The couple that recently purchased the long-closed Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, said they likely would partly reopen the Route 66 restaurant in May, with a full reopening sometime in 2019. The restaurant is most famous for its one-of-a-kind 30-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue. Holly Barker and Tully Garrett, who bought the Launching Pad … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In may partially reopen in May
Category: Restaurants
New neon sign, lizard statue goes up in Kingman
Route 66 author and tour guide Jim Hinckley recently sent a long list of additions in Kingman, Arizona -- including a new neon sign along Route 66 and a statue of a big lizard. Based on those two things, it's safe to say Kingman no longer is a sleepy Route 66 town. Hinckley wrote: Improvements … Continue reading New neon sign, lizard statue goes up in Kingman
Route 66 Chamber of Commerce launches GoFundMe campaign
Ron Hart of the Missouri-based Route 66 Chamber of Commerce has launched a $5,000 GoFundMe campaign to help keep up its website and other activities benefiting the Mother Road. According to the crowdfunding site: With more than 100+ pages on our popular, ten-year-old Route 66 Chamber of Commerce website, it has become the largest Route … Continue reading Route 66 Chamber of Commerce launches GoFundMe campaign
Wilder’s Steakhouse rooftop sign removed for restoration
The rooftop neon sign at Wilder's Steakhouse in Joplin, Missouri, was removed Friday for restoration. A relighting ceremony for the sign is scheduled for dusk April 14. According to a news release, the animated neon sign has not operated for least 25 years. The restaurant at 1216 Main St. landed a $24,000 cost-share grant from … Continue reading Wilder’s Steakhouse rooftop sign removed for restoration
Eat-Rite Diner gets new owners, may reopen in April
The Eat-Rite Diner near downtown St. Louis recently gained new owners who plan to renovate the interior but keep its historic elements. KMOX radio in St. Louis reported Joel and Shawna Holtman are busy trying to get the restaurant open by April 5, which is the home opener for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team … Continue reading Eat-Rite Diner gets new owners, may reopen in April
Conway restaurant becomes a shelter from the storm
You may have heard about the horrific chain-reaction wrecks along Interstate 44 in Missouri caused by icy roads. The accidents killed at least two people, and part of the interstate was closed overnight until all the vehicles could be cleared The Rocking Chair Restaurant along Route 66 in Conway, Missouri, served as a shelter to … Continue reading Conway restaurant becomes a shelter from the storm
Federation discontinues “Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide”
The National Historic Route 66 Federation a few months ago quietly discontinued publication of its "Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide" book after almost 20 years. Federation Chairman David Knudson announced the decision in a brief post on the semi-private Route 66 yahoogroup last week. The 17th and last edition of the spiral-bound "Route 66 … Continue reading Federation discontinues “Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide”
Holiday Inn with Route 66-themed restaurant opens in Joplin
A new, rare-model Holiday Inn that contains a restaurant inspired by Route 66 and hopes to attract Mother Road travelers opened a few days ago in Joplin, Missouri. The only problem is Holiday Inn Joplin at 3402 S. Arizona Ave. sits more than 2 1/2 miles south of the nearest alignment of Route 66 at Seventh … Continue reading Holiday Inn with Route 66-themed restaurant opens in Joplin
Route 66 figures prominently in Chinese-food documentary
At least two restaurants on Route 66 were featured in "The Search for General Tso," a 2014 documentary about the rise of Chinese cuisine in America. The Route 66 town of Springfield, Missouri, also figures prominently. A total of only 13 theaters screened the film upon its early 2015 release, so it barely made a … Continue reading Route 66 figures prominently in Chinese-food documentary
Angels on the Route restaurant in Baxter Springs closes temporarily
The Angels on the Route restaurant in downtown Baxter Springs, Kansas, has closed at least temporarily until spring. Sue Gast, who helped revitalize the historic building into a restaurant more than 10 years ago, wrote in an email Thursday: My business is temporarily closed for the season and hoping to open in April. We will … Continue reading Angels on the Route restaurant in Baxter Springs closes temporarily