Illinois Tollway Hinsdale Oasis

[@bernadetteomalley8195]

So sad that they are taking these down. Great places to get good food, rest a while and watch the world go by.

[@memoriesbywayne]

I get what you are saying. But especially growing up here and having memories as a kid sitting and watching the cars pass by, eating some food with your family, playing arcade games. There is just a special feeling that a regular old McDonald's can't replace.

[@trustysteeringwheeltray7392]

​@Hogans Dubs No, that is not at all why they are tearing them down. If anything, they generate revenue for the tollway, nearby villages, and restaurants themselves, and are wayyy more convenient than exiting the highway and getting back on (which in some parts, requires you to get tolled just to exit and get back on). Travel stops are a net positive for everyone involved, especially on tollways where exiting is not always free. They're coming down simply because they can't expand the tollway without knocking down the walls in which they stand on. The tollway has even said they plan on building some new kind of Oasis on the side of the tollway, like the DeKalb oasis. To my knowledge, the Lake Forest, Belvidere, and South Holland Oasis' will remain in operation. Most other states have these rest/dining/gas stop areas, so Illinois should definitely have them too, especially when paying an arm and leg for using the tollway.

[@trustysteeringwheeltray7392]

@@memoriesbywayne It will definitely be unfortunate. The Des Plaines and O'Hare ones have already come down, but Hinsdale will hit home hard for me; that's the one I grew up going to. Apparently there may be a new travel center type building on the side of the roadway, but it won't be the same. Thankfully though, it looks like Lake Forest, Belivdere, and South Holland Oasis's will remain in tact.

[@memoriesbywayne]

@@trustysteeringwheeltray7392 thank you for very sharing. Love when folks share their thoughts and memories of the oases here. Des Plaines was torn down cause it was in the way supposedly of the 390 (Elgin-O'Hare) expansion. And O'Hare and Hinsdale are in the way of whatever expansion plans there are for 294. Even though 294 is already 8 lanes, that is apparently not enough. And the O'Hare Oasis/Irving Park toll plaza area is a complete mess. I recently visited the O'Hare Oasis. A vlog will be coming. Personally that one is hard for me because I grew up close to there. And used to go with my family to eat lunch, watch the cars, and play arcade games all the time!

[@Jupitearth]

I love these places I hope they don’t take them all down

[@memoriesbywayne]

I believe the rest of them will stick around for awhile. :-)

[@projecthasbeencancelledtil4216]

These things are so cool are they still open?

[@memoriesbywayne]

Yes. There are still some open. Belvidere, Lake Forest, Hinsdale, Lincoln and DeKalb are fully opened. Others have been either closed/removed or modified.

[@projecthasbeencancelledtil4216]

@@memoriesbywayne sweet thanks for answering dude

[@memoriesbywayne]

No problem, have a great night!

[@projecthasbeencancelledtil4216]

@@memoriesbywayne you too mate

[@memoriesbywayne]

Thanks! :-)