A likely tornado several days ago destroyed the family-owned Skyline Motel along Route 66 in McCook, Illinois.
ABC 7 in nearby Chicago reported the Patel family, which emigrated to America during the early 1990s, has owned the motel at 8136 Joliet Road (aka Route 66) for about 30 years.
The possible tornado ripped the roof clear off the Skyline motel. They were nearly despondent Wednesday night, and now in the light of day Thursday surveyed what was left of the family’s legacy.
“I can’t believe it, man. It just flew away,” said Rajan Patel. “It still doesn’t seem real.”
According to the National Weather Service, a possible EF-1 tornado with winds near 110 miles per hour tracked nine miles from Burr Ridge to near Stickney, sheering the roof off the Skyline, downing power lines and damaging homes and businesses.
No one was injured in the storm, despite the fact the Skyline was hosting several people at the time.
Here is the station’s video from the scene:
Owner Brian Patel told the station that the disaster has jeopardized the family business, but he hoped to rebuild. They’re awaiting word from their insurance company before deciding what to do.
The motel was built in 1984, near the end of the U.S. 66 era. Route 66 Times reports the Skyline was built on the former site of the Whoopee Auto Coaster, where motorists drove on a closed-course wooden structure with steep inclines and sharp curves during the 1920s and ’30s.
(Hat tip to Teri Parker)
How awful for them. Didn’t this use to be called the “Countryside Inn” a-way back in 1999. I think I stayed there once. In fact, I’m sure of it. It wasn’t fancy but it was comfortable, and kind of homey. It was a nice jumping off point, out of city traffic. I hope that they can rebuild.