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The Launching Pad

Welcome to the official website for the Launching Pad Restaurant, home to the Gemini Giant on historicRoute 66 in Wilmington, Illinois! After a two-year restoration* we are now open as a restaurant, gift and travel shop, Mini Americana Museum and host for Grief Anonymous support group meetings. Come see us!

Pizza
Hotdogs
Sandwiches
Salads
Milkshakes

Daily Menu Grief Anonymous meetings Visitors Wall

Launching Pad E-shop

Bobble Head $ 23.66

Steel Magnet $ 9.66

Route 66 Passport $ 9.99

Magnet- Red & Silver Gemini Giant $ 5.66

We are very excited to have Gemini Giant merchandise available online! We ship worldwide! Thank you for your support!

Our Story

Hello and Welcome to the Official Website for the Launching Pad Drive-in, Home to the Iconic Gemini Giant on Route 66 in Wilmington, Illinois!

Our business partners

illinoisroute66.org Where the Mother Road begins

www.HeritageCorridorCVB.com CVB and Illinois Office of Tourism

www.route66magazine.com Subscribe to Route 66 Magazine Today!

www.enjoyillinois.com The Official Website of the Illinois Office of Tourism

www.route66navigation.com Find and stay on historic Route 66

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I am very happy and honored to have been voted in as a director of the board for The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum / Hall of Fame on Route 66- Joliet Illinois! There is always something good happening at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66! The board of directors is pleased to announce two new additions to the board of directors. Scott R. McMaster currently serves as the Community Development Director for the City of Crest Hill.. In the past 4 years, Scott has helped bring many notable businesses to Crest Hill and works with several investors and developers to enhance the image of Crest Hill. His other duties include business retention, creating community events, and building relationships. He is a member of the International Economic Development Council and is a licensed Illinois Real Estate Broker.
Scott has a strong passion for music, especially blues and rock music. He believes his duty as a music lover is to educate and share his passion with others and to be able to pass the importance of music down through generations. Scott and his wife live with their two daughters in Shorewood.
Tully Lee Garrett is a Will County Illinois resident for the last 56 years. During his high school and college years he played in a band professionally 4-5 nights a week as a source of revenue playing cover tunes and originals. In 1984 joined the family business to run his father’s insurance agency that was established in 1962. In the mid to late 90s he helped to promote for several National and International 80’s rock bands. It was there that many connections and friendships were made within the music industry that he still has today.
In 2015 he lost my wife of 20 years and has been raising his two sons. He found hope in a second chance at love and he and his partner Holly Barker purchased and saved The Iconic Gemini Giant and Launching Pad on Route 66 in Wilmington Illinois in 2017/2018. My passion is music and now I get to roll up my sleeves and help this become an iconic rock ‘n’ roll museum stop for the whole world... I could never do this with the full backing of my lovely Holly C. Barker. Thank you Ron Romero Let’s get this party started. 🎼🎹🎻🎸

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This was a trial run we did before the official lighting this Summer.
The Gemini Giant is lit with love. Proud moment! Tully & Holly 🚀🚀🚀

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Extended Beef Sandwich Special!
Until supplies last we are having a special Italian beef sandwich priced at only $5.00. On these cold days nothings better than a hot Italian beef sandwich with 100% Vienna beef. Come see us we are open 11 AM to 4 PM. Tully & Holly 🚀🚀🚀

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Tonight we hit 15,000 followers! Thank You So Much.... Tully & Holly 🚀🚀🚀

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Tonight we hit 15,000 followers! Thank You So Much.... Tully & Holly 🚀🚀🚀

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Thanks Richie McDonald (lead singer of LoneStar) for the fantastic front row seats. Holly C. Barker and I appreciate it and your longtime friendship!
Way up here in Johnson Creek Wisconsin and it’s cold. My Holly keeping me warm. We have some amazing Gemini Giant hoodies for the band and cool swag. LoneStar a big fan of The Launching Pad and Gemini Giant! Looking forward to LoneStar! Tully & Holly 🚀🚀🚀

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Please make note of our new revised winter hours for The Pad.
New hours effective Friday November 8, 2019. We will be reducing hours to “Lunch Only” during the winter season. We will be serving our entire full delicious menu from 11 AM to 4 PM daily seven days a week. We want to thank everybody for their patronage this year as this allowed us to be able to have more time off during the winter months to spend with our family and continue coming up with great ideas for the 2020 Season. Will continue with updates on our Facebook daily throughout the year as well as our website 24/7. We look forward to your continued patronage and look forward to serving you seven days a week for the best lunch around! Tully & Holly & The Launching Pad Crew

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The Wilmington Bobcats are doing an amazing job this year on the football field. The lightweights are 10-0 Junior Varsity is 9-1 Varsity 10-0 Look at those amazing stats it’s has to make the community proud. In celebration of the games on Saturday November 2, 2019 we are inviting anyone who is wearing BLUE and representing to come down to The Launching Pad for a “Free Small Cup Of Ice Cream” and help celebrate this exciting time for The Bobcat teams while supplies last..... Go Wilmington Bobcats -Gemini Giant is standing proud! Tully & Holly 🏈🏈🏈

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When you’re in a small town sometimes there’s concerns and fears of competition when you’re in business. It can be any kind of business from a restaurant to a bank to a gas station. From day one we’ve never looked at any business in town as competition but really as an ally. We are all in business so people will stop in the lovely town of Wilmington to eat, trade and shop. Today Jackson and I had a great dinner at Nelly’s on 66 and topped it off with desert at Lickity Split. It’s all about enjoying the community you do business in and enjoying all that he has to offer. Cheers! Tully & Jackson 🚀🚀🚀

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The Hairy Bikers from The United Kingdom visiting The Gemini Giant. Their viewership is into the millions so we are glad to get two minutes of air time across Europe.... Tully & Holly 🚀🚀🚀

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What an amazing time this morning filming with SMALL TOWN BIG DEAL! Jann Carr and Rodney Miller were amazing hosts and were treated to The Chicago Dog and Carolina Slaw Dog. They washed it down with a Blueberry Pie a la mode Milkshake and Root Beer Float. Once we get information on the date it will air we will post it right here in our page. We are humbled to say the least and proud to put more eyes and ears towards Route 66! Tully & Holly 🚀🚀🚀

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