On the way back from Madison, we stopped at the Belvidere Oasis to take a break from all the tiresome construction on the Illinois Tollway.
When we were little, we thought these oases were the height of cool! Yes, out in the middle of nowhere, we would see these mod-looking buildings stretching like bridges right across the tollway. If conditions were right, we would actually get to stop and go inside. Here is a beautiful picture of one of the Illinois oases at night.
Even now, I find it enjoyable to look down on the road where I’ve been traveling, the traffic streaming on beneath my feet while I eat my lunch.
The oases were an inspired creation of the 1950s, their over-the-road design making them accessible to motorists traveling in either direction on the tollway. Besides the Belvidere, there are two other oases that I’ve seen: the Des Plaines Oasis (also on Interstate 90) and the Lake Forest Oasis on the Tri-State (I-94), which goes to Milwaukee.
The oases had become dated over the decades. About ten years ago, they were remodeled and greatly improved. They were stripped down to the studs and rebuilt along a more open atrium design, with many more windows for enjoying the views.
Are there oases like this anywhere else, I’m wondering?
Sunny SBO says
Celia, that is a gorgeous night photograph. I grew up in Illinois and have been on the East Coast for many years. I haven’t seen oases like this anywhere else. I stopped in one my last time in Chicago and it brought back similar wonderful memories.
Celia says
Thanks, Sunny. We take them so for granted as being everywhere, but I think these over-the-road oases may be peculiar to Illinois.
smalltownmom says
I enjoyed theses oases in their heyday when, instead of a food court, they had more formal restaurants with booths to sit in, real plates and silverware, and a hostess to greet you. At least that’s what I remember. Today, Starbucks will do just fine.
Celia says
You’re right–I’ve read that originally most of the building was taken up with a restaurant called Fred Harvey’s and that Howard Johnson’s replaced it later. I think that with the food court, it’s less expensive, and more people can stop in. But there would have been quite an aura to being in there back in the day!
KWHannaford says
Celia, I remember as a small child eating in the Lake Forest oasis with my grandparents, and it was definitely a sit-down affair with waitresses. We were not en route to any destination – the oasis was the destination – as you say, it was totally cool to eat there. I think Oklahoma is the only state besides Illinois that has these types of places.
Celia says
Fascinating, KW. Thank you for writing. You confirm something I read on Wikipedia, which was that the oases were originally intended to draw patronage from the area, not just from among motorists who were passing through. And thank you for that tidbit about the Oklahoma oases. . . . I didn’t know. Maybe a reader in Oklahoma will have a photo to share. . . .
Celia says
Yes, I see that the largest McDonald’s in the WORLD spans the Will Rogers Turnpike in Vinita, OK:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald%27s_%28Will_Rogers_Turnpike%29.
Readers may enjoy this Wikipedia “List of structures built on top of freeways.” Somewhere in Italy there is an over-the-road restaurant called the Autogrill.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_structures_built_on_top_of_freeways
Thank you again.
Harley says
I’ve stopped in those oases a few times and they are cool. I like to watch the traffic zipping by while I chill. . . . Nice picture.