Sprague's Super Service Station

Sprague’s Super Service Station first opened its doors in 1931 in Normal, Illinois, and it’s been turning heads ever since. This two-story Tudor Revival building, designed by William Sprague, wasn’t your typical gas station. It housed a gas station, a garage, a cozy café, and even had two apartments on the second floor. What set it apart from most service stations of the time? Sprague’s was independent—no big oil company dictating the style here. Instead, it was built to fit right in with the surrounding homes, giving it a unique charm.

In its early years, Sprague’s pumped Cities Service gas, though it went through several brand changes over the decades. The last gallon of gas was pumped in 1971, and by 1979, the original pumps were gone for good.

After that, the building saw quite a few transformations. It hosted Joe’s Welding and Boiler Company, Corn Belt Manufacturing, Yellow Cab, Avis Rent-a-Car, Hodge’s Catering, and even a bridal shop called Bridal World. But the real turning point came in 2006 when Terri Ryburn, a Route 66 historian and Illinois State University instructor, stepped in. She bought the property with a dream of restoring it to its former glory. The town of Normal later acquired it, but Ryburn stayed on, living upstairs and running the gift shop.

In 2017, after a full restoration, Sprague’s reopened to the public as Ryburn Place, complete with an information center and a charming gift shop. Today, Sprague’s Super Service Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized as a Town of Normal Local Landmark, and proudly inducted into the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame.