Spring River Inn sign in Riverton will be restored

The old neon sign for the long-gone Spring River Inn restaurant in Riverton, Kan., has vanished, but eventually will reappear completely restored, reported the Joplin Globe.

Renee Charles, president of the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association and one of the principal owners of Cars on the Route in nearby Galena, is raising funds to have the sign restored. Allen Sign Studio in Miami, Okla., will refurbish the sign, which is at least 50 years old.

The cost of the restoration is estimated at $3,000.

The Globe provided this history of the restaurant:

[…W]hat became the Spring River Inn was operated as the Joplin Country Club beginning in 1905. Accounts hold that it at first catered to wealthy patrons from Galena.

The clubhouse and 60 acres were sold in 1932 and used for many years as the base for a boating club.

Birk-Tutin and her husband purchased the site and reopened it as a restaurant in 1970.

At one point, the restaurant served over 2,000 people a night during holidays or special occasions. The restaurant burned to the ground in 1998 and was never rebuilt.

Here’s a television ad for the restaurant from 1993:

Those who want to donate for the sign’s restoration may call Charles at 620-202-1615, visit the association’s booth at the Route 66 International Festival in Joplin this weekend or the group’s booth at the Galena festival on Friday.

(Image of Spring River Inn sign courtesy of Liberty Images Photography)

One thought on “Spring River Inn sign in Riverton will be restored

  1. Well, I’m very glad to hear it’s being restored—poor thing has been in rough shape for a while, but almost as importantly, I can’t wait to see it in its just-like-new glory!

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