Route 66 Park in Staunton, Illinois: A Community Tribute to the Mother Road

Route 66 Park in Staunton, Illinois: Where Two Alignments Meet

Staunton, Illinois is a small city with a big Route 66 story. Located in Macoupin County in the southern portion of Illinois’ Mother Road corridor, it sits at one of the highway’s most historically interesting junctions: the point where the original 1926 alignment of Route 66 and the later 1930 alignment converge and separate. The Route 66 Park in Staunton celebrates this history with a mural and Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway interpretive exhibit, and the surrounding community offers some of the most distinctive and genuinely quirky Route 66 attractions in the state — most notably Henry’s Rabbit Ranch and DeCamp Station roadhouse. As Route 66 marks its centennial in 2026, Staunton is among the southern Illinois communities taking pride in its place on the Mother Road.

Where is the Route 66 Park in Staunton?

The Route 66 Park and interpretive exhibit is located on Historic Route 66 in Staunton, Illinois, accessible from I-55 at Exit 41. Staunton is approximately 35 miles east of St. Louis and 65 miles southwest of Springfield. Henry’s Rabbit Ranch is at 1107 Historic Old Route 66, Staunton, IL 62088.

Staunton and the Route 66 Alignment History

Staunton’s Route 66 geography is more complex than most Illinois towns’. When Route 66 was first commissioned in 1926, it followed what had previously been State Route 4 through Staunton and south toward Worden. In 1928-1930, a straighter alignment was constructed further east — running through Litchfield and south via Mount Olive — creating what became the main alignment through 1977. The original 1926 road through Staunton continued briefly as ‘Temporary 66’ before reverting to State Route 4 designation.

This layered alignment history means that Staunton has connections to multiple Route 66 eras, and travelers who want to experience the full Illinois Route 66 story often make a point of driving through town on the original alignment, distinct from the more familiar bypass.

The Route 66 Park and Mural

The Route 66 Park celebrates Staunton’s place on the Mother Road with murals and an Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway interpretive exhibit — the kind of kiosk-based historical display that the Scenic Byway program has installed at key locations throughout the state, providing historical context, alignment maps, and Route 66 lore in a roadside-accessible format.

The park was the site of a Grand Opening ceremony that marked the community’s formal commitment to Route 66 heritage tourism, and it reflects the broader pattern of Staunton investing in its Route 66 identity alongside attractions like Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, the historic DeCamp Station roadhouse, and Country Classic Cars — a large inventory of classic vehicles that is itself a draw for auto enthusiasts traveling the Mother Road.

Henry’s Rabbit Ranch: Staunton’s Route 66 Star

No discussion of Staunton on Route 66 is complete without Henry’s Rabbit Ranch — one of the most purely Route 66 roadside attractions in all of Illinois. Located at 1107 Historic Old Route 66 (on the original 1926-1940 alignment south of Staunton), the Ranch was created by Rich Henry after his daughter’s two pet rabbits unexpectedly became 15. Rich, who had traveled Route 66 and noticed a lack of visitor centers and attractions on the southern Illinois segment, seized the opportunity to create something both genuinely useful and gloriously eccentric.

At Henry’s, visitors will find: dozens of live rabbits, many trained to do tricks; a row of Volkswagen Rabbits buried nose-first in the ground — a direct homage to the Cadillac Ranch in Texas; a replica vintage filling station serving as the gift shop and visitor center; a collection of Campbell’s ‘Humpin’ to Please’ semi-trailers; a giant fiberglass jackrabbit; a ‘Hare It Is’ sign spoofing the famous Jackrabbit Trading Post sign in Joseph City, Arizona; and a small rabbit cemetery for the Ranch’s departed residents. Bob Waldmire’s Volkswagen — not a Rabbit, but a van that the legendary Route 66 artist gave to Rich Henry before his death — is also preserved on the property.

Note: Appointments are recommended to tour the Ranch and meet the rabbits — call (618) 635-5655 before visiting.

DeCamp Station: Staunton’s Most Colorful History

Just south of Staunton on the original 1926 alignment at 8767 State Route 4 sits DeCamp Station — a historic roadhouse that has one of the most dramatic stories on southern Illinois Route 66. The tavern opened in 1931 alongside tourist cabins, a dance hall, gambling operations, and according to local accounts, a brothel. In 1930 (or shortly after opening), a large black sedan pulled up in front. Several gangsters emerged with guns drawn, ordered everyone outside, and robbed the establishment of slot machines, alcohol, cash, and the proprietor’s personal gun collection. Open Wednesday–Sunday, it is now a historic tavern displaying photographs of the old dance hall that once occupied the site.

Tips for Visiting Staunton and Route 66 Park

From I-55, take Exit 41 and follow signs for Historic Route 66 and Henry’s Rabbit Ranch.
Call Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in advance at (618) 635-5655 — appointments are recommended for rabbit interaction and full tour access.
Visit DeCamp Station (8767 State Route 4) for a drink and a look at the historic roadhouse photographs — it opens Wednesday through Sunday.

Staunton is well-positioned as a late-afternoon stop on a southern Illinois Route 66 drive heading toward the Chain of Rocks Bridge — allow time for Henry’s Ranch, the park, and a drink at DeCamp.

Final Thoughts on Route 66 Park in Staunton

Staunton’s Route 66 experience is defined by its authenticity and its wackiness in equal measure — the kind of mix that makes Illinois Route 66 special. A Route 66 Park with historical exhibits, a ranch full of live rabbits and buried VW Rabbits, and a historic tavern once robbed at gunpoint by gangsters — Staunton has something for every kind of Route 66 traveler. It embodies exactly the kind of layered, surprising, genuinely local character that the Route 66 Centennial of 2026 is celebrating.