Goodbye To A Beacon
“A long-standing northern Illinois concession area built atop Interstate 90 has closed, but not before travelers and spectators made a final trip to visit the Des Plaines Oasis,” AP reports.
“The rest stop along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway first opened in 1959 and was initially a destination point for people taking road trips to the suburbs. It’s being razed to make way for a $2 billion road-widening project. Its final day of operation was Sunday; workers shut its doors for good at 8 p.m.”
Des Plaines Oasis, you will be missed.
1. Ain’t No Oasis Like It . . .
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2. The Official Site.
3. The Des Plaines Oasis McDonald’s On Yelp.
4. Crain’s Photo Gallery.
5. “There are some who see the oasis as just a glorified food court with greasy fare and weary truckers,” the Tribune reports.
“But others will mourn its loss, viewing it as a symbol of Chicago as potent as deep-dish pizza and the Willis Tower.
“I have a lot of memories tied into it,” said Sheila Bering. “It might seem kind of cheesy, but to me, it’s iconic.”
Editor’s Note: When I was a kid and my family would drive from Minneapolis to Chicago for summer visits, the McDonald’s over the highway was always a highlight to me. When I was older, it was a sign that I was near Chicago; a gateway if you will.
6. Photo: Newly Opened In 1959.
7. The Basement.
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Comments welcome.
Posted on March 18, 2014