The Tropics (Demolished)
Lincoln, IL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Tropics Restaurant was one of Route 66’s best-known stops in Lincoln, Illinois. Opened in 1950, it welcomed travelers with a towering neon sign topped by a palm tree—an unexpected sight in central Illinois and exactly what made it memorable. Founder Vince Schwenoha drew inspiration from his wartime service in Hawaii and later travels through California. 07-07

Lew and Bev Johnson operated the restaurant for nearly 50 years, making it a familiar stop for generations of travelers. After changing ownership in the late 1990s, The Tropics struggled before closing in 2003. Fortunately, when demolition threatened the famous sign, the community stepped in to save it.

UPDATE: The restaurant was demolished in 2014, and a McDonald’s now occupies the site. The 4,200-pound neon sign was preserved, professionally restored, and relit in 2018 near its original location. Its glowing palm tree continues greeting Route 66 travelers, keeping a little of The Tropics alive. 06-26

Teibels Family Restaurant (Rem.)
Schererville, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The large neon sign at Teibels Family Restaurant once made the busy intersection of U.S. 30 and U.S. 41 in Schererville hard to overlook. Its bright lettering welcomed hungry travelers to a restaurant that has been part of Northwest Indiana since 1929. For anyone passing through after dark, it was a familiar invitation to stop for dinner. 07-07

Founded by Austrian immigrant brothers Martin and Stephen Teibel, the business began as a tiny 12-seat diner. Four generations of family ownership helped it grow into a restaurant and banquet destination known for boned and buttered Canadian lake perch, fried chicken, and homemade coleslaw. Family recipes and special-occasion dinners have kept customers returning for decades.

UPDATE: Teibel’s remains open after nearly a century in business. Unfortunately, the historic neon sign shown here suffered heavy storm damage and was removed. The restaurant’s long tradition continues, although the intersection has lost one of its most distinctive roadside features. 06-26

Plaza 30 Truck Stop (Rem.)
Wanatah, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

By the time this photo was taken, the sign at Plaza 30 Truck Stop in Wanatah had already lost its neon. The tubing was gone, and the marquee had been painted over, leaving only hints of its earlier appearance. Even without the lights, the old structure had enough character to make you wonder how it looked on a busy night along U.S. 30. 07-07

The business began as Koch’s Truckstop, a family-run operation remembered for home-cooked meals and a welcoming place to take a break from the highway. It later became Plaza 30, gradually changing from an independent truck stop into a more conventional fuel stop and convenience store. The old neon disappeared along the way.

UPDATE: The property continues serving motorists and truck traffic as a Marathon-branded travel stop. The original neon display is gone, although this photograph records the altered sign during an earlier chapter in the property’s history. 06-26

Dairy Queen
Huntington, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The vintage pole sign at Dairy Queen in Huntington is a welcome sight for anyone who remembers when an ice cream stop was part of a summer evening drive. Standing beside the seasonal walk-up restaurant, it gives the property a familiar look that has disappeared from many remodeled Dairy Queen locations. Sometimes a simple old sign is all it takes to bring back those memories. 07-07

This location keeps the experience straightforward, with a walk-up window and drive-through rather than a large indoor dining room. The compact stand and surviving sign recall an earlier generation of roadside ice cream shops, when customers gathered outside with cones and shakes before continuing on their way.

UPDATE: The Huntington Dairy Queen remains open seasonally and continues serving customers from its classic walk-up stand. The older pole sign still stands, preserving an appealing piece of the restaurant’s roadside character while so many similar signs have been replaced. 06-26

Reno Corsi Restaurant (Gone)
Alsip, IL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The neon lettering at Reno Corsi Restaurant made this Alsip restaurant easy to spot along Cicero Avenue. Each illuminated letter added to the display, creating the kind of sign that looked its best after dark. Even along a busy commercial strip, it gave passing motorists a reason to glance over and see what was inside. 07-07

Owned by World War II veteran Reno Corsi, the restaurant served Italian and American dishes alongside a cocktail lounge. Regular customers and a few coin-operated games helped give it the comfortable atmosphere of a neighborhood gathering place. After the restaurant closed, the building spent years vacant before finding new uses, including a sports bar.

UPDATE: The Reno Corsi Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge stood abandoned for many years. In 2005, the neon sign was removed. A Sports Bar is the building's latest tenant. Many thanks to Bruce R. Cassi for update. 07-07

UPDATE: The original Reno Corsi Restaurant is gone, and the building has been renovated for other commercial uses. The restaurant's classic neon sign was removed in 2005 and no longer survives. 06-26

Lemon Drop Drive-in
Anderson, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Lemon Drop Drive-in has been catching motorists’ attention in Anderson since 1954. Its bright yellow building and colorful lemon sign make it an easy place to spot, even before you notice the customers heading inside for burgers. It’s a small restaurant with plenty of personality, and the sign makes a fitting introduction. 07-07

Inside, booths and counter stools share the compact dining room with vintage memorabilia, an old jukebox, and a model train circling near the ceiling. The longtime favorite is the Onion Burger, made by pressing onions into the beef as it cooks. Before leaving, customers can pick up a complimentary lemon drop candy—a simple tradition that fits the restaurant perfectly.

UPDATE: The Lemon Drop remains open in its original 1954 building. The vintage neon lemon sign survives, continuing to welcome customers to one of Anderson’s familiar burger stops. Between the sign, the train, and the onion-covered grill, there’s plenty here to enjoy. 06-26

Zehnder's Famous Chicken Dinners
Frankenmouth, MI
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The neon sign at Zehnder's Famous Chicken Dinners has become almost as recognizable as the restaurant itself. Hanging over Main Street in Frankenmuth, its red, white, and blue glow has welcomed generations of hungry visitors. It’s exactly the kind of old restaurant sign that makes you slow down for a closer look. 11-07

The Zehnder family purchased the former Exchange Hotel in 1928 and began serving the chicken dinners that would make the restaurant famous. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, stuffing, and generous family-style portions brought customers back year after year. The Artkraft Sign Company created the neon sign in 1936, giving the growing restaurant a landmark of its own.

UPDATE: Zehnder’s remains open and continues serving its famous family-style chicken dinners. The historic 1936 neon sign still shines over Main Street, carrying on the same job it has performed for roughly 90 years: letting travelers know they’ve found the right place for dinner. 06-26