This year's edition of the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor festival is going to be a two-day affair, with Bloomington-Normal added to its list of towns to visit. The May 6-7 event, which starts in Joliet, lengthens to 100 miles and 14 communities, according to a news release from the Illinois Route 66 Scenic … Continue reading Red Carpet Corridor festival adds second day, Bloomington-Normal to its itinerary
Tag: Bloomington
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
Forthcoming parklet in downtown Bloomington will pay tribute to Route 66
Downtown Bloomington, Illinois, by sometime next year will have an interactive parklet that commemorates the city's ties to Route 66. City leaders dedicated and previewed the parklet that's scheduled to be finished by early summer 2022, according to a report by WMBD/WYZZ. Here's the station's video report: A parklet is a sidewalk extension, usually in parking lanes, … Continue reading Forthcoming parklet in downtown Bloomington will pay tribute to Route 66
Century-old passenger rail car will be converted into a diner on Route 66
A 110-year-old passenger rail car is being moved to Bloomington, Illinois, so it can be converted into a diner on Route 66. The decaying Illinois Terminal rail car once sat for more than 30 years at a former depot in Harristown, Illinois, west of Decatur. David Parker of Bloomington was forced to cut the rail … Continue reading Century-old passenger rail car will be converted into a diner on Route 66
Quinn’s Shell station in Bloomington likely will be torn down soon
The closed Quinn's Shell gas station in Bloomington, Illinois, that was owned by an Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame member likely will face the wrecking ball in the coming weeks. According to Pantagraph columnist Bill Flick, the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission will meet this week to review a demolition permit of Quinn’s Shell at … Continue reading Quinn’s Shell station in Bloomington likely will be torn down soon
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
“Negro Motorist Green Book” expert to speak at Miles of Possibility conference
Candacy Taylor, author of a forthcoming book about the Negro Motorist Green Book published from the 1930s to the '60s, will be the keynote speaker during the fifth annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference in Normal, Illinois, on Oct. 17-20. Taylor soon will publish "Overground Railroad: The Green Book and theRoots of Black Travel … Continue reading “Negro Motorist Green Book” expert to speak at Miles of Possibility conference
Rebuilt Parkview Inn in Bloomington to reopen Wednesday
The Parkview Inn, which was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2016, will reopen Wednesday morning at its old Route 66 location in Bloomington, Illinois. The reopening date, set last week, will occur in spite of a vandal who smashed a plate-glass window at the venerable restaurant over the weekend. The restaurant is insured for … Continue reading Rebuilt Parkview Inn in Bloomington to reopen Wednesday
Route 66 Experience Hub unveiled in downtown Bloomington
Local officials on Monday unveiled a 9-foot-tall Route 66 Experience Hub at Main and Jefferson streets in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, in an effort to boost tourism there. The interactive kiosk is designed to help point out to visitors Route 66 attractions in the city and region, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph: The hub — the 14th experience … Continue reading Route 66 Experience Hub unveiled in downtown Bloomington
Rebuilt Parkview Inn in Bloomington should reopen this month
The Parkview Inn restaurant, which is being rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2016, should reopen at its old site in Bloomington, Illinois, later this month. According to the Bloomington Pantagraph, the fire caused $300,000 worth of damage. But owner Rick McCormick decided to tear down what little was left and start over. The new … Continue reading Rebuilt Parkview Inn in Bloomington should reopen this month