Towns along a 90-mile stretch of Route 66 in northern Illinois offer a lot during Saturday's Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival, but Wilmington's seems especially enticing. Not only does that city's Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie offer the chance of seeing the famous Smokey Bear hot-air balloon and newborn bison, but the new owners of … Continue reading A lot going on with Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor festival
Tag: Gemini Giant
Launching Pad Drive-In may partially reopen in May
The couple that recently purchased the long-closed Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, said they likely would partly reopen the Route 66 restaurant in May, with a full reopening sometime in 2019. The restaurant is most famous for its one-of-a-kind 30-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue. Holly Barker and Tully Garrett, who bought the Launching Pad … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In may partially reopen in May
Launching Pad’s new owners launch crowdfunding site
The new owners of the Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, hadn't planned it initially, but this week they launched a crowdfunding site to help reopen the Route 66 restaurant faster. According to the CBS-TV affiliate in Chicago: New co-owner Holly Barker said the GoFundMe page launched Monday because the Wilmington community was anxious to see the … Continue reading Launching Pad’s new owners launch crowdfunding site
Launching Pad Drive-In lands new owners
The Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois -- best-known for its Gemini Giant fiberglass giant on a corner of the property -- has new owners who plan to reopen the Route 66 landmark in the late spring. The Free Press Newspapers reported Tully Garrett and Holly Barker will take possession Oct. 16 of the property, … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In lands new owners
Tourists affix dozens of stickers on Gemini Giant of Wilmington
While tourists continue to visit the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois, despite the closing of the Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in 2013, one new twist recently emerged -- visitors slapping stickers on the iconic fiberglass figure. According to the Daily Journal, Wilmington Mayor Roy Strong and some residents don't have a problem with tourists affixing … Continue reading Tourists affix dozens of stickers on Gemini Giant of Wilmington
Artist makes jewelry inspired by Route 66
Kathy Sancken recently created 50 pieces of jewelry inspired by Route 66 that are on display this month at the Community Art Center in Pontiac, Illinois. The show is called "Encircled: Route 66 Travelogue — Necklaces Inspired by the Mother Road" in the center's Joe Bailey Gallery. Pictured above is jewelry inspired by the Gemini … Continue reading Artist makes jewelry inspired by Route 66
Launching Pad Drive-In fails to sell at auction
The Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois -- best-known for its 30-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue next to Route 66 -- failed to sell during an auction Saturday because the reserve wasn't met. The Will County News reported Tina and Joel Brownlee of Wilmington, who submitted the high bid of $177,500, will negotiate with auctioneer … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In fails to sell at auction
Gemini Giant, Launching Pad restaurant to be auctioned
The future of the Gemini Giant on Route 66 in Wilmington, Illinois, is a lot cloudier after it was announced it and its restaurant will be sold at auction in April. James Bednar of Bednar Auction Service told the Kankakee Daily Journal the unique, 30-foot-tall fiberglass giant and the long-closed Launching Pad restaurant will be sold in one … Continue reading Gemini Giant, Launching Pad restaurant to be auctioned
Illinois county taking next steps for establishing Route 66 corridor
Will County, Illinois, near Chicago, is about to take the next steps in transforming Illinois Highway 53 into more of an attraction for Route 66 tourists, reported Shaw Media. The 20-mile stretch of Illinois 53 runs from about Interstate 80 in Joliet to Braidwood. Larazza said more than 30 businesses and other stakeholders involved in … Continue reading Illinois county taking next steps for establishing Route 66 corridor
Will Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket supplant the Launching Pad?
Here's an interesting rumor that started the morning. A part of the report by WJOL radio in Will County, Ill.: The possibility calls for a new Dell Rhea's Chicken to go where the cuurrnt Launching Pad restaurant is located. The only sidetrack for some Route 66 lovers is the possibilty that the big green Gemini … Continue reading Will Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket supplant the Launching Pad?