Motoring Illinois' Route 66 – Part 6 of 20

[Tannerman]

After leaving Joilet, our next stop was Wilmington, known on Route 66 for having the "Gemini Giant" at the Launching Pad Drive-In.

Launching Pad Drive-In
(Wilmington, IL)


The Gemini Giant... and Steve

This is a large fiberglass "muffler man" of the 1960's era. While nowhere near as tall as the Green Giant Amy and I saw when we passed through Blue Earth, MN back in 2003, this was pretty cool.

Mural inside the restaurant

Apparently, large roadside "colossal" men like this used to be found all over this country promoting various things, such as mufflers, hot dogs, etc. The Gemini Giant here holds a rocket ship.

Amy enjoys a malt with lunch


Pretty cool table artwork

It was a little past lunchtime so Amy and I stopped off here to grab a bit to eat at this place that has been open since 1960. The food was nothing special, but they did make some pretty tasty malts. And of course, by eating at this place, we satisfied the requirements of our famous "No Chain Rule" used on trips like this.

Can anyone really argue with this claim?

On the way out of town, we stopped by the Van Duyne Motel. They claim they are the "Best Motel by a Dam Site". Can you really argue with that?

Polk-A-Dot Drive In
(Braidwood, IL)


It's a new look for Steve... in the mirror

Up the road in Braidwood is the Polk-A-Dot Drive In. This place first opened in 1956 in a school bus colored with polk-a-dots (hence the name).

Amy meets James Dean


Steve puts the moves on Marilyn

Nowadays, it's packed with nostalgia and lifesize statues of folks like James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, and the Blues Brothers.

Historic gas station... nice architecture


View from the Road: Leaving Wilmington, IL

As we continued south on Route 66, things started to look a lot more... authentic. In fact, I think that it was Joliet that really marked the dividing line between overgrown Chicago sprawl and authentic small town atmosphere. And our view of the roadway started to reflect that as well.

Welcome to the Riviera Restaurant


It's pretty much a hole in the wall...


... but also a "66 Roadside Attraction"


Let's park and take a look around

We drove for a while and seemingly in the middle of nowhere was the Riviera Restaurant & Streetcar Diner. It's a small roadhouse built in 1928. And even though it isn't near a large city, this place was a hangout of movie legend Gene Kelly... not to mention a popular destination for Al Capone. In fact, during prohibition this place offered both liquor and gambling to travelers.

Check out this streetcar diner out back!


We take a look at the restored interior

Behind the Riviera is a Streetcar Diner that is over 100 years old. Originally located in Gardner (just up the road), it was a popular eatery and Greyhound bus stop until it closed in 1939. It was moved behind the Riviera in 1955 and is currently being restored to its original Route 66 look.

View from the Road: Leaving the Riviera Restaurant

At this point on our trip, the road and its surroundings really looked bare. You started to get the feeling that this must have been what is was like to travel way back then on Route 66. Of course, we had the luxury of air conditioning during our little tour!

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