POPS, the Route 66 landmark in Arcadia, Okla., that's best-known for its 66-foot-tall pop bottle and more than 500 brands of soda it sells, recently revamped the menu of its cafe, reports the Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City restaurateurs Keith and Heather Paul were hired to make the changes after discussing the idea with POPS owner … Continue reading POPS revamps menu
Category: Attractions
Big rocker is certified as world record
The gigantic rocking chair at the Fanning Outpost General Store in the Route 66 hamlet of Fanning, Mo., was certified as an official Guinness World Record as the largest such piece of furniture, according to a news release Wednesday. The chair was custom-built for store owner Dan Sanazaro last April. Officially, the chair measures 42 … Continue reading Big rocker is certified as world record
Follies performer makes record book
Dorothy Dale Kloss, 85, a performer with the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies during its season-long musical salute to Route 66 in "Get Your Kicks," was recently confirmed by the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records as the "world's oldest still-performing showgirl." According to the Follies: She has been tap dancing on the Follies' stage for … Continue reading Follies performer makes record book
Joliet business adds kitsch to Route 66
Noting the Route 66 attractions on the Broadway alignment of Joliet, Ill., Dick's Towing decided to get into the act, according to the Herald News. He pulled two vintage vehicles from storage and had them hoisted to the top of a block building he owns on the southeastern edge of his property on the 900 … Continue reading Joliet business adds kitsch to Route 66
A Muffler Man primer
Carrie Steinweg, a correspondent for The Times in Munster, Ind., has an excellent overview of the significance and history of Muffler Men -- the fiberglass giants that were (and still are) used by businesses to get the attention of potential customers. Many of the statues were purchased by muffler shops -- hence, the Muffler Man … Continue reading A Muffler Man primer
A big hole in the ground
The International Herald Tribune has an excellent article about meteor impact sites and other natural holes around Arizona, including the big Meteor Crater off Route 66 east of Flagstaff. Some interesting facts about Meteor Crater: If a football game were played at the bottom, the crater's walls would hold 2 million spectators. The 4,100-foot-wide crater … Continue reading A big hole in the ground
Another stimulus proposal
Another community has latched on to trying to get money from President Obama's upcoming stimulus package. This time, according to WEEK-TV, the Route 66 town of Chenoa, Ill., is making a pitch: And community leaders in Chenoa say they also are requesting more than $300,000 in federal stimulus funds in order to build a bike … Continue reading Another stimulus proposal
If you want tourism dollars, be tourism-friendly
This excerpt in an article in the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph caught my attention: Between June 2006 and June 2007, the tourism industry funneled about $29.5 million through neighboring Logan County. During that same time, DeWitt County counted about $9.1 million. “I understand that Logan County is twice the size of DeWitt County in terms of … Continue reading If you want tourism dollars, be tourism-friendly
Marine base expansion may threaten access to Route 66
The U.S. Marine Corps is considering a possible expansion of its Air Ground Combat Center in Southern California that may restrict or cut off access to Route 66 and other spots in that area from about Cadiz Summit to just west of Amboy. According to Kell Brigan, who is fighting the Marines' possible land acquisition: … Continue reading Marine base expansion may threaten access to Route 66
International hit
Drawing on the Daily Oklahoman's story a few days ago, the Christian Science Monitor further examines Route 66's increasing appeal to foreign travelers.