Why Illinois Built Restaurants Over Its Highways

Why did Illinois build restaurants over its highways? Discover the surprising history of the Illinois Tollway oases—glass dining rooms where families ate while cars and trucks passed directly beneath their feet. This Chicago history documentary explores how a deal involving Standard Oil, the Fred Harvey Company, and an unusual architectural idea turned highway rest stops into unforgettable road trip destinations. From “Top O’ the Tollway” dining rooms to familiar fast-food stops, these buildings became part of growing up around Chicago. We revisit Hinsdale Oasis, Des Plaines Oasis, O’Hare Oasis, Belvidere, Lake Forest, and Lincoln Oasis to explore why these restaurants were built above traffic—and why highway expansion later forced several to disappear. It’s a story of Illinois transportation history, roadside architecture, changing restaurants, and childhood memories torn down to make room for more lanes. Did your family stop at an Illinois oasis? Share which one you remember and what it was like eating above the highway. Subscribe for more Chicago history, forgotten landmarks, and stories behind the places you grew up with. #IllinoisHistory #ChicagoHistory #IllinoisTollway