The plan for a long-closed church in downtown Joliet, Ill., includes converting it into senior-citizen housing and creating a visitors center for Route 66 travelers, according to the Chicago Tribune and the Joliet Herald-News. Developer Scott Henry on Wednesday laid out a $20 million plan for the St. Mary Carmelite Church. It will be renamed The Limestone … Continue reading Plan for closed Joliet church includes a Route 66 visitors center
Category: Attractions
Behind the scenes at Keepers of the Wild
HDNet recently aired this 28-minute episode that shows what goes on at Keepers of the Wild, a nonprofit exotic animal sanctuary on Route 66 north of Kingman, Ariz. https://youtu.be/xAl44rZsCUw
New park in Pontiac will have a Route 66 theme
Pontiac, Ill., likely will add another Mother Road attraction in the coming months -- a Route 66 Celebration Park in downtown, according to a city-council story in the Pontiac Daily Leader. The park will be south of the courthouse. According to the newspaper: The council also looked at several conceptual designs for the new downtown … Continue reading New park in Pontiac will have a Route 66 theme
Billboard near Round Barn will be removed
The Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society announced Wednesday it had reached an agreement with the City of Arcadia, Okla., and land owner Fred Mazaheri to remove a tall billboard just east of the historic Round Barn on Route 66, reported the Edmond Daily Sun. According to the newspaper: “We are sure thankful to Mr. Mazaheri … Continue reading Billboard near Round Barn will be removed
A walk through the Bottle Tree woods
Here's a new video about Elmer Long's Bottle Tree Ranch, located off Route 66 near Oro Grande, Calif. https://youtu.be/ZDwXs4BJoc8 I wouldn't be surprised if the site is eventually declared a national landmark or something like that. I would hope so, anyway.
A visit to John’s Modern Cabins
Here's something shot just a few days ago -- a visit to the ruins of the long-closed John's Modern Cabins, off old Route 66 in rural Newburg, Mo. As a bonus, the videographer also visited the long-defunct Stoney Dell Resort, near Jerome, Mo. https://youtu.be/Yz0fN0dQymc
A day in Oatman
Here's a nice video, shot just a few days ago, in the Route 66 town of Oatman, Ariz. There's no fancy editing or a pop-music soundtrack. Just the town, its people and animals, and the natural sounds. https://youtu.be/U7jfbxEya_4
Paul Bunyan’s journey on Route 66
This is the story behind the Paul Bunyan fiberglass giant, aka Muffler Man, that sits on old Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Ill. It formerly stood at a restaurant, also on Route 66, in Cicero, Ill. https://youtu.be/WDtXoyOrDqU The video was produced by WCIA-TV, based in Champaign, Ill.
Blue Whale gets security cameras
The bad news is someone recently broke open the donations box at the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla., and took about $15. The good news is an anonymous benefactor has donated camera equipment so the Route 66 landmark can be monitored against vandals and thieves. Also, a local wrecker service repaired and bolstered the donations … Continue reading Blue Whale gets security cameras
Pontiac tourism number continue to surge
The Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill., saw record numbers of tourists during 2011. Those numbers in 2012 so far are continuing that strong trend, to eye-popping levels. According to the Pontiac Daily Leader: According to a person at the Pontiac Tourism office, numbers of tourists for January and February increased by 400 percent as … Continue reading Pontiac tourism number continue to surge