The Tropics (Demolished)
Lincoln, IL Photo courtesy Alan Culley
The Tropics Restaurant was one of the best-known stops along Route 66 in Lincoln, Illinois. Built in 1950 just off the Mother Road, the restaurant was hard to miss thanks to its towering neon sign topped with a swaying palm tree. It seemed a little out of place in central Illinois, but that's exactly what made it so memorable. 07-07
Founder Vince Schwenoha gave the restaurant its tropical theme after serving in Hawaii during World War II and later traveling through California. The island-inspired architecture, palm tree, and colorful neon offered travelers a fun change of scenery as they made their way across the Midwest.
The Tropics remained a popular stop for decades, spending much of its life under the ownership of Lew and Bev Johnson, who operated the restaurant for nearly 50 years. After the business was sold in the late 1990s, it struggled under several owners before finally closing in 2003.
Although the restaurant was demolished in 2014, the famous neon sign was spared. After an extensive community fundraising effort and a professional restoration, the 4,200-pound marquee was relit in 2018 on a landscaped island next to its original location. Today, the glowing palm tree continues welcoming Route 66 travelers, even though the restaurant itself is long gone.
It's nice to see communities recognize that sometimes a sign is every bit as important as the building it advertised.
UPDATE: The restaurant was demolished in 2014 and a McDonald's now occupies the site. The iconic neon Tropics sign was saved, fully restored, and remains on display near its original location, where it lights up once again for Route 66 travelers. 06-26
Teibels Family Restaurant (Rem.)
Schererville, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Located at the busy corner of U.S. 30 and U.S. 41 in Schererville, Teibels Family Restauranthas been serving hungry travelers since 1929. Back in 2007, its large neon sign was still lighting up the intersection, making it almost impossible to drive by without noticing it. 07-07
What began as a tiny 12-seat diner founded by Austrian immigrant brothers Martin and Stephen Teibel has grown into one of Northwest Indiana's best-known family restaurants. Through four generations of family ownership, Teibel's has expanded into a large dining room and banquet facility while keeping the welcoming atmosphere that made it popular in the first place.
The restaurant is best known for its boned and buttered Canadian lake perch, fried chicken, and homemade cole slaw, with many customers returning year after year for the same family recipes. It still has the feel of a classic supper club, where family dinners and special occasions have been celebrated for generations.
Unfortunately, the impressive neon sign shown here didn't survive. After suffering heavy storm damage, it was removed and never returned. It's a reminder that even when a business survives, the sign that made everyone look twice isn't always as fortunate.
UPDATE: Teibel's Family Restaurant remains open and continues serving Northwest Indiana after nearly a century in business. While the restaurant thrives, the historic roadside neon sign has been removed following storm damage. 06-26
Plaza 30 Truck Stop (Rem.)
Wanatah, IN Photo and info courtesy Alan Culley
Check out what's left of the old sign at Plaza 30 Truck Stop in Wanatah, Indiana. By the time this photo was taken, all of the neon tubing had already been removed and the once-colorful marquee had simply been painted over. Even so, it's easy to imagine how much better it must have looked when the neon was still glowing. 07-07
The truck stop began life as Koch's Truckstop, a family-run operation that became a favorite stop along busy U.S. 30. Long-haul truckers and local travelers alike knew it for its home-cooked meals, with many longtime customers still remembering the restaurant as one of the best places to eat along this stretch of highway.
Over the years, the property changed ownership and eventually became Plaza 30 Truck Stop. Like many independent truck stops, it gradually evolved into more of a modern fuel stop and convenience store as travel habits changed. Unfortunately, the vintage neon sign didn't survive the transition. The tubing was removed, the sign was painted over, and much of its original character disappeared.
Even in its altered condition, the old sign still hints at a time when truck stops had their own personalities instead of looking like every other highway exit.
UPDATE: The property remains open today as a Marathon-branded travel stop serving motorists and truck traffic along U.S. 30. The original neon sign is gone. 06-26
Dairy Queen
Huntington, IN Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Old Dairy Queen signs are becoming a rarer sight these days, which makes this one in Huntington, Indiana especially nice to see. The classic pole sign still stands alongside the seasonal walk-up stand, giving the place much of the same look it had decades ago. 07-07
Unlike most modern Dairy Queen locations, this one keeps things simple. There's no large indoor dining room—just a walk-up window, a drive-through, and a vintage sign that instantly takes you back to the days when grabbing an ice cream cone was part of a summer evening drive.
As older Dairy Queen buildings have been remodeled or replaced over the years, many of their original signs have disappeared. That's what makes this location special. The early-style pole sign has survived while so many others have been retired, making it a fun stop for anyone who appreciates classic roadside architecture.
UPDATE: This seasonal Dairy Queen remains open in Huntington and continues serving customers from its classic walk-up stand. Best of all, the vintage pole sign still survives, making it one of the increasingly few older Dairy Queen signs still standing. 06-26
Reno Corsi Restaurant (Gone)
Alsip, IL Photo courtesy Alan Culley
Here's the neon sign for Reno Corsi Restaurant in Alsip, Illinois. Check out the way all of the letters light up—it was one of those signs that looked even better after dark and was hard to miss along busy Cicero Avenue. 07-07
Owned by World War II veteran Reno Corsi, the restaurant operated for years as a neighborhood favorite, serving Italian and American dishes alongside a cocktail lounge. It had the feel of a classic mid-century supper club, with plenty of regular customers and even a few coin-operated games adding to the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the neon didn't last. The sign was removed in 2005, and after the restaurant closed, the building sat vacant for years before eventually being renovated for other businesses. Like so many independently owned restaurants, the building survived, but much of the character that made it memorable disappeared along the way.
Photos like this are a good reminder of how many great neon signs have vanished over the years. Thankfully, this one was captured while it was still lighting up the night.
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
Check out the Lemon Drop Drive-in in Anderson, Indiana. Sitting just off the boulevard, this bright yellow burger stand has been catching the attention of passing motorists since 1954, and the colorful neon lemon sign makes it even harder to drive by without stopping. 07-07
The Lemon Drop is one of those places that hasn't changed much over the years, and that's part of its appeal. Inside you'll find a small dining room with just a handful of booths and counter stools, along with vintage memorabilia, an old jukebox, and even a model train making laps around the room near the ceiling.
The restaurant is best known for its famous Onion Burger, made the old-fashioned way by pressing a generous helping of onions into the beef as it cooks on the grill. Don't forget to grab one of the complimentary lemon drops at the front counter before you leave—a tradition that's been putting smiles on customers' faces for years.
Places like this are becoming harder to find. It's not just the food that keeps people coming back, but the feeling that you've stepped into a different era where little has changed.
UPDATE: The Lemon Drop Drive-In remains open and continues serving customers from its original 1954 building. The vintage neon lemon sign still survives, and the restaurant remains one of Anderson's best-loved classic burger stops. 06-26
Zehnder's Famous Chicken Dinners
Frankenmouth, MI Photo courtesy Alan Culley
If you've ever been to Frankenmuth, Michigan, you've probably seen the famous neon sign at Zehnder's Famous Chicken Dinners. It's been welcoming hungry visitors for generations and has become almost as well known as the restaurant itself. 11-07
The Zehnder family began serving their famous chicken dinners in 1928 after purchasing the former Exchange Hotel and transforming it into what would become one of Michigan's best-known restaurants. Since then, millions of visitors have stopped in for the family-style meals featuring fried chicken, mashed potatoes, buttered noodles, stuffing, and all the traditional sides.
The restaurant's red, white, and blue neon sign has been lighting up Main Street since 1936. Built by the Artkraft Sign Company, it's recognized as one of the longest continuously operating neon signs in the country and has become one of Frankenmuth's most recognizable landmarks.
Over the years, Zehnder's has grown into much more than a restaurant, but it's nice to see the old neon sign still doing the same job it has for nearly 90 years—welcoming travelers to town.
UPDATE: Zehnder's Famous Chicken Dinners remains open and continues serving its famous family-style chicken dinners. The historic 1936 neon sign still shines over Main Street and remains one of Michigan's best-known surviving restaurant signs. 06-26
