The Tropics Restaurant Neon Sign

Vince Schwenoha opened the Tropics in 1950, naming it in remembrance of his military tour of duty spent in Hawaii. In 1951, Lewis Lee Johnson came to Lincoln from Macomb, Illinois as a meat cutter with the Kroger Company. He began working at the Tropics, first as a busboy and later tending bar. He fell in love with Beverly Joan Worth, a young beautician working as the Tropics' night hostess. They married in February of 1955. On November 10th of that year, Vince sold the property to Vic Thudium and Jerry Austman and on November 11th Lew Johnson became the restaurant's manager, leasing the building until 1982 when they decided to purchase. From the beginning, it was a family business for the Johnsons. Their children grew up at the Tropics and eventually all three played an important part in running what became a Rt. 66 landmark.

This is a fun little stop when on the Mother Road! #bucketlist

Iconic Route 66 Tropics sign from the like named restaurant. The sign was restored a few years ago to the delight of many Route 66 fans and those who have passed by it for years. The restaurant opened in 1950 by Vince Schwenoba. Unfortunately, it closed for good in 2003. We had enjoyed stopping in and still miss it and the memories. After the restaurant was torn down I had worried what would happen to the sign. A few years ago, it was restored and in 2016 the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame inducted the Tropics. If you are a Route 66 fan or vintage advertising collector, then this is a must see!

just cool to see they kept that sign.Such history

Historical land mark

Route 66 attraction really cool neon

Great sign but I wish there were some of the structure remaining.