It’s Thursday. The Gemini Giant has been an iconic figure outside the Launching Pad restaurant on Route 66 since 1965. I’ve made several trips to the restaurant over the years and would often get pictures of my Corvettes in front of the Gemini Giant. But recent times have been tough for the Launching Pad, opening and closing several times since the pandemic. The last time I was there in my C5, it had pivoted away from being a restaurant and only sold Route 66 memorabilia. Its owner Holly Barker was recently given two ordinance violation tickets from the Wilmington Police Department as a result of Barker’s destruction of her own property, on Jan 2. She had made attempts to sell the entire property, but never completed the deal. Fortunately, in March of this year, she put the Gemini Giant up for auction and not the restaurant property. Fearing for the fate of the Gemini Giant, on March 20, 2024, the Joliet Area Historical Museum successfully made the winning bid of $275,000. While his future location is unknown, the goal is to keep him in Wilmington, Illinois, on Route 66.
-keep
Gemini Giant On The Move, But Will Stay In Wilmington
JOLIET, IL — Wednesday marked one of the biggest milestones in the history of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Executive Director Greg Peerbolte informed Joliet Patch’s editor that the museum has acquired the Gemini Giant.
Peerbolte told Joliet Patch’s editor that the museum learned on Wednesday that it won the auction for the Gemini Giant, with a winning bid of $275,000. The museum is using state grant funds that it has received to make the purchase and preserve the Gemini Giant for generations to come.
“The state grant funds were for this purpose,” Peerbolte said.
The Gemini Giant was in the process of being moved on Wednesday to a temporary, secure location. The museum has hired a contractor to haul the Gemini Giant away from the edge of the Launching Pad restaurant property, and that work was being done on Wednesday.
“The mover specializes in muffler men and has moved more than a dozen across the country. It is staying in Wilmington on Route 66,” Peerbolte announced. “Truly keeping it on Route 66 is important.”
Peerbolte said the museum is working with city of Wilmington officials to determine the future permanent site for the Gemini Giant. For now, the museum does not plan on purchasing the Launching Pad restaurant, which has been closed since the summer of 2022.
“At this time, there have not been any inquiries or opportunities to purchase the (Launching Pad) property,” Peerbolte said.
State Representative Anthony DeLuca also issued a press statement on Wednesday, declaring, “I’m happy to have helped secure grant funding to ensure the Gemini Giant remains in Wilmington where it belongs and where local residents can continue to enjoy it,” he said. “This landmark is a part of our area’s history, and I appreciate the work from local leaders and residents who understood the value of keeping this treasure here in town.”
Route 66 Gemini Giant
It’s Thursday. The Gemini Giant has been an iconic figure outside the Launching Pad restaurant on Route 66 since 1965. I’ve made several trips to the restaurant over the years and would often get pictures of my Corvettes in front of the Gemini Giant. But recent times have been tough for the Launching Pad, opening and closing several times since the pandemic. The last time I was there in my C5, it had pivoted away from being a restaurant and only sold Route 66 memorabilia. Its owner Holly Barker was recently given two ordinance violation tickets from the Wilmington Police Department as a result of Barker’s destruction of her own property, on Jan 2. She had made attempts to sell the entire property, but never completed the deal. Fortunately, in March of this year, she put the Gemini Giant up for auction and not the restaurant property. Fearing for the fate of the Gemini Giant, on March 20, 2024, the Joliet Area Historical Museum successfully made the winning bid of $275,000. While his future location is unknown, the goal is to keep him in Wilmington, Illinois, on Route 66.
-keep
Gemini Giant On The Move, But Will Stay In Wilmington
JOLIET, IL — Wednesday marked one of the biggest milestones in the history of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Executive Director Greg Peerbolte informed Joliet Patch’s editor that the museum has acquired the Gemini Giant.
Peerbolte told Joliet Patch’s editor that the museum learned on Wednesday that it won the auction for the Gemini Giant, with a winning bid of $275,000. The museum is using state grant funds that it has received to make the purchase and preserve the Gemini Giant for generations to come.
“The state grant funds were for this purpose,” Peerbolte said.
The Gemini Giant was in the process of being moved on Wednesday to a temporary, secure location. The museum has hired a contractor to haul the Gemini Giant away from the edge of the Launching Pad restaurant property, and that work was being done on Wednesday.
“The mover specializes in muffler men and has moved more than a dozen across the country. It is staying in Wilmington on Route 66,” Peerbolte announced. “Truly keeping it on Route 66 is important.”
Peerbolte said the museum is working with city of Wilmington officials to determine the future permanent site for the Gemini Giant. For now, the museum does not plan on purchasing the Launching Pad restaurant, which has been closed since the summer of 2022.
“At this time, there have not been any inquiries or opportunities to purchase the (Launching Pad) property,” Peerbolte said.
State Representative Anthony DeLuca also issued a press statement on Wednesday, declaring, “I’m happy to have helped secure grant funding to ensure the Gemini Giant remains in Wilmington where it belongs and where local residents can continue to enjoy it,” he said. “This landmark is a part of our area’s history, and I appreciate the work from local leaders and residents who understood the value of keeping this treasure here in town.”