Grain Elevator & Abandoned 1926 Alignment

120 N Latham St., Elkhart, IL 62634
Phone:

East < GO > West

The Elkhart Grain Elevators are located on Route 66 (Logan County 10) just before Governor Oglesby St. In the early 1900s this was the location of the Spellman Elevator. A short abandonded section of the 1926 Route 66 stretches north from the elevator. I-55 bypasses Elkhart on a bit farther west of the 1940's road whis is the current two lane road, so you have all three roads within a few hundred feet of each other at this point.

Go north on the gravel road between the elevator and the highway and you come to this turn around space. The trail heading north from here is a short piece of the original alignment of Route 66, about 1/2 mile long. The old pavement was fairly smooth when we drove this stretch in 2016. This turn around spot is about where the original 66 crossed the current two land and curved in front of the business across the road.

Along the way there is a "No Outlet" sign posted and they mean it! You have turn around at the dead end of this piece of highway history, and there is NO turn around loop at the dead end.. Turning around with a small car was easy, not sure it would be with an RV.

In the the late 2010s or early 2020s the town added a new "Welcome" sign at the corner of 66 and Gov. Oglesby St. I don't know the story behind the floral painting on the corner, but it sends a kind of cool welcome to visitors.

Photo(s): 2015, 2016, 2023