Soulsby Service Station in Mount Olive, Illinois is a historic gas station that served Route 66 travelers for decades. In fact this site is one of the oldest and longest running service stations on all of Route 66 and the oldest usable service station on the highway in Illinois.
Henry Soulsby built the Shell station in 1926 and ran it, along with his family, for many years until closing up and selling the property at auction. It continued to operate as gas station even after Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985, but they stopped pumping gas in 1991 and eventually closed in 1993. Unlike the tale of many Route 66 service stations who changed oil loyalties over the years, for its 65 years of operation theSoulsby Service Station only pumped Shell gasoline.
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Today, the property has been refurbished and brought back to life in bright yellow and red hues, authentic gas pumps, and a giant Shell sign and serves as a shining example of the house and canopy gas station design that was typical of the time.
Be sure to step inside to view a museum of artifacts including vintage gas canisters, a soda machine, and old signs.
Soulsby Shell Station, Mt. Olive, Illinois
Russel Soulsby built this station in 1926 with his father, Henry. He ran it with his sister Ola until 1991. For its 65 years of operation they sold only Shell gasoline.
While traveling Route 66 in Illinois, stop by these other vintage service stations: Standard Oil Filling Station in Odell, Sprague’s Super Service Station in Normal, and Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station in Dwight.
Soulsby Service Station
Address: 710 W 1st S St, Mt Olive, IL 62069
Cost: Free to See
Hours: Always Visible
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