Farmers Weekly Review

By Nick Reiher

The Gemini Giant, one of the most iconic tourist attractions along Route 66 – and definitely within Will County – will be coming back to Wilmington soon in a new spot just for him.

Since spring, the Giant has been getting a much-needed refurb at the (Re)Giant shop in Marion, IL. And Wilmington Mayor Ben Dietz said he’ll be ready for his coming-out party November 30 at a new site along Route 66/Illinois 53/Baltimore Street.

“After more than 60 years, he needed a lot of TLC,” said Dietz.

The fiberglass frame held up by a steel spine was pretty beat up from the weather and multiple re-paintings, said Greg Peerbolte, CEO of the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

“I had no idea the original color was gold, and flecked like a bowling ball,” he said, adding the Giant, erected in the 1960s with other similar giants — advertising mufflers, hot dogs and other goodies along the Mother Road – was in seriously bad shape when the museum bought it at auction in March for $275,000 with a grant from the state.

Even before museum officials bought the Giant, Peerbolte said, they checked with Michael Younkin of (Re)Giant in Marion to see if he could work any magic on it.

“And he came up here without even knowing if we would be the top bidder to take a look,” Peerbolte said.

After the sale, officials were under a quick deadline to move the Giant off the Launching Pad property where it had stood for all its history.

Peerbolte said Younkin had to crawl up into one of the Giant’s legs to break off rusty bolts holding it up. The Giant then was dissembled and put on trailers for his nearly 300-mile recovery trek to Marion.

The state grant was reworked to fund the transportation and refurb, Dietz said. And the Giant will be bolted into his new spot on Park Street, easily visible from Route 66/Illinois 53/Baltimore Street.

“They’ll do that as soon as he gets here,” Dietz said. “We don’t want him on the floor of the public works building.”

While the Giant was on R & R, the city has been working on the site, with the new park, additional walking paths and landscaping for a suitable background for pictures. Thousands of travelers from all over the world have taken pictures at the former location.

The city also built a new parking lot, installed a new walking trail around the Gemini Giant display, installed a new Route 66 monument similar to the ones in Joliet and Romeoville, and a new digital welcome message sign.

There will be security cameras around the site, Dietz added.

Peerbolte said they can’t wait to have the big guy back. Other than the old Joliet prison, the Giant is the most popular attraction in Will County, he said.

“And we wanted to keep him in Wilmington,” he added, noting the museum donated the Giant to the city.

“The Gemini Giant has been so important to Wilmington,” Dietz said. “Eighty percent of the people who travel Route 66 come south from Chicago. Wilmington is the travelers’ first stop in Americana on the route. We’re Route 66 in a nutshell.

“Route 66 reminds us of a time gone by.”

Those good times will be revisited when the Giant has his Homecoming Party, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at South Island Park, 201 Bridge St. The ribbon cutting will take place at 2 p.m.

Dietz said there will be tunes from the Route 66 Band, as well as Route 66 memorabilia and diner fare from the Route 66 Mobile Diner.

He added the homecoming celebration is noteworthy on another level. With Route 66 entering its 99^th year, the event is recognized by the federal Route 66 Centennial Commission as the first Centennial Certified Route 66 event.

“We’re reaching high and wide to get dignitaries from all over here for the celebration.”

Nick Reiher is editor of Farmers Weekly Review.

The Giant getting secured for his nearly 300-mile trip to Marion, IL, to get fixed up.

This map shows the newly created site for the Gemini Giant when he returns soon.