These photos show why Illinois Route 66 preservationists John and Lenore Weiss won a prestigious Steinbeck Award a few years ago during the annual Route 66 awards dinner.
This is a “before” shot of the long-neglected Art’s Motel and Restaurant sign on Route 66 in Farmersville, Ill.
This is a shot after the Illinois Route 66 Association and the Weisses were through fixing it. The Weisses are the key reason why Illinois has taken the lead in restoring Route 66 landmarks.
Even some of the neon lighting was restored. More photographs of the sign can be seen at Peter Stork’s Digital Route 66 site.
By the way, Art’s restaurant and motel still are going strong.
(Photos courtesy of Digital Route 66.)
I just saw this restoration for the first time today on a trip to Springfield. It is on the south side of a overpass on the interstate and can easily be seen by northbound travelers of both 66 and the interstate. Unfortunately, the sign, Art’s, and virtually the entire town of Farmersville are all almost completely hidden from view for southbound interstate travelers; Art’s can be seen one second after you drive under the overpass (the embankment in behind the sign in the photo above), when it’s too late to exit for the town. Southbound 66 travelers will find Art’s by following the frontage road (which is 66) around the curve to the original alignment; it’s right on the curve. I’ve never stayed in the motel, but I highly recommend the restaurant.
Just one more thing to see along the Illinois stretch of 66. Great job Preservation committee.
Lovely Wife & I stopped there last year and learnedthat the gentleman from India that had purchased both the motel & restaurant had sold the restaurant but still has the motel going. The restaurant is also open, but being run by someone else.
I’m glad I nabbed several shots of the sign before restoration. That in itself was a work of ‘art’