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Hen House Chain


RoadDog
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After crossing the Chain of Rocks bridge yesterday, Liz and I finally got around to eating at a Hen House located in Pontoon Beach, right off I-270 and Route 66, across from the old Bel Aire Drive In sign. Great breakfst and some really good biscuits and gravy. It's sort of like a small Cracker Barrel, and you even have those little wooden IQ gsmes where you try to jump the pieces and end up with just one. Spent too much time with this maddening object. They even have a gift shop and guess what, you can buy one of these maddening games.

 

Talked with the manager who also is in charge of the five remaining Hen Houses, all in Illinois. There is also another one south of Springfield off I-55 and Route 66, and, Chenoa Family Restaurant, closer to Chicago, was also a Hen House. He told me the chain started in 1969 and at one time had 42 restaurants spread across five states. They are painted red and have distinctive architecture.

 

So. Next Time in Illinois, Eat at the Hen. --RoadDog

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After crossing the Chain of Rocks bridge yesterday, Liz and I finally got around to eating at a Hen House located in Pontoon Beach, right off I-270 and Route 66, across from the old Bel Aire Drive In sign. Great breakfst and some really good biscuits and gravy. It's sort of like a small Cracker Barrel, and you even have those little wooden IQ gsmes where you try to jump the pieces and end up with just one. Spent too much time with this maddening object. They even have a gift shop and guess what, you can buy one of these maddening games.

 

Talked with the manager who also is in charge of the five remaining Hen Houses, all in Illinois. There is also another one south of Springfield off I-55 and Route 66, and, Chenoa Family Restaurant, closer to Chicago, was also a Hen House. He told me the chain started in 1969 and at one time had 42 restaurants spread across five states. They are painted red and have distinctive architecture.

 

So. Next Time in Illinois, Eat at the Hen. --RoadDog

 

RoadDog,

 

They usually also sell those games whenever they are on the table. You could have bought one and practiced at home...you know, the whole brain fitness thing!! :rolleyes::lol:

 

Keep the Show on the Road!

 

Dave

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  • 4 months later...
After crossing the Chain of Rocks bridge yesterday, Liz and I finally got around to eating at a Hen House located in Pontoon Beach, right off I-270 and Route 66, across from the old Bel Aire Drive In sign. Great breakfst and some really good biscuits and gravy. It's sort of like a small Cracker Barrel, and you even have those little wooden IQ gsmes where you try to jump the pieces and end up with just one. Spent too much time with this maddening object. They even have a gift shop and guess what, you can buy one of these maddening games.

 

Talked with the manager who also is in charge of the five remaining Hen Houses, all in Illinois. There is also another one south of Springfield off I-55 and Route 66, and, Chenoa Family Restaurant, closer to Chicago, was also a Hen House. He told me the chain started in 1969 and at one time had 42 restaurants spread across five states. They are painted red and have distinctive architecture.

 

So. Next Time in Illinois, Eat at the Hen. --RoadDog

 

I used to stop at the Hen House Restaurant in Eureka, MO on my way back from college at Missouri-Rolla in 1979 - 1983. I enjoyed the food and atmosphere - friendly waitresses. Also, remember stopping at a Hen House restaurant south of Springfield , IL on a trip to Chicago in 1988. My wife and I both solved the wooden game with the golf tees on our first try and then spent the next 15 minutes waiting for our food trying to remember how we had solved it the first time. We still look for that Hen House every trip back to Chicago along I-55, although I'm not sure in what town it is located. :)

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I used to stop at the Hen House Restaurant in Eureka, MO on my way back from college at Missouri-Rolla in 1979 - 1983. I enjoyed the food and atmosphere - friendly waitresses. Also, remember stopping at a Hen House restaurant south of Springfield , IL on a trip to Chicago in 1988. My wife and I both solved the wooden game with the golf tees on our first try and then spent the next 15 minutes waiting for our food trying to remember how we had solved it the first time. We still look for that Hen House every trip back to Chicago along I-55, although I'm not sure in what town it is located. :)

 

JAMMIN,

 

WELCOME!!

 

I had forgotten how some places had games on the table....and of course for sale. Great recollection.

 

Keep the Show on the Road!

 

Dave

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I used to stop at the Hen House Restaurant in Eureka, MO on my way back from college at Missouri-Rolla in 1979 - 1983. I enjoyed the food and atmosphere - friendly waitresses. Also, remember stopping at a Hen House restaurant south of Springfield , IL on a trip to Chicago in 1988. My wife and I both solved the wooden game with the golf tees on our first try and then spent the next 15 minutes waiting for our food trying to remember how we had solved it the first time. We still look for that Hen House every trip back to Chicago along I-55, although I'm not sure in what town it is located. :)

 

If it's the same one I'm thinking of, it's on the south end of Springfield just north of Lake Springfield at the Toronto Road exit off I-55. I believe there's a Motel 6 at that interchange that I stayed in once. We've been to two Hen Houses.....one on Route 66 in Mitchell, IL and the other in Arcola, IL. I know the last time I was through 66 in Missouri, the one in Bourbon was still in business.

 

Thanks for the post and :welcome:

 

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If it's the same one I'm thinking of, it's on the south end of Springfield just north of Lake Springfield at the Toronto Road exit off I-55. I believe there's a Motel 6 at that interchange that I stayed in once. We've been to two Hen Houses.....one on Route 66 in Mitchell, IL and the other in Arcola, IL. I know the last time I was through 66 in Missouri, the one in Bourbon was still in business.

 

Thanks for the post and :welcome:

 

That's the one. We plan on visiting it the next time in Springfield.

 

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