Elkhart Station General Store shop and tasting room to open March 4

Conn's Hospitality Group on March 4 plans to open the Elkhart Station General Store along Route 66 in Elkhart, Illinois, that will feature Illinois-made products and tasting room for Illinois-based beer, wine and spirits. Conn's has a variety of business ventures in central Illinois, including the Obed & Isaac's brewery, Inn at 835 boutique hotel, … Continue reading Elkhart Station General Store shop and tasting room to open March 4

Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $5,000 in grants to various projects

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announced Thursday it has awarded grants totaling $5,000 to byway members for various projects. These are the grant awardees: Sky View Drive-In theater in Litchfield, Illinois: $1,000 to help repaint its screen;Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois: $1,000 to build a series of informative and interpretative banners and signage … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $5,000 in grants to various projects

“Dukes of Hazzard” star makes an apparent mental side trip on Route 66

I stumbled upon this story about former "Dukes of Hazzard" television star John Schneider's upcoming show at the Five Star Dive Bar in downtown Elkhart, Indiana. Anyone alive from 1979 to 1985 probably remembers Schneider's Dixie-fried comedy farce on CBS-TV with co-stars Tom Wopat and Catherine Bach. But Schneider also had a successful career as … Continue reading “Dukes of Hazzard” star makes an apparent mental side trip on Route 66

Couple buys historic Gillett Mansion in Elkhart

A couple from Springfield, Illinois, purchased the historic Gillett Mansion that sits atop of prominent hill just east of the Route 66 town of Elkhart, Illinois. The couple plans to keep the mansion open to the public, including for events. According to a report several days ago in the Springfield State Journal-Register: Court and Karen … Continue reading Couple buys historic Gillett Mansion in Elkhart

New mural to be unveiled Sunday in Elkhart

A new Route 66-themed mural in downtown Elkhart, Illinois, will be unveiled Sunday during a weekend that includes the 11th annual Car Cruise-In at The Mill in nearby Lincoln, Illinois. Here's more information about the mural from a news release: According to the Elkhart Historical Society, “the colorful hand-painted mural measuring 36 feet long by … Continue reading New mural to be unveiled Sunday in Elkhart

Old Gillett Farm on Elkhart Hill to be auctioned in August

The historic and enormous Old Gillett Farm on top of Elkhart Hill just east of Elkhart, Illinois, will be sold at auction in August. The house isn't on Route 66. But driving down the Mother Road, it's hard to miss Elkhart Hill. It rises 200 feet above the surrounding prairie and reportedly is the tallest hill between … Continue reading Old Gillett Farm on Elkhart Hill to be auctioned in August