Sprague Super Service

About

Built in 1931 by contractor William W. Sprague, Sprague's Super Service brought an unusual architectural style to Illinois' Mother Road. Its Tudor Revival design features steep gabled roofs, decorative half-timbering, and substantial brickwork, giving the building the appearance of an English country house. The original establishment combined a Cities Service gas station, automobile garage, and restaurant, providing travelers with fuel, repairs, and meals. Two upstairs apartments housed Sprague's family and the station attendant. As traffic increased along Route 66, this distinctive roadside business became a recognizable landmark in Normal.

Following decades of changing businesses and declining highway traffic, Sprague's Super Service underwent extensive preservation efforts beginning in 2006. Its historical significance earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008 and local landmark designation in 2011. The Town of Normal purchased the property in 2016, and it reopened in 2017 as Ryburn Place, a visitor information center and gift shop. Today, visitors can admire its restored architecture, photograph its vintage-style gas pumps, and shop for Route 66 souvenirs. Further improvements restored the building's original footprint in 2025, while a new commemorative mural joined the property during the highway's 2026 centennial celebration.

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