Ludy’s Kickapoo Creek Saloon is a Peoria cheeseburger institution and that’s saying something because they’re located in Kickapoo!
Sadly, Halloween will be the last day that you can get a Ludy’s cheeseburger.
The owner, Lynn Ludolph is retiring and the owner of the building is going to turn it into a new tavern. I’ve heard that eventually they’ll have food, but if they’re smart, they’d leave cheeseburgers off of their menu to avoid the comparisons!
Let’s go and have our last cheeseburger at Ludy’s Kickapoo Creek Saloon!
And we’re going to be joined by a very special guest star, so keep on scrolling to find out who that is!
Here we are at Ludy’s Kickapoo Creek Saloon!
They’re having the last Ludy’s Blast tomorrow evening with The West Macqueen Street Band playing from 6 to 10PM.
As you can see, there’s lots of outside seating available here at Ludy’s.
But it’s starting to get a little chilly outside, so we’ll go indoors.
No sooner do I get inside when I see some familiar faces, it’s the Yates family enjoying lunch in Ludy’s!
Clockwise from left, Ellen, Casey and Nick Yates!
Many of you know Nick from the Build Peoria Foundation. They recently had a successful chili cook-off fundraiser at Dozer Park. Sadly I missed this year’s event, but I hope to make to next year’s cook-off!
Great to see all of them on this last trip to Ludy’s!
Usually I’d sit at the bar, but as I’ve mentioned, we have a special guest star today and that guest is none other than…
Lynn Ludolph, the owner of Ludy’s!
Lynn has worked here since it opened back in 1994. Back then her in-laws, Charlie and Barb Ludolph owned and operated Ludy’s.
In 2004, Lynn along with the help of her husband Dan took the reins when Charlie and Barb retired. Now Lynn is ready to retire and Ludy’s will be cheeseburger history.
The owner of the building is going to re-establish the place as a brand new bar, so stay tuned to see what happens here!
There was a steady stream of people wishing Lynn the best as we sat and chatted including Kim and Jessica.
Lynn said this is a bittersweet time in her life and it’’ll be tough to close the doors for good on Ludy’s last day.
She went to turn our cheeseburger order in and I got up to take some last photos of the place.
There’s the beers on tap and the obligatory Phil Luciano review from days gone by. Phil recently wrote about the closing of Ludy’s and you can read that right here.
There’s the map with pins from people all over the country that have visited Ludy’s Kickapoo Creek Saloon.
Here’s the front dining room located opposite the bar area.
There’s also a back dining area with gaming machines and a state-of-the-art dart board.
I love the neon signs on the walls in here! They’re colorful and sparkly!
Here’s Sam delivering up our cheeseburger platters! He’s appeared on the blog in the past and it was great to see him again!
Sam took a photo of Lynn and I at our table right before we dig into our tasty lunch!
Ladies and gentlemen…my last cheeseburger at Ludy’s! A sad but delicious moment in time!
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And now, it’s time for…
The Same Three Fucking Questions!
I asked Lynn the same three fucking questions I ask everyone who’s a guest here on this luncheon blog and here’s the same three fucking questions and Lynn’s answers!
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1. Does ketchup belong on a hot dog?
No, Ketchup does not belong on a hot dog, YUCK! I prefer chili and cheese!
2. Is deep dish pizza really pizza or is it a casserole like Jon Stewart says it is.
Deep dish pizza, yes, it is pizza! Not a casserole.
3. Why do fools fall in love?
There’s nothing better to do and they don’t know any better!
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Thanks, Lynn and thanks for inviting me to a last lunch at Ludy’s! Good luck with your retirement and please keep in touch!
Cheers to Ludy’s! Tomorrow is the last Ludy’s live concert bash and you’ve got till Halloween to stop in and have your final cheeseburger here at Ludy’s!
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9828 - U.S. 150
Kickapoo/Edwards, Illinois
309-692-6446
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Related Posts: Lunch At First Bite @: The Trolley, Cyd’s In The Park and Khaki Jack’s.