Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonia Pickerill.
Hi Tonia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Pink Elephant Antique Mall began in 2005, when the former Livingston High School closed after the district consolidated into Staunton. The school was sold and later transformed into the antique mall. In 2008, the iconic Twistee Treat ice-cream-cone-shaped building was added, and that’s where my story with the Pink Elephant truly began.
I’ve always lived nearby, and when I saw the cone being built, I was instantly drawn to it. I applied and started working there in September 2008 and I quickly became manager—and stayed in that role until 2020. In March 2020, I leased the Twistee Treat Diner from the owner and began running it as my own business. Over the years, I also helped with other areas of the Pink Elephant, from dealer tickets to accounting.
The diner grew in 2015 with a new dining room, and in 2018 the Mother Road Fudge & Candy Shop was added. By 2022, my husband Wayne was nearing retirement from law enforcement, and I was still working at the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The original owner had been wanting to sell for some time, and when Wayne was just a year from retirement, we decided the timing was right. Within a month, we purchased the Pink Elephant Antique Mall, the Twistee Treat Diner, the fudge shop, and the surrounding real estate, officially taking over in December 2022.
Since then, we’ve poured our energy into expanding and refreshing the property. We built a kid-friendly patio at the diner, complete with a mounted scrambler carnival seat, a Route 66-painted kids’ path, and ride-on cars. In 2023, we launched the Area 66 Haunted School, a walk-through haunted attraction in the oldest part of the school with proceeds benefiting the local fire department. We’ve also introduced seasonal festivals—like the UFO & Alien Festival, Bigfoot Festival, and Jeep Duck Run—as well as a free community Easter egg hunt.
In early 2024, Wayne and I both retired from law enforcement, making this our full-time “retirement job.” Now, we get to spend our days welcoming travelers from around the world, celebrating nostalgia, and creating a whimsical, magical space where families can make memories.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t always been smooth. The biggest struggle came right at the start. In March 2020, just two weeks after I took over the lease of the Twistee Treat Diner, the pandemic hit and everything shut down. It was a scary time to be stepping into business ownership. Thankfully, the property owner reduced the rent, and we survived thanks to the incredible support of our loyal customers, my family, and even coworkers from the Sheriff’s Office who rallied behind us. Their encouragement kept us going through an uncertain season.
Since Wayne and I purchased the Pink Elephant Antique Mall and the entire campus in 2022, things have greatly improved. We’ve focused on social media and grown from about 3,000 followers to nearly 22,000. By adding community events—like the festivals, the haunted house, and our free Easter egg hunt—we’ve built goodwill with locals while also drawing national and international Route 66 travelers. Today, we’re proud to be considered a “must-stop” along the Mother Road.
That said, running a business inside a nearly 100-year-old school building comes with its own challenges. Something always seems to need attention—whether it’s an air conditioning unit, the roof, or equipment in the diner. But that’s the nature of caring for a historic property. We see it less as a burden and more as part of the journey. The struggles are real, but the rewards—meeting people from all over the world and building a place where families make memories—make every bit of it worthwhile.
We’ve been impressed with The Pink Elephant Antique Mall Including DBA Twistee Treats Diner, DBA Mother Road Fudge and Candy Shop, DBA Area 66 Haunted School, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Pink Elephant Antique Mall isn’t just one business — it’s a whole nostalgic destination along Historic Route 66. Our flagship is the antique mall itself, located inside the former Livingston High School, which operated from 1926 until 2005. Walking through our doors is like stepping into both history and memory. The main antique mall floor is the old high school gymnasium, still featuring the wooden basketball court, the scoreboards, and even the original “Livingston Eagles” banner on the wall. Beyond the gym, visitors can explore the school stage and two full floors of classrooms now transformed into antique booths and showcases.
Today, the mall features over 100 dealer spaces with more than 50 vendors, each bringing their own specialty. Some focus on vintage toys and collectibles, others on signage, tools, quilts, glassware, or furniture. The variety is what makes it magical — for many visitors, it’s a trip down memory lane. The most common thing we hear is, “I had this as a kid!” or “My parents or grandparents had this.” It’s that sense of rediscovery that keeps people coming back.
Alongside the antique mall, we’ve grown a family of other businesses on the property. The Mother Road Fudge & Candy Shop is a 1950s-inspired candy store where all of our fudge is made fresh in-house. Our signature Pink Elephant Fudge is always a favorite, but our candy makers also craft seasonal flavors throughout the year. We carry saltwater taffy, bulk chocolates, nostalgic candies, Route 66 souvenirs, and of course plenty of Pink Elephant T-shirts and merchandise.
The Twistee Treat Diner is another centerpiece. Our building is an authentic 1980s-era Twistee Treat ice-cream-cone-shaped structure rescued from Pennsylvania, revitalized into a retro diner with both indoor seating and a lively outdoor patio. The patio features picnic tables, a Route 66 kids’ play highway with ride-on cars, a vintage telephone booth, and even a retired Scrambler carnival seat from Six Flags. Menu highlights include fresh, never-frozen burgers made with local beef from Wenneman’s Meat Locker, pork tenderloins, Philly cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches, hand-scooped ice cream, soft serve, rotating Dole Whip flavors, and all the classic sides like fried pickles, cheese curds, mushrooms, and onion rings. Inside, the diner is pure Americana — pink-and-white checkered floors, a jukebox, and life-size statues of Elvis and the Blues Brothers, plus a 1957 Chevy car seat.
For fall thrills, we host Area 66 Haunted School, a walk-through haunted attraction staged inside the old high school building. It runs weekends in October and draws guests from all over, with proceeds benefiting our local fire department. We also host family-friendly festivals and community events throughout the year — including our UFO & Alien Festival, Jeep Duck Run, Bigfoot Festival, and a free Easter egg hunt for local families.
What really sets us apart, though, are the roadside giants and whimsical touches scattered throughout our 10-acre property. We’re home to a 1960s International Fiberglass Pink Elephant, a Harley-themed Muffler Man, a 25-foot-tall “Beach Guy,” a giant aluminum T. rex, a UFO crashed into the antique mall, and our crown jewel — a rare 1968 Futuro House, which we plan to restore and open as a UFO-themed Airbnb in time for the Route 66 centennial in 2026. Visitors can also enjoy free disc golf, plenty of outdoor photo ops, and dog-friendly grounds. We’ve even partnered with Harvest Hosts to welcome RV travelers to stay overnight in our back lot as part of their Route 66 adventure.
What we’re most proud of, brand-wise, is that the Pink Elephant has become more than a business. It’s a place of nostalgia, whimsy, and discovery. We celebrate Americana, honor the history of our small town, and welcome travelers from around the globe. Whether you’re here to shop antiques, grab a burger and ice cream, stock up on fudge, explore the haunt, or take photos with our giants, we want everyone to leave smiling — with memories made and stories to tell.
What matters most to you?
Our customers
I really enjoy all our customers from around the world and local getting to hear their stories as they travel Old RT 66 or they’re just traveling in general on a vacation or road trip.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinkelephantrt66
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/197qiJosWu/
