Joliet officially reopens Chicago Street, an original alignment of Route 66

The Joliet City Council on Monday marked the official reopening of North Chicago Street in downtown Joliet, Illinois, along with officials from the Joliet City Center Partnership, Joliet Chamber of Commerce and Will County. According to The Times Weekly: “This is an exciting day for all of Joliet as we reopen an iconic street in … Continue reading Joliet officially reopens Chicago Street, an original alignment of Route 66

Lonely Planet features a Route 66 trip through Arizona and New Mexico

Lonely Planet, which publishes a bunch of travel guides and has a popular website, posted this three-minute video of an Atlanta couple who traveled Route 66 in Arizona and New Mexico. Lonely Planet said this about the video: Historic Route 66 is full of hidden gems -- towns that seem frozen in time from the … Continue reading Lonely Planet features a Route 66 trip through Arizona and New Mexico

New sign marks Paul McCartney’s brief stop on Route 66 in Oklahoma

Oklahoma County and several residents of a stretch of original Route 66 on Monday installed a sign that commemorated a brief stop by a former Beatle, Paul McCartney, there in 2008. Shellee Graham, who lives on that segment of historic road with Route 66 historian Jim Ross, was there to help document the installation with … Continue reading New sign marks Paul McCartney’s brief stop on Route 66 in Oklahoma

“Two for the Road” episode on PBS-TV features the Texas Panhandle

A PBS-TV show titled "Two for the Road" recently aired a special episode that features the Texas Panhandle, of which a prominent portion includes Route 66 country. The show generously showcases the Route 66 towns of Shamrock, McLean, Groom, Amarillo, Vega, Adrian and Glenrio, along with Palo Duro Canyon, a popular side trip south of … Continue reading “Two for the Road” episode on PBS-TV features the Texas Panhandle

New Mexico adds new COVID-19 restrictions for two weeks starting Monday

The state of New Mexico will add new restrictions effective Monday because of soaring coronavirus cases there, and more states are likely to join it as the virus reaches a dangerous stage in the growth of infections and overwhelmed hospitals. Four other states on Friday also added COVID-19 restrictions. USA Today, which published a handy … Continue reading New Mexico adds new COVID-19 restrictions for two weeks starting Monday

Cycle 66 tour and festival in Edmond announced for November 2021

The inaugural Cycle 66, a first-of-its-kind urban and rural bicycling tour and festival along historic Route 66, is set for November 2021, with diverse cycling routes showcasing the Mother Road via starting and finishing lines in vibrant downtown Edmond, Oklahoma. The Nov. 7, 2021, tour and festival is a charitable event that seeks to raise … Continue reading Cycle 66 tour and festival in Edmond announced for November 2021

Pulaski County offers playful but serious COVID-19 cautions in a new tourism video

The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau in central Missouri wants people to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously but still wants them to travel Route 66 and to other destinations. With those things in mind, the bureau released a #DoTheFive video that briefly details five things that can be done to slow the spread of the virus, … Continue reading Pulaski County offers playful but serious COVID-19 cautions in a new tourism video

Long-closed gas station in Miami to be converted into Route 66-themed restaurant

A long-vacant gas station at a prominent corner of Miami, Oklahoma, will be converted into a Route 66-themed bistro, tea house and ice cream shop. The Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma recently purchased the former Texaco station that dates to the 1920s, reported the Miami News-Record. The property sits at South Main Street and Steve Owens … Continue reading Long-closed gas station in Miami to be converted into Route 66-themed restaurant

Illinois Scenic Byway unveils revamped website, mobile app, membership program

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway on Tuesday -- the 94th anniversary of Route 66 -- announcing several changes it hopes will benefit travelers and boost provide tourism and economic development benefits to attractions and communities along Illinois' portion of Route 66. The new look of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway website The byway's … Continue reading Illinois Scenic Byway unveils revamped website, mobile app, membership program

Barb Adkins, manager of Route 66 Visitors Center in Bloomington, dies at 61

Barb Adkins, a former deputy city manager and civil rights crusader who managed the Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 visitors center in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, after her retirement, died Saturday. She was 61. Adkins was there when the visitors center opened in 2015 and had 300 visitors in its first three hours: "We're very pleased," … Continue reading Barb Adkins, manager of Route 66 Visitors Center in Bloomington, dies at 61