The Complete Story
The Dixie Truckers Home is the oldest truck stop in Illinois, having served Route 66 travelers since 1928 - just two years after the Mother Road was designated. J.P. Walters and his son-in-law John Geske opened the Dixie in the corner of a mechanic's garage with a simple lunch counter lined with six stools.
By 1930, the growing demand necessitated expansion into a full-size restaurant. Walters and Geske knew that the more comforts of home they could provide, the more truckers would stop. Over the years they added a 24-hour restaurant, showers, bunkhouses, a lounge, mechanical facilities and a full-service station. In the 1930s and '40s, the Dixie even offered free weekly shows featuring musical acts or outdoor movies - at intermission, crowds rushed into the truck stop for pie and coffee.
The Dixie was rebuilt once after a fire in 1965 - the only day it has ever been closed. Walters, Geske and the Dixie Trucker's Home were inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame on June 9, 1990. From 1990 to 2003, the Dixie actually housed the Route 66 Hall of Fame before it moved to Pontiac. The Geske family owned and operated the Dixie from 1928 to 2003. Today, as a halfway point between St. Louis and Chicago, it remains a favorite stop for Route 66 travelers.
Surprising Facts You Didn't Know
→ Opened in 1928 - just two years after Route 66 was designated
→ Started as a 6-stool lunch counter in the corner of a mechanic's garage
→ Was closed only ONE day in its history - after a fire in 1965
→ Originally housed the Route 66 Hall of Fame from 1990-2003
→ The Geske family operated it for 75 years until 2003
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit Dixie Truckers Home
✓ You Can Visit Today
Address: undefined, McLean, IL 61754
What's There Now: Still operating as a truck stop and travel plaza on I-55, known as Dixie Travel Plaza. Restaurant and fuel services available 24/7.
GPS Coordinates: 40.3103108, -89.1689395
Photo Tip: Best photographed in early morning or late afternoon when the Illinois light brings out the building's character.
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