Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau announces more details on state Route 66 funding

The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau announced what it will do with more than $800,000 in state Route 66 funding. It includes an RV park and campground at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston; a mural at the Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield; a drive-through Route 66 shield at Country Classic Cars in Staunton; … Continue reading Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau announces more details on state Route 66 funding

Illinois announces seven grants for projects along Route 66

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity this week announced seven awards, totaling $3.3 million, through the Route 66 Grant Program. This funding is intended to boost local tourism and attract visitors to Route 66, leading up to the 100th anniversary of the highway in 2026, according to a … Continue reading Illinois announces seven grants for projects along Route 66

Illinois Route 66 concert tour organized by Frankie Valli’s longtime music director

Robby Robinson, a keyboardist and music director for Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons since 1978 and a native of the Route 66 town of Litchfield, Illinois, has organized the "Get Your Kicks Tour '23 -- A Musical Trip Down Route 66" in October. The tour includes guitarist Vinny Martell of Vanilla Fudge, Travis Cloer … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 concert tour organized by Frankie Valli’s longtime music director

Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center to mark 10th anniversary next month

The Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Illinois, will celebrate its 10th birthday on June 1 with a celebration two days later, on June 3. Cheryl Eichar Jett wrote about the initiative and history of the welcome center in the latest issue of The Buzz Monthly. It all started when Anne Jackson, … Continue reading Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center to mark 10th anniversary next month

Skyview Drive-In theater in Litchfield undergoes ownership change

The historic Skyview Drive-In theater in Litchfield, Illinois, landed a new owner earlier this month, and the operators pledge no big changes. Gene Hebenstreit closed on the purchase of the Route 66 theater on April 14, according to his daughter Chelsey Semplowski during a phone interview Friday. The purchase price was not disclosed. Hebenstreit owns … Continue reading Skyview Drive-In theater in Litchfield undergoes ownership change

Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita to host another Mobil 1 world-record attempt

The Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita, Oklahoma, on Nov. 5-12 will attempt another Guinness world record with the most stickers placed on a car. The Route 66 restaurant on Friday posted on Facebook that it needs some help with the attempt: We are now looking for volunteers for two very important roles. We need:1) People to … Continue reading Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita to host another Mobil 1 world-record attempt

Skyview Drive-In theater in Litchfield breaks world record for most dogs at a drive-in

The Skyview Drive-In theatre in Litchfield, Illinois, shattered the record for most dogs at a drive-in theater with 199 during the screening Saturday of "A Dog's Way Home." The previous Guinness world record was 120 dogs. The event at the Route 66 landmark over the weekend was part of Mobil 1's "Keep Route 66 Kickin'" … Continue reading Skyview Drive-In theater in Litchfield breaks world record for most dogs at a drive-in

Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield will host another Mobil 1 Guinness record attempt on Oct. 15

The Skyview Drive-In theater in Litchfield, Illinois, will host another Guinness World Record attempt on Oct. 15 as part of Mobil 1's "Keep Route 66 Kickin'" tour. According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the Route 66 theater co-owned by Mindy Patrovich will see whether it can host the most dogs ever at a drive-in. She said … Continue reading Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield will host another Mobil 1 Guinness record attempt on Oct. 15

Mobil 1 campaign includes advocating Route 66 as a National Historic Trail

Apparently Mobil 1 isn't content with slapping Route 66 content onto a racecar. The oil company over the weekend rolled out its Keep Route 66 Kickin' campaign with several events planned along the Mother Road, a guide to Route 66's small businesses and advocacy for having the U.S. Congress designate Route 66 as a National … Continue reading Mobil 1 campaign includes advocating Route 66 as a National Historic Trail

Illinois announces $4 million in grants for projects along Route 66

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced $4 million in grants for various projects along Route 66, including a visitors center in a former Edwardsville gas station, reopening the old Cannonball Jail in Carlinville and a new Muffler Man on a restaurant in Berwyn. According to Riverbender.com and … Continue reading Illinois announces $4 million in grants for projects along Route 66