The Mill restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, likely will reopen as an area history museum in April after almost 10 years of restoration work on the Route 66 landmark. The Springfield State Journal-Register published a detailed story about The Mill and the plans for it. A $10,720 cost-share grant recently awarded by the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program … Continue reading The Mill likely will reopen as a museum by April
Tag: Lincoln IL
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces grants for 2016
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, under the auspices of the National Park Service, announced its cost-share grants for 2016. This year, the program awarded eight cost-share grants totaling more than $103,000 -- mostly for renovations or preservation of historic Route 66 properties. Since 2001, the program has awarded 122 projects $1.9 million with $3.1 … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces grants for 2016
McDonald’s plans to build at old Tropics property
Any lingering hopes the long-closed Tropics restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, would be reopened were dashed last week with the news a McDonald's restaurant wants to build on the site. The Lincoln Courier reports a law firm made a request for a special-use permit to the city: The city announced Thursday that the Lincoln Planning Commission will … Continue reading McDonald’s plans to build at old Tropics property
City of Lincoln approves funds for The Mill restoration
The city council of Lincoln, Illinois, this week approved $12,000 in motel-tax funds to help finish restoring The Mill, a now-closed restaurant on Route 66 that eventually will become a museum. According to the Lincoln Courier, the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County plans to use the money for plumbing and sewer-line work. The money will go to … Continue reading City of Lincoln approves funds for The Mill restoration
A history of The Tropics restaurant
Tami Goodrich, whose family owned The Tropics in Lincoln, Illinois, for 40 years, recently gave a presentation that delved deep into the history of the Route 66 restaurant. The New Herald News published a long article about Goodrich's presentation at the Palms Cafe Grill in Atlanta, Illinois, including a slide show. Many people already know … Continue reading A history of The Tropics restaurant
Group formed to restore The Tropics sign
A group of local leaders has been formed to restore The Tropics sign that once stood along Route 66 in Lincoln, Illinois. The committee includes those from Logan County Economic Development Partnership, Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County, Logan County Alliance, Mount Pulaski Courthouse Foundation, the city of Lincoln and family members of the restaurant's former owners, reported the Lincoln … Continue reading Group formed to restore The Tropics sign
“Route 66 in Illinois”
The "Route 66 in Illinois" presentation by Joe Sonderman and Cheryl Eichar Jett -- who co-wrote a book by the same name -- during the Miles of Possibility conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, contained a few tidbits of information even veteran roadies might not have known, such as: An explosion in 1942 at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant … Continue reading “Route 66 in Illinois”
The Tropics, Steve’s Cafe inducted into Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame
The Tropics Restaurant and Lounge of Lincoln, Illinois, and Steve's Cafe of Chenoa, Illinois, recently were inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame of Illinois. Both businesses now are defunct. Nominees must have made "significant contributions to the character or history of the Illinois portion of Route 66 from 1926 to 1977 while it … Continue reading The Tropics, Steve’s Cafe inducted into Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame
Get your hits on Route 66
A story in the State Journal-Register caught my eye -- a groundbreaking ceremony June 6 for a large medical marijuana facility that will be built on old Route 66 north of Lincoln, Illinois. The Cresco Labs facility at Old Route 66 and 1800th Street on the north edge of town is a new thing in … Continue reading Get your hits on Route 66
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 … Continue reading Tourism group may take part ownership of Tropics sign