Once In Ruins, Route 66's Launching Pad Now Open Daily

WILMINGTON, IL — Tuesday was one of the most gorgeous days of the month, so I headed south of Joliet and pulled into the parking lot near the 28-foot-tall Gemini Giant. He towers over the entrance of Wilmington at The Launching Pad.

Last week, the world-famous Route 66 destination held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate its comeback. And it's a remarkable comeback, well worth the drive to Wilmington.

At this time five years ago, the restaurant sat empty. The building had fallen into disrepair and the interior was disgusting, its current owners said.

Then, two years ago, Holly Barker and Tully Garrett came along. She was a widow, and he was a widower. They fell in love with the iconic landmark along historic Route 66, despite it falling on hard times.

The pair bought the property in October 2017 and proceeded to devote thousands of hours into rehabilitating The Launching Pad during these past couple years.

"It looked like a Jurassic Park scene. It was shuttered. It was bad. The place was closed and totally in disrepair," Barker told me Tuesday afternoon during my Wilmington visit. "It took us about 16 months to get it back to the right look and feel.

"It's back to life and it's in our family and it's going to stay here," Barker vowed.

On Tuesday, the place looked fantastic.

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The Launching Pad's restaurant menu includes, but is not limited to: Italian beef, Chicago style Vienna-beef hot dogs, Brunswick pulled pork BBQ stew, a chicken carver sandwich and a pot roast sandwich. For treats, there's malts, shakes and ice cream.

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The restaurant has been a Wilmington fixture since 1956. The Gemini Giant came along in 1965.

"They're called muffler men," Barker explained. "It was part of the space race between the Americans and the Russians. It is one of the most photographed destinations on Route 66."

Why would someone from North Carolina become so drawn to a 28-foot-tall statue in Wilmington, Illinois?

"There's none left like him," she remarked. "I just think he has this energy about him that people just want to get. I think he's a peace agent. He's come to spread world peace, in my opinion."

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The Launching Pad employs about two dozen people. The owners live in New Lenox and make the half-hour drive to Wilmington every day.

On Tuesday during my interview, local artist Julie Machak dropped in. She had just made a dozen pairs of Gemini Giant socks to sell inside The Launching Pad's gift shop. Besides T-shirts, the gift shop has postcards, maps of Route 66, license plates and magnets.

Additionally, the back area of the building features a small Route 66 museum.

The Launching Pad's Facebook page has world-wide appeal, drawing 100,000 page views per month. They're up to more than 13,000 followers and likes.

"We're gaining a thousand new followers a month," Barker said. " It's a Route 66 landmark and an inspirational part of Illinois. There's an American renaissance for Route 66. I really believe that. It's not as much a vacation, it's a journey."

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Incidentally, on Wednesday, May 15, the Gemini Giant's helmet will be coming off as part of a week-long restoration effort. The giant needs to look his best as thousands of international tourists prepare to embark on their Route 66 tours during the summer and fall.

"We're redoing the fiberglass, painting and trying to put some lighting in the helmet," Barker explained.

"1995 was the last paint job, here we are in 2019. We're real excited. Helmet comes off tomorrow (May 15). Does he have hair? Does he not? We'll find out," Garrett told me.

The world will be waiting in eager anticipation to find out.

Launching Pad opens daily at 8 a.m. serving coffee, muffins, pies and smoothies. People can start ordering lunch around 10 a.m.

"The restaurant is open seven days a week, and we're expanding to breakfast on Memorial Day weekend," Barker added.

On Tuesday afternoon, several classic rock songs from The Eagles were blaring on the jukebox, including, of course, "Hotel California."

"We like to play good music," Barker said with a smile.