A life-size pink elephant sculpture greets the visitors of the Pink Elephant Antique Mall, an old high school that has been converted to a destination unlike any other. Located on old Route 66 and virtually impossible to miss, this family-run business in downstate Illinois is as quirky as the name suggests, and more versatile than you might think. Besides the huge store filled to the brim with one-of-a-kind antique items, the Pink Elephant also sells ice cream out of a stand that’s shaped to look like an oversize ice cream cone. At the on-site restaurant, oversize human figurines sporting pink shirts flank the entrance while the inside features old-school diner vibes. Visitors can find the Pink Elephant off Exit 37 on I-55 in Livingston.
To hear an interview with the owners, check out the Illinois Farm Bureau Partners podcast, available at bit.ly/PartnersPod. Look for the episode entitled “All Exits Lead to the Pink Elephant.”