Illinois Route 66 - Wishing Well Motel T-Shirt

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Once located just a few miles outside of Chicago, the Wishing Well Motel in Countryside, Illinois, opened on Route 66 in 1941. It had ten cabins which were later remodeled and unified into one building with 19 units.

The motel was the place to stay if you didn’t want to pay the Chicago lodging rates or if you wanted peace, quiet, and anonymity. Many entertainers and celebrities chose to stay at the Wishing Well since it was close enough to Chicago for their performances, and it gave them a quiet home on the road away from the big city hustle and bustle. Guy Lombardo, Tex Beneke, and the rock band Chicago are just a few famous names that stayed there.

The Wishing Well was inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame three years before closing in 2006. The motel was razed in 2007, and the stone wishing well and sign were donated to the Route 66 Association. They now reside behind the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum Complex in Pontiac, Illinois.

Copyright 2022 Susan Rissi...

I'm a travel photographer that enjoys photographing United States architecture, nature, and transportation. As the 8th photographer in 4 generations of my family, I don't remember a time when photography was not part of my life. By the time I was five years old, I was standing on a stool in the darkroom, helping my dad develop pictures. It was my job to transfer the photos from the hypo to the water bath. I went to college for interior design. After I graduated, I had a long successful career as an art buyer and designer for a large home furnishings company. In 2006, I had a significant life change. My husband became a medical traveler, and I decided to put my career on hold to tag along. In the process, I found my roots again. What...