The Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project and Pontiac tourism are hosting a meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Pontiac's City Council chambers to get opinions on how to guide the historic highway's future in Illinois, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. The meeting ... will help develop the “interpretive master plan” with Schmeeckle Reserve Interpreters, a Wisconsin … Continue reading Meeting will discuss Route 66’s future in Illinois
The granddaddy of Route 66 sites
Yahoo! interviews Belgium resident Swa Frantzen, whose Historic Route 66 site was established in 1994. It the first World Wide Web site about the Mother Road. He started the site to test his university's servers, but also had a desire to inform computer users about Route 66 and help the Mother Road's struggling businesses.
Lunchtime at Wrink’s Market
On Friday, I paid a lunchtime visit to the newly resurrected Route 66 icon, Wrink's Market of Lebanon, Mo. Even though longtime Route 66 aficionados will see changes in Wrink's that indicate the convenience store remains a work in progress, I noticed two things that should gladden their hearts: Terry Wrinkle, one of the sons … Continue reading Lunchtime at Wrink’s Market
Notes from the road
Dida Zende, an artist based in Berlin, is looking for at least one old gas station along Route 66 to repaint so it resembles a FIT art gallery (above). It would be repainted mostly white, with a bit of red trim and the FIT logo. Zende wants to come do this free of charge in … Continue reading Notes from the road
Rebuilding Amboy one chicken at a time
The Inland Press-Enterprise of Southern California published an excellent article about Juan Pollo restaurant chain owner Albert Okura and his efforts to restore Roy's and the nearly abandoned town of Amboy, Calif. "Everyone who has owned Amboy has been in it to make money," he said. "You can't. "I see this as a marketing avenue … Continue reading Rebuilding Amboy one chicken at a time
Needles brainstorms about revitalizing downtown
The Route 66 town of Needles, Calif., wants to revitalize its downtown, and is seeking input from residents on how to do so, according to the Mohave Daily News. One of the ideas floated sounds intriguing: A Hot Rocks and Rods on Route 66 event is currently envisioned as an alternative energy fair with music. … Continue reading Needles brainstorms about revitalizing downtown
Creator of the Launching Pad restaurant dies
John Korelc, the founder of what became the Launching Pad Drive-In on Route 66 in Wilmington, Ill., died at age 87 on Friday in nearby Joliet, reports the Joliet Herald-News. The Launching Pad originally was called the Dari Delite when it opened in 1960. That change the restaurant's name to its current moniker in 1965. … Continue reading Creator of the Launching Pad restaurant dies
Official DVD coming for “route 66”
The demand was there for years. Finally, on Oct. 23, the critically acclaimed "route 66" drama that aired from 1960 to 1964 will start to be officially released on DVD. Unofficial DVDs of "route 66" have floated around for years, many of them of erratic quality. This upcoming release by Roxbury Entertainment, in association with … Continue reading Official DVD coming for “route 66”
“This Old Road”
A sublime song by a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Kris Kristofferson: It looks like he's strolling through Route 66 country in the Mojave Desert.
Book review: “Route 66 in Chicago”
If any person should publish a Route 66 book about the Windy City, David G. Clark is one. And that's what he and Arcadia Publishing have done with "Route 66 in Chicago" ($19.95, 128 pages). However, I would first recommend his other book about the Mother Road. More on that later. ""Route 66 in Chicago" … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 in Chicago”