The board of Will County, Ill., recently approved a new marketing plan for a long-overlooked section of Route 66 from Joliet to Braidwood, reported the Southtown Star. The newspaper said: There is an “untapped tourism potential” here, and tying all these natural, recreational and historical amenities together is historic Route 66, said project consultant Ferhat … Continue reading Suburban Chicago county approves Route 66 marketing plan
Antique truck show will feature Campbell 66 Express
The American Truck Historical Society's National Convention in Springfield, Mo., not only will feature cruises and speech on Route 66, but a speaker about the town's long-closed Campbell 66 Express trucking firm, according to news release from the society and its website. The convention, scheduled for May 29-31 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, will include … Continue reading Antique truck show will feature Campbell 66 Express
Tri-County Truck Stop will host ‘ghost hunt’
The long-closed Tri-County Truck Stop along Route 66 in Villa Ridge, Mo., will host a "ghost hunt" by the Paranormal Task Force on Saturday night. According to a report in the Washington Missourian, the interactive event begins at 6 p.m. and lasts until 4 a.m. The cost is $50. Tickets may be bought here. Tri-County Truck … Continue reading Tri-County Truck Stop will host ‘ghost hunt’
A “Holiday” in California
For folks in America who are still languishing in the clutches of a harsh winter, maybe this video by Danielle Dumont about the Golden State -- with lots of Route 66 content -- will make your day a bit warmer. Or induce you to take a vacation. California 2012 from Danielle Dumont on Vimeo. Music … Continue reading A “Holiday” in California
A chat with a Texola business owner
KC Keefer, as part of his ongoing "Genuine Route 66 Life" series, talks to Masel Zimmerman of the Tumbleweeds Grill and Country Store in the Route 66 ghost town of Texola, Okla. https://youtu.be/S6KJ-9yQReU About a year ago, Zimmerman took a 1930s building, Water Hole #2, and converted it into a personal art gallery, plus a … Continue reading A chat with a Texola business owner
Joplin dedicates Route 66 Mural Park
Most of it has been up for months, but Joplin, Mo., dedicated its Route 66 Mural Park on Thursday night with a ribbon-cutting and other downtown events. The park near at Seventh and Main — where two alignments of Route 66 intersect — features one-half of a 1964 Corvette embedded in a wall as a … Continue reading Joplin dedicates Route 66 Mural Park
Old-time photo studio opens across from Blue Swallow Motel
An old-time-style photography studio has opened across the road from the landmark Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. The couple that opened those businesses also plan to eventually open a Route 66 wedding chapel in that space. Here is one of the sets Mother Road Old Time Photos uses: According to a story in the Tucumcari-based … Continue reading Old-time photo studio opens across from Blue Swallow Motel
Illinois county gets $2 million grant for Route 66 Bike Trail
McLean County, Ill., has received $2 million in state funds to build a five-mile segment of the Route 66 Bike Trail from the north side of Normal to Towanda, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. The newspaper said: County Engineer Eric Schmitt said a stretch from Towanda Avenue in north Normal to County Highway 29 in … Continue reading Illinois county gets $2 million grant for Route 66 Bike Trail
It’s official: There will be a third “Cars” film
Disney-Pixar plans a second sequel to the animated "Cars" movie, according to Variety and many other media outlets, although we'd long reported it would happen. Disney CEO and chairman Bob Iger made the announcement during the annual Walt Disney Co. shareholders meeting Tuesday in Portland, Ore. However, author Michael Wallis, a Route 66 consultant to … Continue reading It’s official: There will be a third “Cars” film
Southwest Missouri station puts Route 66 segments online
Years ago, KY3-TV reporter Ed Fillmer, a native of the Route 66 town of Marshfield, Mo., shot segments about Route 66 in Missouri. Yesterday, the Springfield, Mo., station put those segments online. The video cannot be embedded, but I've provided direct links and descriptions of them. Some of these videos date to the 1970s. I recommend … Continue reading Southwest Missouri station puts Route 66 segments online