Art’s Motel and Restaurant was founded in 1937 when Art McAnarney leased the Hendricks Brothers Cafe and gas station.

After McAnarney’s death in 1954, his sons Joe and Elmer acquired the establishment and turned it into the L-shaped, 13-room cabin that today can be found at exit 72 off Interstate 55, according to “The Illustrated Route 66 Historical Atlas.”

The Route 66 Association of Illinois restored the motel’s original sign in 2007 so that it is illuminated by neon lights and has the same red, white and blue colors it used to.

While the restored sign did bring in more business to the motel, people had stopped coming around 2008 or 2009, Route 66 Association vice president Jerry Law said. Due to the lack of business, the motel and restaurant closed shortly thereafter.

Art’s Motel and Restaurant was inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame in 1995.