Today's story in the Pontiac Daily Leader gave many details about a tourism summit Monday in the Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill., and how local officials and businesses will handle travelers in the future. It'd been previously reported that Pontiac was seeing a 30 percent increase in tourists in 2011. But City Administrator Bob … Continue reading Pontiac’s impressive tourism surge
Category: Attractions
Footage from the Mother Road
Here's a new, 14-minute video by Ludwig Bispink, using a high-quality Panasonic camera. I like the way it was shot and edited. It contains no narration, just the images and crisp editing to show scenes from Route 66. Gary Turner at Gay Parita Station gets a generous segment about the 11 1/2-minute mark. https://youtu.be/98p3MJipHts This … Continue reading Footage from the Mother Road
History Channel may include Route 66 on program
A film crew from the History Channel filmed segments Friday along Route 66 in Southern California that may be included in a program titled "101 Objects That Changed the World," reported 66-to-Cali owner Dan Rice in Santa Monica. The crew spent time shooting near the "End of the Trail" Route 66 sign on the Santa … Continue reading History Channel may include Route 66 on program
Foothill bridge in Rancho Cucamonga dedicated
Officials in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., on Wednesday celebrated the recent completion of a pedestrian and cycling bridge over Foothill Boulevard (aka Route 66), reported the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. The bridge over the roadway now carries the 7.5-mile Pacific Electric Trail. The newspaper's report didn't include a photo. However, this artist's rendering shows what the … Continue reading Foothill bridge in Rancho Cucamonga dedicated
Cars Land update
Construction on Cars Land in Disney's California Adventure continued with the recent installation of the leaning tower of tires in front of Luigi's Casa della Tires. https://youtu.be/cs_u9y-d-8g The complex takes its inspiration from the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs from the 2006 Disney-Pixar movie "Cars." Cars Land is scheduled to be open sometime in … Continue reading Cars Land update
Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame seeks 2012 nominations
The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame Committee is seeking nominations of people, attractions, businesses, and events for its Class of 2012, according to a recent news release. The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame, based in Pontiac, will be accepting applications for the honors between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28. The release says: To … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame seeks 2012 nominations
Bottletree Ranch featured in L.A. Times
Elmer Long's Bottletree Ranch along Route 66 near Oro Grande, Calif., is so unusual, it seemed inevitable the Los Angeles Times would come calling. And it has. And an interesting admission by Long: By his own account, Long was once judgmental of people, easy to anger, a man who settled scores. But a decade of … Continue reading Bottletree Ranch featured in L.A. Times
Waynesville landmark vandalized
W.H. Croaker, the frog-shaped boulder next to old Route 66 in Wayneville, Mo., was vandalized with paint sometime after mid-November, reported the Daily Guide in Wayneville. An unknown person or persons poured maroon-colored paint over the frog's head, giving it the illusion that it was bleeding, much to the outrage of many local residents. W.H. … Continue reading Waynesville landmark vandalized
Christmas windows in Tucumcari
On Saturday night, the 2011 Christmas Village Display will debut at 808 E. Route 66 Blvd. in Tucumcari, N.M. The display, across the street from the historic Blue Swallow Motel, will feature Lionel toy trains and Rose Kaye's extensive collection of ceramic lighted buildings. The display was set up inside vacant spaces of the building; … Continue reading Christmas windows in Tucumcari
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle rolls out new holiday ornament
The folks at the World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Ill., have announced the creation of a new ornament for Christmas and other Yuletide holidays, featuring that distinctive water tower. According to the news release: Each red, white, and blue 3-D brass ornament comes in a red, gold-stamped collector's box with a commemorative insert. Official Catsup … Continue reading World’s Largest Catsup Bottle rolls out new holiday ornament