Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announces $6,000 worth of grants

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway this week announced the latest round of the Byway Project Funds program to provide financial assistance to byway members. Byway Project Funds are meant to support events, marketing and advertising efforts, and projects that help preserve the heritage of Illinois Route 66 and promote travel to Illinois Route 66 … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announces $6,000 worth of grants

J.D. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum in Atlanta remains an attraction 40 years after it closed

If you've never received a tour inside the J.H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum in Atlanta, Illinois, a recent article by an area newspaper will give you the next best thing. The Bloomington Pantagraph posted a bunch of photographs and a video of the historic landmark just off Route 66 as part of its "Off Limits" … Continue reading J.D. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum in Atlanta remains an attraction 40 years after it closed

Missy’s Sweet Shoppe soon will open in Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta

The historic Palms Grill Cafe in downtown Atlanta, Illinois, soon will have a new tenant -- the Missy's Sweet Shoppe bakery. Missy Gaither is leasing the property from the owner, the Atlanta Public Library. She said in a phone interview she would open there in early June. "I was looking for a storefront, and it … Continue reading Missy’s Sweet Shoppe soon will open in Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta

Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $4,000 in grants for varying projects

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway this week announced it awarded a total of $4,000 in grants to four byway members, including one that has created the Largest Tire on Route 66. It is the second round of grant awards from the byway. According to a news release: Byway Project Funds are to support events, … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $4,000 in grants for varying projects

Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $5,000 in grants to various projects

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announced Thursday it has awarded grants totaling $5,000 to byway members for various projects. These are the grant awardees: Sky View Drive-In theater in Litchfield, Illinois: $1,000 to help repaint its screen;Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois: $1,000 to build a series of informative and interpretative banners and signage … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $5,000 in grants to various projects

A new exhibit in Atlanta showcases an original section of Route 66

A new outdoor exhibit in Atlanta, Illinois, offers drivers a chance to cruise down a 1924 section of highway that became the original Route 66 two years later. The quarter-mile section gives drivers a taste of what it was like to drive old Route 66 nearly a century ago. That section was part of Illinois … Continue reading A new exhibit in Atlanta showcases an original section of Route 66

“60 Minutes” airs its interview with famed sportswriter Dave Kindred at Palms Grill Cafe

CBS-TV's long-running "60 Minutes" news program aired its 13-minute feature about famed sportswriter Dave Kindred, where he was interviewed in the soon-to-reopen Palms Grill Cafe in his hometown of Atlanta, Illinois. The Route 66 restaurant's exterior makes only a brief appearance, though much of the interview was conducted inside. Though it contains little Route 66 … Continue reading “60 Minutes” airs its interview with famed sportswriter Dave Kindred at Palms Grill Cafe

Soon-to-reopen Palms Grill Cafe hosts upcoming “60 Minutes” interview

The Palms Grill Cafe in downtown Atlanta, Illinois, which is scheduled to reopen next month, hosted an interview for an upcoming 12-minute segment on CBS-TV's long-running and popular "60 Minutes" news show. The Bloomington Pantagraph broke the story about acclaimed Illinois sportswriter and Atlanta native Dave Kindred talking about his new book, "Leave Out the … Continue reading Soon-to-reopen Palms Grill Cafe hosts upcoming “60 Minutes” interview

Lease on historic Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta now available for applicants

The interior of the Palms Grill Cafe in 2014 The historic Palms Grill Cafe along Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Illinois, is available to lease for prospective restaurateurs. According to a news release Wednesday from the Atlanta Public Library, which owns the property: The Palms Grill Café is a turnkey operation. It is fully equipped … Continue reading Lease on historic Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta now available for applicants

Atlanta, Illinois, votes to create tourism development director position

The city council of the Route 66 town of Atlanta, Illinois, voted last week to create the position of tourism development director and has begun advertising to fill it. According to a news release from Bill Thomas, chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership who is based in Atlanta: The Tourism Development Director will … Continue reading Atlanta, Illinois, votes to create tourism development director position