Dixie Travel Plaza facts for kids
The Dixie Travel Plaza is a very large stop for truckers and travelers. It is located in McLean, Illinois, right off Interstate 55. This famous spot was once known as the Dixie Truck Stop and the Dixie Trucker's Home.
The Dixie started way back in 1928. It was created by J.P. Walters and John Geske. At first, it was just a small place selling sandwiches inside a truck repair shop. It was located on the old US Route 66, a very famous road.
People loved the sandwiches so much that the Dixie quickly grew. By 1930, it became a full restaurant. Over the years, the restaurant got bigger many times. It even had to be rebuilt once after a fire in 1965.
The founders, Walters and Geske, and the Dixie Trucker's Home were honored for their important role on Route 66. They helped shape the character of the road from 1926 to 1977. They were even added to the hall of fame by the Route 66 Association of Illinois on June 9, 1990.
For a while, the Route 66 Hall of Fame museum was actually at the Dixie. It opened there in 1990. But in 2003, when the Dixie got new owners, the museum moved. It found a new, bigger home in Pontiac, Illinois.
The Dixie Travel Plaza is often talked about in books about the history of Old US Route 66. It has also been featured in newspaper articles, like those in the Chicago Tribune. Many people called it "one of the most impressive" places to stop late at night along I-55. When the Interstate highway system was built, Route 66 was changed. The part of Route 66 where the Dixie is located became part of I-55.
How Dixie Travel Plaza Grew
New Owners and Expansion
In 2003, the original owners of the Dixie sold the business. After this, its name changed to "Dixie Travel Plaza." A company from Providence, Rhode Island, bought it. The new owners decided to make the Dixie name into a chain. They bought two more truck stops and called them Dixie Travel Plazas too. These other locations are in Tuscola, Illinois and Effingham, Illinois.
Changes Over the Years
The Dixie Travel Plaza was sold again in January 2009. Ben Gulley from LeRoy, Illinois, became the new owner. After this, the plaza went through a big renovation to update everything. Then, in June 2012, it was sold once more. This time, Road Ranger from Rockford, Illinois, bought it. They did a complete remodel, making it even more modern for travelers and truckers.
