Illinois Route 66 - Odell

John Weiss, chairman of the Illinois Route 66 Preservation Committee

John Weiss really packs them on his tour of the Odell Station

ODELL, ILLINOIS. I was fortunate to run into John Weiss, the most enthusiastic Route 66 supporter in all of Illinois, at the restored Standard Oil Station in Odell. I had met John 5 or 6 years ago and received a personal tour of the station, but this time, it was fun just watching him entertain an entire busload of 66 travelers. Later that day we crossed paths again in nearby Pontiac, where John took me around the corner and introduced me to the mayor. Just your typical day on Route 66!

       John is chairman of the Illinois Route 66 Preservation Committee, and he and his wife, Lenore, were instrumental in the "Save the Odell Station" project back in 1996. And of course, John's guide to Illinois Route 66 is always open on the seat next to me during 66 tours of that state.

Illinois Route 66 - Odell

 

ODELL, ILLINOIS. Another and more famous old filling station in Odell, the fully restored 1932 Standard Oil station. It was restored by the efforts of the Illinois Route 66 Preservation Committee, those good folks who knew enough to include a squeaky sign that sways in the wind. Have a seat and see who stops by.

Illinois Route 66 - Odell

ODELL, ILLINOIS. A mid-twentieth century archeological site on old Route 66 in Illinois, offering a close-up look at the few remaining artifacts from that lost era, including the classic Pegasus logo.

     The rusty old gas pump at this long abandoned Mobil station has one modern day attention grabber. Look closely at the 3 digit "Total Purchase" and go back to a time when a fill up could not cost more than $9.99, no matter what. And remember, back in the day, an attendant would actually come out through that faded door and pump your gas for you!

Illinois Route 66

ILLINOIS ROUTE 66: A view of America's Heartland - an Illinois cornfield and red barn as seen from old Route 66. Near Odell, Illinois.

Illinois Route 66

ILLINOIS ROUTE 66: An abandoned section of old Route 66 slowly returns to nature. Near Odell, Illinois.

Illinois Route 66

ILLINOIS ROUTE 66. Much of old Route 66 in Illinois was converted to a four-lane divided highway by 1940, bypassing the center of many small towns. When modern Interstate 55 was built in the 1970's, 66 for the most part returned to its roots as a two-lane, with the other two lanes abandoned and left to the elements. There are many of these old sections still to be found, like this one near Odell.

Illinois Route 66 - Dwight

DWIGHT, ILLINOIS. The Ambler-Becker filling station in Dwight, located on the once busy intersection of U.S. Route 66 and Illinois Route 17. You could park your lawn chair and get some sun on that intersection today. Built in 1933, the station actually sold gas until 1999, and was restored in the 2000's. The business operated as a Texaco under Mr. Ambler, and as a Marathon under Mr. Becker. It was probably always a good place to pick up some smokes.

      Locals Jean & Fred were attending the station for Route 66 visitors during my visit, and gave me a tour of the place. Fred grew up on a farm in the area, so I inquired about the local history. He explained that basically the same amount of land is being farmed in that part of Illinois as compared to his day, with a lot fewer owners. A small number of big companies have replaced a large number of family farms. You can't halt progress - the big companies are a lot more efficient, which offers all kinds of benefits - but you can mourn the loss of a way of life. I left these folks a little bit sadder.

Illinois Route 66 - Gardner

GARDNER, ILLINOIS. A little Route 66 town by the railroad, Gardner was founded way back in 1854. Population growth has been steady since WW II, almost doubling, according to the last census. There were 864 citizens in Gardner in 1946, while at least 1,400 crowded the city as of 2010. They're out there somewhere.

     Gardner is famous for its historic two cell jail, and it is worth a visit. I guess if you commit the third crime of the day in Gardner, they just let you go.

Illinois Route 66 - Braidwood

BRAIDWOOD, ILLINOIS. The classic Polk-a-Dot Drive-In began in 1956 as a school bus painted in polk-a-dots, with a mini-kitchen inside. The building followed in 1962. Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Betty Boop were performing outside when I stopped in for lunch. Pure 66. It's time for some Chili Cheese Fries!

     

ILLINOIS ROUTE 66. Old 66 runs alongside the railroad tracks and telephone poles through the Wilmington and Braidwood area, a good sign that you are on the right road. A lot of the early roads in the U.S. were built on these old established routes, so keep an eye out for telephone lines and listen for train whistles as you travel 66.

Illinois Route 66 - Wilmington

WILMINGTON, ILLINOIS. The tall fellow is the Launching Pad Drive-In Muffler Man, who put down his muffler and picked up a rocket ship after switching careers from auto parts to the restaurant business. He is 28 feet high, made of fiberglass, and never takes off his helmet. Opened in 1960 as a Dari Delite (that's a new one for me), the Launching Pad is a good lunch time stop if you get a late start when leaving Chicago. There is some 66 memorabilia to explore inside, and you just can't miss that giant space being outside.

Illinois Route 66 - Joliet

JOLIET, ILLINOIS. Joliet Jake and Elwood relax at the Route 66 museum in Joliet. I found some enthusiastic and knowledgeable 66'ers at the little museum, well worth the stop.

Illinois Route 66 - Joliet

 

JOLIET, ILLINOIS. More rooftop action in Joliet, this time at Dick's Towing. Dick has fixed up the place real nice, displaying the first car he ever towed up there on the roof. A framed first dollar bill would have been easier, but this is, after all, old Route 66.

Illinois Route 66 - Joliet

JOLIET, ILLINOIS. After a couple of visits to Interstate 55, old Route 66 settles in and continues for a stretch as Joliet road, into the town of Joliet itself. That's Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues atop the ice cream place, not far from the Joliet prison where Jake was released just in time for his movie debut.

Illinois Route 66 - Romeoville

Castle Car Wash - Chicago (2006)

The Spindle - Berwyn, Illinois (2006)

Henry's - Cicero, Illinois (2006)

Big Chicken at White Fence Farm - Romeoville, Illinois

ROMEOVILLE, ILLINOIS. The old Chicago suburbs of Cicero and Berwyn were a bit rundown and depressing, and I didn't pull over at any of the local 66 sites that I had seen and photographed before, such as the Cindy Lyn Motel or Castle Car Wash. I've also heard that the Spindle, the wonderfully appropriate piece of 66 art (8 cars stacked on a spike), is no longer at a nearby shopping center. Still, if it had not been so early, I would have stopped for sure at Henry's Drive-In, for a close look at the big neon sign and a 66 size hot dog.

     My first pull-over of the day was at White Fence Farm in Romeoville, to see the big chicken and to be able to report to the rest of the Romeo family that a town was indeed named after us. The restaurant has been serving regular size chicken dinners since the 1920's.

ILLINOIS ROUTE 66. One travels more to the south than west on Illinois 66, and I've often wondered why a road to Los Angeles would begin in Chicago. New York or some other major east coast city would have provided a true coast to coast route, and a more Southern, non-coastal city like Atlanta would have provided a much more direct road to Santa Monica. I'm sure, though, that at least one of the original planners benefited from the chosen route, as Cyrus Avery did by having 66 pass right by his roadside businesses in Tulsa!

CHICAGO. Heading west on Adams Street in Chicago to start my Route 66 adventure was an air-conditioned pleasure, after two full days of hoofing it around town in 97 degree heat. But the big cities of 66 were not designed with the 66 roadie in mind, and there was a detour on Adams after just a few blocks. I'm not sure which city street I followed around the construction, or even if I was still heading west, so finally making that left turn on Ogden was a relief.

Illinois Route 66 - Chicago

CHICAGO. I stumbled on Ed Debevic's restaurant just a couple of blocks from my hotel. It only goes back to 1984, but it has a nice Route 66 display inside and certainly looks the part outside.

Illinois Route 66 - Chicago

Chicago River Traffic Jam

A neighborhood bar in the big city, with likely 66 travelers inside

The "Bean" in Millennium Park

CHICAGO. You can cover the important sites and sounds of the city in two or three days of long walkabouts.

Illinois Route 66 - Chicago

CHICAGO. The Erie-Lasalle Body Shop on Erie Street, in business since 1934. A great looking neon sign always seems to accompany such older establishments.