Members of the Joliet Region Model A Restorers' Club participated in the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor weekend from Joliet to Pontiac. The one who shot this video was driving a 1931 Ford Model A pickup. Great-looking vehicle, but, as you'll see in the footage, the payload isn't much.
Author: Ron Warnick
I'm the editor and publisher of Route 66 News, a clearinghouse of events, information, and entertainment pertaining to historic U.S. 66, the Mother Road.
Mother Road notebook
A few brief news items from Route 66: Reviews of Grand Canyon Skywalk have become so bad, its operators have hired a lawyer to send letters that threaten legal action against critics, reports East Valley Living. A prominent First Amendment attorney has scoffed at Skywalk's alleged intimidation efforts. Money quote from a nearby landowner: "We … Continue reading Mother Road notebook
Miami’s historic Marathon station
Here's a photo of the 1929 Marathon service station in Miami, Okla., that I mentioned a couple days ago. The City of Miami wants to restore it. Amanda Davis at the Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau was kind enough to e-mail a photo of it. Apparently a Marathon station this old is very rare. It's … Continue reading Miami’s historic Marathon station
Dwight gas station becomes a welcome center
A few days ago, we noted a dedication ceremony for the completed restoration of the historic Ambler's Texaco Station on Route 66 in Dwight, Ill. Now, as the Bloomington Pantagraph reports, the Ambler's station no longer pumps gas, but has settled into a new role as a welcome center for Route 66 travelers and other … Continue reading Dwight gas station becomes a welcome center
Historic gas station will reopen as a B&B
Terri Ryburn's parents drove Route 66 from Bloomington, Ill., to California when she was 5 years old. She never forgot that exciting experience. She since has driven the length of the road several times. Her history doctorate focused on Route 66 tourism efforts. She's written several books about the Mother Road. Now she's the owner … Continue reading Historic gas station will reopen as a B&B
Red Carpet weekend pronounced a success
Local officials say that the first Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor weekend, scattered 90 miles over a dozen towns, was a success, reported the Pontiac Daily Leader. "I think it was a very successful run," said Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy, who drove the entire corridor, with his son on Saturday and his wife on … Continue reading Red Carpet weekend pronounced a success
Lake Overholser Bridge may become pedestrian-only
First, the good news about the old Lake Overholser Bridge on an old alignment of Route 66, as told by the Daily Oklahoman: Now the bridge, just outside Bethany city limits, is to be restored by Oklahoma City. The restored bridge will lead to a project Hoskison envisioned: a statue of Will Rogers in a … Continue reading Lake Overholser Bridge may become pedestrian-only
Grant preserves forest near Funks Grove
The forest that lies near the Route 66 settlement of Funks Grove, Ill., is mostly unchanged since the Funk family settled there in 1824. Thanks to a $2.5 million grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, that forest grove will remain pristine. The Sugar Grove Foundation in Funks Grove was able to buy 476 … Continue reading Grant preserves forest near Funks Grove
“The people of Route 66 are the stars”
KHIZ-TV in Victorville, Calif., produced a two-minute segment about the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville. Here is the video:
Red Carpet Corridor coverage
The Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph has filed the first report about the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor weekend, which takes places along 90 miles of the Mother Road from Joliet to Towanda. As expected, the reporter talked to people who were nostalgic about Route 66. I sure wish those people would quit talking about that … Continue reading Red Carpet Corridor coverage