Tully Garrett's Final Comments On The Launching Pad

WILMINGTON, IL — Last week, Joliet Patch was on hand to witness the removal of the Gemini Giant from his perch near the Launching Pad restaurant in Wilmington as the Joliet Area Historical Museum moved the world-famous Route 66 landmark to a temporary, secure location. By summer, the Gemini Giant will be unveiled at his new home in Wilmington, the entrance to South Island Park along the Kankakee River.

Months ago, the museum offered to purchase the Gemini Giant and the shuttered Launching Pad restaurant property from Holly Barker for a grand total of $620,000. But Barker did not accept the deal, instead, she chose to auction off the Gemini Giant separately, which the Joliet Area Historical Museum purchased for $275,000.

After the March 20 hoopla was over, and the Gemini Giant was hauled away from the Launching Pad, Barker got in the face of several people, including a videographer as well as Greg Peerbolte, the Joliet Area Historical Museum chief executive officer, ordering them to get off of her Launching Pad property immediately.

Back in October 2017, Barker and Tully Garrett bought the property in Wilmington and proceeded to devote thousands of hours into rehabilitating The Launching Pad over the next couple of years.

In 2019, Joliet Patch produced a glowing article about the Wilmington couple, and the article headline declared, "Once In Ruins, Route 66's Launching Pad Now Open Daily."

"It looked like a Jurassic Park scene. It was shuttered. It was bad. The place was closed and totally in disrepair," Barker told Joliet Patch during the May 2019 interview. "It took us about 16 months to get it back to the right look and feel. It's back to life, and it's in our family, and it's going to stay here."

Fast-forward to March 20.

Tully Garrett announced on Facebook that this would be the final post for The Launching Pad. Here's a sampling of comments Garrett shared with everyone:

• "First and foremost, I always wanted the restaurant to remain open, as well as the Giant remaining exactly where he is for future generations to come. The thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on this location over the years is mind-boggling. I make zero apologizes for all the Faith, Hope and Love we put into The Pad and The Giant. It was a community effort."
• "News has been made that the Giant will now remain in Wilmington, Illinois as it should, and that the Joliet Historical Museum was the purchaser- which I am extremely happy to hear!"
• "It’s a travesty the way this played out and it just goes to show you that nothing in life is permanent. Now its new location will be."
• "I want to make a personal public apology for the way this has turned out, no shifting blame, taking full accountability. I promise you I tried everything possible for a favorable outcome and return. This IS NOT how I wanted to see this come to closure the way it did. Even with this statement the haters are gonna keep hating. So be it."
• "As mentioned, my intentions were to always keep this open and perpetuated generation to generation. Unfortunately, my previous partner had a different game plan."
• "Nothing will take away the visual impact of coming around the curve on Rte 66 and him standing tall to greet each and every person coming into town. That is the sadness here that breaks my heart."

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Destruction Of Launching Pad Underway, Police Cite Owner: 12 Photos

Gemini Giant Leaves Launching Pad, New Wilmington Spot Revealed