The neon signs that once lined the nearly 2,500-mile Mother Road have become synonymous with the famed cross-country highway. Evoking a sense of mid-century-modern Americana, these signs were as much a part of Route 66 as the road itself. As the decades passed, however, the rise of the interstate system and the promise of speedy, convenient travel led to the highway’s decertification in 1985. And when the Mother Road faded into a memory, so too did many of the businesses that once offered a convenient place to stop — and with them, those alluring, luminescent signs.

But nostalgia has a tendency to bring some things back from the depths of obscurity. As renewed interest in Historic Route 66 grew, communities across the country have found ways to honor their heritage on the Main Street of America. Among them is Saint Robert, Missouri, where the brand-new Route 66 Neon Park offers a remarkable look at Route 66 history.

“We’re very proud of the fact that Route 66 literally goes straight through the city of Saint Robert,” said James Breckinridge, mayor of Saint Robert. “Because of that stretch that we’re very proud to be a part of, having this roadside park with these neon signs just adds that special touch as folks are driving through. Their pit stop now is going to be in Saint Robert because at night, when these are illuminated, they’re absolutely gorgeous.”

Featuring eight authentic signs that once stood alongside the Missouri portion of Route 66, the park welcomes guests to get an up-close look at the beautifully restored signs and fosters a deep appreciation for the history of the Mother Road.

“Route 66 has just such a beauty and uniqueness to it. It’s quirky and fun, and it draws in people from all over the world,” said Beth Wiles, CDME, executive director of the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau. “Once you start diving into the history of Route 66, you hear some great stories from all up and down all eight states.”

For Wiles, the project began more than a decade ago. In November 2013, Wiles attended The Road Ahead roundtable organized by the World Monuments Fund in Anaheim, CA. During the meeting, St. Louis native Jim Thole delivered a presentation on the preservation of neon, adding that he and the WMF would someday love to see a neon park in Missouri.

“I immediately had this vision of the neon park in the George M. Reed Roadside Park,” Wiles recounted. “This park is a historic park. It’s the longest continuously operating roadside park in Missouri on Route 66.”

After presenting a vision for the new attraction to the city — with support from architect Stephanie D. Ireland of Springfield, MO — Wiles set to work organizing a nonprofit, the Pulaski County Preservation Organization, to undertake the fundraising. Among those chosen for the nonprofit board was Richland resident Mac Myers.

“I’m a charter member of the Cave State Cruisers, so Beth knew I had a lot of knowledge in old cars and Route 66, so it just snowballed from there,” Myers said. “As a young boy, I lived right off of Route 66, so I’ve had an interest in Route 66 all my life.”

The group also gained some unique perspectives from county officials. “I was an economic development director for Pulaski County at the time when this idea first came up,” said Randy Becht. “Beth and I kind of were partners, her being in tourism, me being an economic development director, and we shared a building and always shared ideas. With the centennial coming up, I just knew her vision was one worth sharing and would come to pass.”

Once the nonprofit was established, the fundraising process began with all board members chipping in wherever possible. Establishing sponsorships, selling light-up items at trade shows and through the Tourism Bureau, and establishing an ongoing brick sponsorship program through which donors can have their names installed at the park, along with a full buy-in from the City of Saint Robert, ultimately pushed the project toward the finish line. Though undoubtedly hard work, the process led the board to many contacts around the Midwest who supplied the park’s main attraction: the signs.

“Kenneth Bassett of Bassett Insurance Agency said he had a sign, but he had no idea what it was,” Myers said. “So, a friend and I went on a Saturday morning, and it had an inch of dust on it. It had been laying there since the late ‘50s or ‘60s. We dragged it out, and it was that Modern Cabins sign for the Oaks Court Motel. That was the first sign we had at Neon Park.”

Connections with other organizations like Friends of the Mother Road, Inc., the Route 66 Association of Missouri, and private collectors led the group to even more additions like the Stanley Cour Tel, the Alura Motel, and the Skyline Garage Auto Service signs — and the fascinating stories behind them. Wiles recalled when the Skyline sign was being installed, a woman asked if Wiles was connected to the park’s creation.

“She said, ‘I want to tell you thank you so much. That is my dad’s sign. I’m now coming to the park a couple of times a week. I just sit here, and I think of this as my dad’s park,’” Wiles said. “And that just touches me. Skyline is one of three local signs here, and it had fallen into disrepair. It was still hanging up, but everything was faded. And now that’s come back to life for his daughter and for his wife.”

Like the Skyline sign, several of the signs had fallen into a state of disrepair after their businesses closed and the properties sold. However, fabricators at Signs in Time (Saint Robert), Missouri Neon (Springfield), and Neon Time (St. Charles) helped restore the collection to its former glory. Now, standing tall above Historic Route 66 as they did generations ago, these signs illuminate the Mother Road once again, creating a one-of-a-kind roadside attraction in the Show Me State.

“We have the Devils Elbow Bridge. We have Roubidoux Bridge. And we have Frog Rock. So, with this tied in, it’s a whole-day affair here,” Myers said. “Most people who come here have to stay overnight just to be able to see Neon Park lit up. They can drive by during the day; I drive by and see car after car driving into the park just to admire the signs, but they’re not getting the full effect because they’re not seeing it during the nighttime. If you’ve not seen this park at night, you’re really missing out.”

Eventually, the time came to flip the switch and watch as the signs lit up Route 66 for the first time in generations. And when Breckinridge was handed the button, he said, he knew someone else deserved to light up the night sky more than him.

“When we flipped the switches on for the very first time, they said, ‘Here, Mr. Mayor. You get to flip the switch,’” Breckinridge said. “I thought for a second, ‘This is not for me to do.’ Not because I don't deserve it as the mayor, but honestly, the person who deserved to flip the switch was Beth Wiles. It was her idea. So, I gave her the light switch and helped her count down, and she flipped the switch on. A few tears were shed, but she was the exact person to flip the switch on for this project because her heart has been into this since Day 1. I just get to enjoy watching her beam with pride as she talks about this facility. Now, coming out here at 8 o’clock at night and there are 50 people out here wandering around taking pictures with families, it definitely makes your heart feel good.”