Lately, I’d been getting e-mails from Illinois Route 66ers, telling me there was grave activity occurring at the historic Wishing Well Motel on Route 66 in the Chicago suburb of Countryside, Ill.
One observer said the motel’s electrical meters and water main had been removed. Others had reported that fencing had been erected around the structure. Those things are usually signs of an impending demolition.
Today, MJP Development of nearby Kankakee confirmed that the Wishing Well Motel will be knocked down any day. Tina Laws, the office manager, said a fire broke out recently on the property, and the City of Countryside was pressuring MJP to tear down the buildings because of that and vagrants breaking into it.
The future of the Wishing Well looked grim when longtime owner Zora Vidas died of cancer a few years ago. The Wishing Well had owned by her and her husband, who died in 1985, for almost 45 years.
In fact, the Wishing Well had only three owners since it was built in 1941. Celebrities such as Guy Lombardo, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the rock band Chicago have stayed there. The motel also was a member of the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame. Here’s a good site about the history of the Wishing Well.
When Zora died, the Vidases’ two sons didn’t live in the area and had no interest in running a motel. It’s been for sale for at least three years, and Laws said MJP has “a backup plan” for redevelopment if it doesn’t sell. A mixed-use development of retail and residential has been proposed there before. Laws said the Wishing Well’s sign will remain, however.
I’d stayed at the Wishing Well at least twice. It was a well-maintained vintage motel, it was at a good hopping-off point to explore Route 66 in Chicagoland, and its price of $40 a night it couldn’t be beat. Zora was a quiet yet amicable presence at the motel. She occasionally handed out vintage postcards of the Wishing Well Motel (seen above) to her guests.
The Wishing Well will be missed.
UPDATE: The Wishing Well was torn down Nov. 13. Check John and Lenore Weiss’ comments for some details.
UPDATE2: Based on reports by The Lope’s blog, it looks like the Wishing Well was all gone by late November.
Just an update. I drove by it earlier and as of October 23, 2007 it’s still standing.
Yep, I can confirm that. I took some pictures and said my goodbyes to the motel. As of Oct. 23, the motel was completely surrounded by chain link fencing and the windows are boarded up.
Good news – the white hotel sign was still up…and the Wishing Well was not fenced in. I am very grateful to this site for letting me that this piece of Americana would be soon leaving us.
I was able to get a picture with the Well.
If you live in the area – and you hurry – perhaps you can, too.
The Wishing Well Motel was bought by Charles and Mary Vidas, Zora’s parents, Zora and her husband, Emil n 1958. They were partners until Charles’s death in 1984. Emil also died in 1984. Mary and Zora were partners until Mary’s death in 1996.
Robert C. Vidas (son of Charles and Mary; brother of Zora)
The Wishing Well Motel was demolished on Tuesday, November 13, 2007. As of 4 p.m. the motel was completely down and a portion of the house was still standing.
Prior to the wrecking crew locking up the gates, we were able to get on the grounds to take photos of the demolition in progress. It was a sad afternoon watching several pieces of heavy equipment as well as a bob-cat methodically take down the walls, remove the interiors, tubs, sinks, carpeting, etc., and stack the remnants in several piles.
Memoriabilia from the Wishing Well has been donated to the Route 66 Association Museum & Hall of Fame in Pontiac, IL.
Watch for articles and photos in several publications in the near future.
And yet, another piece of the road is gone. Thanks for the update Lenore and John.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I still miss the Ballard Elevator. It just doesn’t seem right to drive that stretch of the road and not see it.
Sorry to hear about the Wishing Well i am a Local and stayed there on Special Nights with my girl Room 11 on the corner everytime was not a problem for the request as time goes on so does Julie Cordoba hope your doing great in vegas i miss you…
Wally
It’s been a few years since I was down that section of Route 66, but I was yesterday and saw the Wishing Well was gone. I stayed there a couple times in the past. I am very sad to see it gone.