Did Springfield, Missouri, miss the boat in promoting Route 66?

A few days ago, the Springfield News-Leader published a long, soul-searching piece titled “Selling 66” that asks the question: Has Springfield, Missouri, done a good job promoting Route 66?

If you have to ask, you know the answer.

Springfield has realized its error and is trying new things to bring tourists, including the future Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park. And the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival seems to be growing fast.

The article is worth reading in full, including its cool photos. But here are a few newsworthy highlights and observations:

  • The Route 66 Economic Impact Study of 2011, as I predicted, opened a lot of eyes about how financially viable the Mother Road is. The conservative number of $132 million in annual tourism spending on Route 66 surprises a lot of people. Naturally, folks want a piece of that.
  • City Manager Greg Burris said not only tourists, but locals said Springfield wasn’t tapping its Route 66 potential.
  • Jackie and Larry Horton, tourists from Newcastle, England, said Missouri doesn’t promote the route as well as Oklahoma and other western states.
  • In a few weeks, an 18-foot-tall neon sign will be installed at the Convention and Visitor Bureau’s Route 66 center on St. Louis Street.
  • History Museum on the Square’s Route 66 show last year drew an “unprecedented” 10,000 visitors in six months. The museum is planning a permanent Route 66 exhibit after it finishes a $20 million renovation.
  • The number of visitors to the Route 66 Visitors Center doubled from 2012 to 2013 because officials added Route 66 signage.
  • Best Western Rail Haven owner Gordon Elliot plans to build a replica of the long-gone Red’s Giant Hamburg restaurant.

I suspect when the Route 66 roadside park and other such projects are finished, Springfield — and a lot of businesses there — will be very happy it took the trouble to do so.

(Image from the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven in Springfield, Mo., by the Missouri Department of Tourism via Flickr)

2 thoughts on “Did Springfield, Missouri, miss the boat in promoting Route 66?

  1. Ron:

    You need to do a little more research. Gordon Elliott is not doing the Red’s Giant Hamburg sign. The Red’s Giant Hamburg replica sign is to be one of the highlights of the new Route 66 Park the City is creating on West College Street (aka Business Route 66). It is set to be dedicated on Friday, August 8, the evening before the 4th Annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival is to take place on the City Square (on Saturday, Aug. 9). At present, over 200 cars are expected for the car show that will be held as part of this Birthplace Festival, and the event will be concluded with a sold-out concert by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils — which is to be simulcast for free on the Square on that Saturday night.

    1. Tonya, you misread the item about Red’s. My story and the newspaper reports that Mr. Elliott wants to build a replica of the restaurant. When he’ll do that is unknown. But he made it clear he wants a full-blown imitation of Red’s.

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