The Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant, famous for its 28-foot-tall fiberglass Gemini Giant (above), has been put up for sale. The Launching Pad is at 810 E. Baltimore, along old Route 66, in Wilmington, Ill. The asking price is $589,000. The restaurant was inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame in 2000. I didn't … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In is for sale
Category: Attractions
Signs, signs, everywhere signs
Not that I'm complaining. Illinois is frequently cited as the best-signed state for those who want to follow old Route 66. I've driven the Mother Road from the shores of Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, and you don't even need a map except for the rare spot where a sign is stolen. Even the … Continue reading Signs, signs, everywhere signs
Joplin museum director honored by governor
Brad Belk, executive director of the Joplin (Mo.) Museum Complex, was given the 2006 Governor's Humanities Community Heritage Award. According to a news release: This award recognizes a special contribution to a community’s understanding of its heritage. Here's a rundown of Belk's accomplishments. In addition to helping a prominent Route 66 town, he's also served … Continue reading Joplin museum director honored by governor
Historic and — so far — unused
The former Illinois State Police District 6 headquarters, a unique gun-shaped building built in 1941 on Route 66 near Pontiac, likely will receive a designation on the National Register of Historic Places, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. But the future of the building is uncertain. It sits unused now, as it has plumbing and roof problems. … Continue reading Historic and — so far — unused
Spraker Service Station demolished
Laurel Kane passed on bad news today about the historic Spraker Service Station along Route 66 in Vinita, Okla.: The Spraker Service Station in Vinita, OK, which just a few weeks ago was the subject of an email writing campaign advocating its preservation, is no more. As I drove through Vinita on my way to … Continue reading Spraker Service Station demolished
Round Barn gets a touch-up
The Daily Oklahoman reported today that historic Round Barn in Arcadia, Okla., is receiving a $21,000 in repairs, including repainting. Here's a picture I took last weekend of the painting crew at work: With two stories on one day from Arcadia, it appears a certain Oklahoma City newspaper may have been reading this site.
Pops update
The Daily Oklahoman has a good story today about the progress of Pops, the distinctive convenience store under construction on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla. The store is the brainchild of Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon and Oklahoma City architect Rand Elliott. The story goes over a lot of information already reported here, except for … Continue reading Pops update
A tribute to Cadillac Ranch
For more about Cadillac Ranch, go here. For more about the filmmaker, go here.
Meet Mater’s inspiration
It's been the victim of neglect. The odometer reads 99,372 miles, and there's no telling whether they're original. Rust covers the entire body, where it nearly obscures the letters "Tannou" and "Joplin, Mo" on the door. The seats desperately need to be re-upholstered. And it gets its fuel from a storage tank that resembles a … Continue reading Meet Mater’s inspiration
Active Arcadia
Yesterday, I drove through the Route 66 town of Arcadia, Okla. It's not very big (pop. 280), but there's a lot of activity going on there. First, it appeared the canopy superstructure of the Pops convenience store, which is the brainchild of Chesapeake Energy CEO and Route 66 fan Aubrey McClendon, is nearly up. Having … Continue reading Active Arcadia