Route 66 business spotlight—Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, Illinois- Meet Wayne Pickerill!
1-For those who haven’t been, how would you describe the full Pink Elephant experience—from the antique mall and roadside icons to the diner and other attractions?
THE PINK ELEPHANT ANTIQUE MALL – WHERE WHIMSY MEETS HISTORY ON ROUTE 66
Step into a world where roadside nostalgia and vintage treasures collide! Located in the historic 1926 Livingston High School building (which closed in 2005), the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, IL offers 30,000 square feet of memory-lane magic. The centerpiece is the former school gymnasium, still sporting the scoreboard and “Home of the Eagles” pride. Inside, over 100 booths hosted by 50+ dedicated vendors offer everything from rare collectibles to retro gems. You’ll often hear: “I had this as a kid!” or “This was in my grandma’s house!”
Before even stepping inside, you’ll be greeted by unforgettable photo ops: the giant Pink Elephant, a 1968 Futuro UFO house, a Muffler Man, Red Baron Triplane, T-Rex, and more.
Hungry? Grab a fresh, never-frozen bacon cheeseburger and fries at the Twistee Treat Diner—an ice cream cone-shaped building from the 1980s featuring a full 1950s-style diner with Elvis, The Blues Brothers, a jukebox, and of course, plenty of ice cream (soft serve, hand-scooped, and specialty treats).
Don’t miss the Mother Road Fudge and Candy Store, where the fudge is made in-house and nostalgia runs high. Stock up on salt water taffy, retro candies, chocolates, and Route 66 or Pink Elephant merch. Even the checkout counter is a piece of local history, dating back to the late 1800s.
Feeling brave? Visit Area 66 Haunted School—open weekends in October and ranked one of the Top 10 Haunted Houses in Illinois by Haunted Illinois.
The Pink Elephant is more than a mall—it’s a full experience. Be sure to check out special events like the Route 66 Bigfoot Festival (spring), Jeep Duck Run, cruise-ins, and the UFO & Alien Festival in the fall.
2- What do you hope visitors, especially those seeing Route 66 for the first time, take away from their stop in Livingston?
We hope that everyone who visits feels a part of the American spirit—a true taste of Americana. There’s something special about reconnecting with a simpler time—before the interstates, before the constant buzz of technology—when travel was about slowing down and enjoying the ride. That’s what Route 66 is all about: a journey filled with character, charm, and stories at every stop.
Just a few miles from here stood Henry’s Rabbit Ranch. Route 66 lost a true icon when Henry passed—not just a business owner, but a storyteller and a friend to travelers from around the world. He dedicated his life to the road and to those who shared his passion. His presence is sorely missed.
In recent years, interest in Route 66 has grown, especially with its 100th anniversary on the horizon in 2026. Communities up and down the Mother Road are rising to the occasion—restoring attractions, hosting festivals, and keeping the spirit of the road alive. There’s never been a better time to hit the highway and make your own memories on this legendary route.
3-What does being part of the Route 66 story mean to you, and how has the road shaped the identity of the Pink Elephant over the years?
Being part of Route 66 is essential to the spirit of The Pink Elephant. Travelers cruising the Mother Road make up the majority of our visitors, all chasing a bit of Americana—those classic roadside signs, nostalgic attractions, and the open-road freedom that defined a different era. They’re not just passing through; they’re reliving history.
We feel incredibly privileged to meet people from all over the world and hear their stories—each visit is its own adventure. It’s not uncommon for us to see 40 or 50 Harley-Davidson motorcycles pull in at once. The fun part is finding out where they’re from—Spain, Japan, Germany, Canada—you name it. Many rent bikes in Chicago and ride all the way to California along Old Route 66.
A summer weekend at The Pink Elephant is full of energy: classic cars lined up out front, families snapping photos, kids discovering retro candy for the first time. Inside the diner, we have a world map where visitors can place a pin to show where they’re from. By the end of each season, it’s completely covered—a beautiful reminder of how far Route 66 reaches.
4-Your grounds are iconic and full of personality—what are some of the most photographed or beloved features you’ve added over the years?
This is a hard question—there are so many photo opportunities. The Pink Elephant, of course, is a classic. The Futuro UFO house always surprises visitors—it really was a home in the late 1960s! The Twistee Treat Cone building is both cool and functional, and the 1974 VW van covered in stickers is a crowd favorite. It’s all part of what makes the Pink Elephant Antique Mall an unforgettable stop on Route 66.
