NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — The town of Normal plans to pay $600,000 to buy and renovate a historic former gas station that’s a Route 66 landmark.
The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports that the City Council voted 8-1 Monday to purchase of the onetime Sprague’s service station and turn it into a tourist attraction.
City Manager Mark Peterson says the property could open to the public this fall. The town has been negotiating the purchase for the past year. It plans to renovate the building and build accessible bathrooms and a gift shop. The current owner purchased the property in 2006 in hopes of converting it into a bed and breakfast along with a gift shop and restaurant.
The 85-year-old building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a town landmark.
