Inn of the Lamplighter

6600 S. Sixth St.
Phone:

East < GO > West

What started out as J. R. Grady's seven unit motel on eight acres in 1948 grew substantially over the years. He added ten more rooms and a snack bar in 1952. Then in 1954 he renamed the property as the Inn of the Lamplighter.

Two heated swimming pools came along later, an outdoor pool in 1957 and an indoor pool about 1960. That indoor pool with its floor tiled to resemble flowers still exists and an effort has been made to place it on the county list of historic places.

1961 the motel grew to thirty units. Somewhere along the line the motel became affiliated with Best Western Motels. I'm not sure exactly when, but the postcards mentioned below indicate the affiliation was in place in at least the mid and late 1960s.

A restaurant and a 55-foot tall observation tower were demolished in 1998.

The building has been converted into 17 condominiums.

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Vintage Postcard Highlights

LAMP LIGHTER MOTEL
and
DINING ROOM
Phone LA 9-****
Spacious, quite 8 acre location 3-1/2 miles South of Springfield, Illinois on U.S. 66 - Heated secluded swimming pool - Fishing pond - Each room with air-conditioning, TV, carpet and tile bath - Fireplace and color TV in lobby.
James R Grady, owner-general manager
Virgil Dial Jr. dining room manager

South Sixth Street Bridge on U.S. Route 66, Springfield, ILL.

N\OTE: The first postcard is postmarked 1961, the second is postmarked 1937 and shows the 2 lane 1931 bridge crossing Lake Springfield a few blocks south of the motel.
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