The Gemini Giant fiberglass statue, which once stood at the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant, returned to Wilmington, Illinois, when it was dedicated Saturday at its new location at South Island Park. The event featured live music, a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, a mobile diner and commemorative memorabilia. The 28-foot-tall Gemini Giant returned to Wilmington with a … Continue reading Gemini Giant returns to Wilmington with a big welcome-home bash
Tag: Launching Pad Drive-In
Gemini Giant will be installed in Wilmington park on Nov. 30
The restored Gemini Giant, once a fixture for almost 60 years at the Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois, will be the focus of a party on Nov. 30 at his new home in Wilmington's South Island Park. According to a promotional flyer, the event from 1 to 3 p.m. that day will include … Continue reading Gemini Giant will be installed in Wilmington park on Nov. 30
Gemini Giant to make appearance at American Giants Museum
The Gemini Giant fiberglass figure will make an appearance at the American GIants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois, this weekend while en route for restoration and reinstallation at a park in Wilmington. According to a Facebook post, the Gemini Giant will be making a pit stop at the museum before going to the ReGiants restoration shop. … Continue reading Gemini Giant to make appearance at American Giants Museum
Red Carpet Corridor Festival participants get a glimpse of soon-to-be-relocated Gemini Giant
Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival participants had the rare privilege of seeing the Gemini Giant from the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant lying in repose, with its helmet off. The Joliet Patch had details about the fiberglass giant being shown inside the City of Wilmington's public works building during last weekend's 17th annual … Continue reading Red Carpet Corridor Festival participants get a glimpse of soon-to-be-relocated Gemini Giant
Gemini Giant sells at auction for $275,000, will stay in Wilmington
The landmark Gemini Giant fiberglass statue at the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois, was sold at auction Wednesday for $275,000, and the mayor announced it will remain in town at a different location. Grafe Auctions didn't reveal the buyer, citing its privacy policy. However, the City of Wilmington hours later revealed in … Continue reading Gemini Giant sells at auction for $275,000, will stay in Wilmington
Gemini Giant, Launching Pad Drive-In items placed on online auction site
As promised by its owner, the Gemini Giant of the Launching Pad Drive-In landed on an online auction site -- along with about 350 items from the Route 66 restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois. Grafe Auction of Minnesota is listing the fiberglass giant, with the auction closing on the morning of March 20. The company scheduled … Continue reading Gemini Giant, Launching Pad Drive-In items placed on online auction site
Local man launches fundraising effort to save Gemini Giant from demolition
A man who hails from the Launching Pad Drive-In's home base of Wilmington, Illinois, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to save its Gemini Giant fiberglass giant from possible destruction by its owner. The closed Route 66 restaurant's owner, Holly Barker, said on Twitter a few days ago she was putting the Gemini Giant up for … Continue reading Local man launches fundraising effort to save Gemini Giant from demolition
Launching Pad’s owner litters contents from restaurant’s interior onto parking lot
The owner of the closed Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, scattered items from the interior of her Route 66 restaurant onto its parking lot, prompting two citations from local police The Joliet Patch reported that Holly Barker on Tuesday broke bottles of Route 66 root beer and tossed equipment and other items from the … Continue reading Launching Pad’s owner litters contents from restaurant’s interior onto parking lot
Joliet Area Historical Museum interested in buying closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant
The Joliet Area Historical Museum is considering the acquisition of the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant -- best known for its unique, 28-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue -- in nearby Wilmington, Illinois. The Herald-News published the story Saturday less than a week after the Launching Pad was listed for $1.4 million on the Crexi commercial … Continue reading Joliet Area Historical Museum interested in buying closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant
Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington closes; future of restaurant appears uncertain
The landmark Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois -- famous for its Gemini Giant fiberglass statue that stands next to Route 66 -- has closed, and its future appears to be uncertain. Several reports of the restaurant's closing have surfaced on various Route 66 social media groups in recent days, including unconfirmed rumors the … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington closes; future of restaurant appears uncertain