The city of Pacific, Missouri, gave the official green light to its plan to convert the Red Cedar Inn restaurant building and lounge into a history and visitors center.
The Washington Missourian reported:
Aldermen approved a contract Nov 6 with architects Patterhn-Ives, St. Louis, to design a multiuse interior for the structure, and determine improvements needed to make certain that the building is structurally sound.
Mayor Steve Myers said he envisions the structure as the future home of a visitors center, regional museum and a venue to highlight a thriving Route 66 roadside park complex.
In addition to tourism information, two separate city owned collections will be housed there.
On display will be the historic memorabilia that made up the collection in the city owned Meramec Valley History Museum, formerly located in the Wolf residence building at 206 W. Union, which is currently in storage at the Community School.
The genealogy archive accumulated by the former Meramec Valley Genealogical and Historical Society is located in the Government Center, 300 Hoven St., and also will be located in the building and available to the public.
The Smith brothers built the restaurant in 1932, then constructed the tavern addition a few years later, from logs cut from the family farm.
The restaurant and bar were a favorite for many travelers on Route 66, including politicians and baseball legends Dizzy Dean and Ted Williams.
The Red Cedar Inn closed abruptly in 2005, with its owners citing rising insurance costs, not long after its 70th anniversary. It remains on the National Register of Historic Places.
(Image of the Red Cedar Inn in 2004 in Pacific, Missouri, by Original uploader was Kbh3rd (talk) – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Xnatedawgx using CommonsHelper., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6312740)
This is sensational salute to Steve Meyers nd all the good work he and the city of Pacific has done!