Residents of Lincoln, Illinois, saw the end of an era Saturday when the long-closed building for The Tropics restaurant was torn down. The razing of the building had been planned for months to make way for a McDonald's restaurant. However, the Lincoln Courier reports that the demolition crew let Tami Goodrich, daughter of longtime The … Continue reading The Tropics building in Lincoln torn down
Tag: The Tropics
Tropics sign in Lincoln may be erected near original site by next year
A local tourism bureau and a committee overseeing the restoration of The Tropics neon sign that once stood near Route 66 in Lincoln, Illinois, plan to erect the sign in the parking lot of a McDonald's that will replace the original Tropics restaurant. The proposal was presented during a meeting of the Lincoln City Council. According to … Continue reading Tropics sign in Lincoln may be erected near original site by next year
Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites
A Minnesota-based artist recently launched Explore and Preserve, an apparel and gift website that aims to give part of its profits to endangered Route 66 sites, including the Meramec River Bridge in Missouri. The historic Meramec River Bridge near Eureka, Missouri, requires more than a half-million dollars by the end of the year or the Missouri Department of Transportation tears … Continue reading Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites
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
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
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
Storage of Tropics sign irks Route 66 advocates
Several Route 66 advocates are upset the City of Lincoln, Illinois, is storing the historic Tropics Dining Room sign outdoors and exposed to the weather at a yard-waste disposal facility after it was taken down last year. Readers emailed me photographs of the Tropics sign laying on its side at the waste facility. From one of the images, it seems one … Continue reading Storage of Tropics sign irks Route 66 advocates