal, Illinois page on Facebook recently posted an interesting, if obscure, historical item for Black History Month -- the Chat 'n Chew restaurant and grocery in Normal. Here's the post, with Terri Ryburn of Ryburn Place (formerly Sprague Super Service station) in Normal supplying the photo: https://www.facebook.com/Route66BN/posts/153881979883693 A 2017 article, titled "Jim … Continue reading Chat ‘n Chew near Route 66 in Normal catered to black customers in Jim Crow era
“Negro Motorist Green Book” expert to speak at Miles of Possibility conference
Candacy Taylor, author of a forthcoming book about the Negro Motorist Green Book published from the 1930s to the '60s, will be the keynote speaker during the fifth annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference in Normal, Illinois, on Oct. 17-20. Taylor soon will publish "Overground Railroad: The Green Book and theRoots of Black Travel … Continue reading “Negro Motorist Green Book” expert to speak at Miles of Possibility conference
Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public
Ryburn Place, aka Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, held its grand opening Saturday after a multi-year restoration of the historic Route 66 site. Ryburn Place is named after Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who owned the site for years and shepherded its renovations. Here is video of the site's sign reveal: And here … Continue reading Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public
Sprague Super Service station reopens Saturday as Ryburn Place
The long-in-coming restoration of the historic Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, will culminate with a grand opening Saturday, where it will be rechristened as Ryburn Place. The station will be renamed after Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who purchased the property more than a decade ago and slowly and steadily began to restore … Continue reading Sprague Super Service station reopens Saturday as Ryburn Place
Grand opening for Sprague Super Service station set for Aug. 12
The grand opening -- or reopening, if you will -- of the gift shop and information center at the historic Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 12. Gift-shop operator Terri Ryburn, who labored for a decade to restore the unique gas station before the city finished the … Continue reading Grand opening for Sprague Super Service station set for Aug. 12