Mahans Filling Station

Springfield Illinois is a treasure trove of Route 66 roadside wonders, big and small.

It’s little glimpses of road trip life in a different era that make travelling Route 66 so fun and interesting, and Mahan’s Filling Station in Springfield, is one of those lovely little vintage glimpses.

The tiny filling station was built in 1917. Throughout its long life it has been a Texaco station, a Marathon station, and a Philips 66 Station, and relics of all it’s past lives remain on site.

Around 2000 it was acquired by the Shea Gas Station Museum, and was the centrepiece of Bill Shea’s museum of gas pumps, phone booths, advertising signs and gas station memorabilia until he passed away in 2013.

It was then sold at auction, and purchased by the owner of Fulgenzi’s Pizza & Pasta, who moved the station 21 miles to sit beside his restaurant. Jeff Fulgenzi restored the vintage station, and it now serves as a roadside attraction.

PS - Mahan’s Filling Station is located across the road from the Illinois State Fairgrounds, a treasure trove of attractions in its own right.

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Midwest USA No. 21 - last visited October 2023