Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – One of the things that has made Springfield famous — especially along historic Route 66 — is now officially immortalized.
A 25-foot tall Cozy Dog, is now part of the Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (ISF) officially, though it was put up in time for the start of the fair. The eleven-day run of the fair ends Sunday, and this is the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The experience part of the fairgrounds is open year-round.
“365 days of the year, there are folks here on the fairgrounds,” said Jerry Costello, Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), which runs the Illinois State Fair. “This Route 66 Experience, the Cozy Dog highlighting this area, will draw so many people, and draw so many people’s attention. So, it will add to the ‘Miles of Smiles” that we’ve used as the theme for this year’s fair.”
Cozy Dog Drive-In current owner Josh Waldmire, whose grandfather invented the Cozy Dog, says while a big honor, this isn’t about just his family.
“The Cozy Dog has never belonged only to our family. It belongs to Springfield, too,” said Waldmire. “It belongs to the people who remember stopping at the restaurant when they were kids, and now bring their own kids and grandkids back.”
Ace Sign Co. crafted the monument, which looks like the traditional hot dog on a stick covered in batter and deep fried. It also has lighting representing both ketchup and mustard. Some people, after all, want one, the other, both, or none. Waldmire said the batter itself is made by hand and has plenty of flavor in it.
And, the Cozy Dog can be an economic development tool of sorts.
“From investing in localities, attracting new businesses, spurring tourism, to show the world what we have to offer, we’re proud to lead the effort to get this thing in place, and to support the state’s larger efforts in celebrating the iconic Mother Road,” said Becky Locker, Chief of Staff, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, IDOA, ISF, and DCEO worked together to make the monument happen. Officials with the byway say they did not let the Waldmire family know that it was being added until it was almost time to unveil it. Waldmire said the family is flattered, and not even they expected to see one 25 feet tall.
