Matt Land, who was driving on much of Route 66 with a propane-powered lawn mower built by his employer, Dixie Chopper, is supposed to finish his 2,000-mile trek from Indiana to California this morning, reports the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal. He was hoping to meet with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but the guv has already made it know … Continue reading Mower Man near the end of his ride
Category: Businesses
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
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
Old gas station to become visitors center
Rod Harsh of Route66TVOnline.com has acquired a vintage Sinclair service station on Route 66 in Carterville, Mo., and is converting it into a Route 66 Visitors Welcome Center and an office for his video production and Visit66.com Web site businesses. A current-day photo of the gas station is above. A photo of the station and … Continue reading Old gas station to become visitors center
Palms Grill sign relighted
The old neon sign of the Palms Grill in downtown Atlanta, Ill., was relighted in a ceremony this week, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. The sign was restored in part with a grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. The newspaper didn't have any photos of the new sign, but here's an artist's rendering. The … Continue reading Palms Grill sign relighted
Mower Man makes it to Rolla
Matt Land, sales manager for Dixie Choppers lawn mowers in Indiana, stopped for a bite to eat during his quest to drive a propane-powered lawn mower across the country. Money quote from the Rolla Daily News: “I’ve been eating a lot of bugs and raindrops, and I know what it’s like to be a hood … Continue reading Mower Man makes it to Rolla
Four-alarm fire closes Missouri Route 66
A four-alarm mulch fire at Route 66 Landscape Supply Center in Pacific, Mo., closed down the Mother Road part of Sunday afternoon, reports KSDK-TV in St. Louis. More than 100 firefighters from 12 departments battled the blaze, which was difficult to extinguish. Smoke could be seenn from more than 10 miles away. Firefighters expect to … Continue reading Four-alarm fire closes Missouri Route 66
Trail walker makes it to Kingman
The Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner caught up with Detlev Henschel and his wife Katrin Frommhold as they trudge across North America on wagon trails and the oldest roads they can find, including Route 66. Detlev explained that he wanted to show the "good news" about America - one removed from world politics and the biggest … Continue reading Trail walker makes it to Kingman
“Independent America” to air on Sundance Channel
The excellent 2006 documentary about indie businesses struggling to survive, "Independent America," will have its television debut on July 4 on the Sundance Channel, the filmmakers announced. There's no time yet announced for the broadcast; check your listings closer to the Fourth of July holiday. We reviewed "Independent America" and highly recommend it. Route 66, … Continue reading “Independent America” to air on Sundance Channel
Drive into the Grand Canyon
Most people think the only way to get to the bottom of the Grand Canyon is either by hiking or pack mule. But, as the Arizona Republic reports, you can actually drive into the canyon, via Diamond Creek Road in the Hualapai Indian reservation. And the way to get to that road is via old … Continue reading Drive into the Grand Canyon