Tourism group may take part ownership of Tropics sign

The Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County is considering an agreement with the city of Lincoln, Illinois, and original owners of the historic Tropics neon sign in an effort to finally restore it, according to the Lincoln Courier newspaper.

The sign initially was donated to the city by the Johnson family, who once owned the Tropics restaurant in Lincoln until the property was sold, until the city could decide whether restore it. But the discovery in March of the sign laying on its side, exposed to rain and sun, caused an uproar from locals and Route 66 advocates.

That eventually led to a meeting Monday with several city council members, the tourism bureau and members of the Logan County Alliance. During the meeting, Logan County Alliance president Andi Hake clarified the proposed makeup of the Tropics sign ownership:

“What the ownership looks like is a document between the City of Lincoln, Logan County Tourism, and the Johnson family, “said Hake.
“A three-way agreement in writing that we would hold ownership, the city would hold storage and all three parties in addition to other people in title mainly would work on a fundraising campaign,” she added. […]
The Council agreed to look further into the matter and allow McMurtrey to draft a contract to with the terms of the agreement showing what the ownership would look like, who would sit on the committee and if the city would acquire ownership after the repairs were complete.​

It’s been estimated refurbishing the sign would cost at least $30,000.

The Tropics opened in 1950. Original owner Vince Schwenoha once lived in California and was inspired by its palm trees when he dreamed up of his business in Illinois. The restaurant went through a spate of closings and reopenings after Interstate 55 bypassed the town.

(Image of The Tropics sign in February 2014 by calamity_hane via Flickr)