Springfield Illinois - Home of Honest Abe

Springfield, Illinois - Page 3

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The vintage Coney Island Restaurant at 210 S. 5^th Street is located downtown as well.

As you continue on, you’ll come to the 1956 Sonrise Donuts Building at 1101 S. 9th St. Though Sonrise Donuts has been out of business for years, the 1956 building is once again home to a restaurant. With its neon sign still topping the building, Gibby’s Orbits, opened in July, 2010.

Jack and Pam Gibbons, have been selling mini doughnuts, corn dogs, shakeups and other fair favorites since 1985. Setting up their trailer at a long list of fairs, shows and events in the region.

Finally, the constant travel and set-up got to be too much and they decided on a permanent location at the old Sonrise Donuts building.

The 1956 Sonrise Donuts building is once again serving up food to

Route 66 travelers. Kathy Weiser, October, 2010.

Here, the Gibbons 'continue their tradition of mini doughnuts, corn dogs, and deep-fried hot dogs, as well as expanding into full breakfasts and lunches. Keeping with a diner theme, it features a black-and-white checkerboard floor, the original Formica counter and red-and-chrome swivel stools and tables in the 1956 building.

In the meantime, they franchised their old trailer and route who will continue their old tradition at fairs and events as Li’l Orbits.

On down the road is the old Bel Aire Manor Motel. Still open today and continuing to sport its old neon sign, it appears that this place may have gone the way of other old motels, becoming a full time home to some people. In front of many of the motel room doors sit a number of people along with bicycles, barbecues and other personal items. It is located at 2636 S. 6^th St.

When is a corn dog not a corn dog? When you're at the Cozy Drive In along Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois. This first fast food of the road was introduced by Ed Waldmire at the 1946 Illinois State Fair. In 1950, he opened the Cozy Drive In. This Mother Road icon still stands today at 2935 S. 6th Street in Springfield, Illinois, but when you order their "Cozy Dog," don't call it a corn dog, or you might be met with little more than a steely eyed stare. Though Ed Waldmire passed away in 1993, the business is still run by his former daughter-in-law, Sue Waldmire. Ed was the father of Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, who passed away in December, 2009.

The Cozy Drive In has been serving up hotdogs on a stick since 1946.

As you continue your travels southward along the Mother Road out of Springfield, you will have to make a choice between two alignments, which are both still intact today.

The pre-1930's two-lane alignment meanders through Chatham and Auburn -- where you can see a piece of brick alignment -- before moving on to Thayer, Virden, Girard, Nilwood, Carlinville, Gillespie, Benld, Sawyerville and Staunton. South of Staunton, the road rejoins with the later alignment.

The newer alignment (1930-1977) begins as a four lane road in Springfield closely following I-55 and will take you to Glenarm, Divernon, Farmersville, Litchfield, Mt. Olive, and Livingston.

If you travel the older alignment (pre-1930), you will see the Route 66 Drive-in at 1700 Recreation Drive, which still shows movies nightly.

As you travel on down the Mother Road you’ll pass over Lake Springfield. A manmade lake in the 1930’s, it now covers parts of the original two lane alignment of Route 66. When the water level is low, glimpses of the old road can still be seen.

You might want to plan your trip to Springfield the last week in September when the enthusiastic Route 66 city holds the Route 66 Mother Road Festival every year. Join thousands of others to relive the good old days, see dozens of vintage automobiles and celebrate the Rock and Roll era.

Or as an alternative, travel through the city in late August when Springfield hosts the Illinois State Fair each year. Regardless of when you visit this historic city, plan on taking your time here, as there is much to see.

Book your lodging in Springfield right HERE online

Also See: Ghosts of Historic Springfield

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Pre-1930 Alignment to Chatham

1930-1977 Alignment to Glenarm

To Litchfield

Return to Route 66

To Broadwell

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