Does anybody know why it closed

Well, you've seen the area, it doesn't exactly scream swanky restaurant. Also, before the hotel was bought by a chain it was fairly run down and not often used.

It actually had to do with the rift between the owner of the property and the owner of the restaurant. The owner of the restaurant (Julius) decided to make an illegal casino in the hotel and got caught. This was back in late 1978 (around the time I was born!) so the Inn closed in probably late '78/early '79. If you Google Lincoln Highway Inn you can find some of the original court papers!

I'd be glad to answer as many questions as I can, since I'm pretty familiar with the place, having grown up around here, not to mention that my dad tried to reopen the Inn in the late 80's!

~Mary