At the bend of Lincoln, Illinois' infamous "Killer Curve," a tropical mirage once glowed against the prairie sky. Opened in 1950 by Vince Schwenoha, fresh from military service in Hawaii, The Tropics Dining Room & Cocktail Lounge transported Route 66 travelers from cornfields to an island escape. Bamboo-lined walls, palm-frond murals, and a towering neon palm-tree sign made The Tropics a roadside oasis.

Initially, its décor was modest—simple bamboo furniture and airy murals, reflecting a pre-tiki, mid-century charm. But by the 1960s, angular bamboo frames and tiki masks gave the bar area a Polynesian-pop twist, capturing the nation's post-war fascination with island kitsch.

But the bypassing of Route 66 by Interstate 55 eventually dimmed its lights. The restaurant closed in 2004, and was demolished a decade later. Yet, its iconic neon sign found a second life. Thanks to community fundraising and a National Park Service grant, the sign was meticulously restored by Ace Sign Co. and triumphantly relit in 2018, standing as a glowing tribute to the era's flamboyant hospitality.

The Tropics wasn't a full-fledged tiki bar—but it was a beloved landmark, blending tropical escapism with the heart of a small-town diner, forever a part of Illinois' Route 66 lore.