Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society lands grant to restore Campbell 66 Express trailer

The Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society announced last week it received a $2,100 grant to help restore a trailer once used by the long-defunct Campbell 66 Express trucking firm. The grant was provided by the Route 66 Preservation and Economic Development Program through the Route 66 Road Ahead initiative, according to the society in a … Continue reading Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society lands grant to restore Campbell 66 Express trailer

Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton is closing to visitors permanently

Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Illinois, which faced a shaky future after the death of its owner and creator last year, is set to close any day now. The imminent closure of the quirky complex on Route 66 was confirmed by Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway director Casey Claypool. "... When a site like the … Continue reading Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton is closing to visitors permanently

Acquaintances seek to keep open Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton

A longtime friend and a family member aim to keep Henry's Rabbit Ranch along old Route 66 in Staunton, Illinois, going through at least the highway's centennial in 2026. Bob Caldieraro, who knew founder Rich Henry for decades, said he and Henry's sister, Michelle, reopened Henry's Rabbit Ranch about two weeks after his death at … Continue reading Acquaintances seek to keep open Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton

Rich Henry, longtime owner of Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, dies

Rich Henry, owner of the landmark Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Illinois, died suddenly Friday, according to locals and Route 66 enthusiasts who knew him well. An exact age for Henry wasn't available, though he listed on his Facebook page he graduated from high school in 1965. That would put his age in his mid-70s. … Continue reading Rich Henry, longtime owner of Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, dies

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

St. Robert begins restoration of Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs

The City of St. Robert, Missouri, recently announced it began the long-awaited restoration of the Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs that once graced a defunct motel along Route 66 in west St. Louis. The sign restorations are part of the Route 66 Sign Neon Park planned at the historic George M. Reed Roadside Park at 228 … Continue reading St. Robert begins restoration of Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs

Group donates neon signs to Route 66 Neon Park

The Friends of the Mother Road nonprofit group this week donated neon signs from the Stanley Cour-Tel and Lin-Air Motel on Route 66 in St. Louis to the future Route 66 Neon Park in St. Robert, Missouri. According to a news release from Beth Wiles of Pulaski County Route 66 Preservation: Both properties were razed … Continue reading Group donates neon signs to Route 66 Neon Park

Grant to help “Trucking on Route 66” project

A $5,100 federal cost-share grant will help Missouri State University Libraries and Ozarks Alive set up a "Trucking on Route 66" oral-history project. The grant comes from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, which should release its full list of 2017 grant recipients any day now. According to a news release from the university: Twenty … Continue reading Grant to help “Trucking on Route 66” project

Rich Henry keeps hopping along

Look what hopped up in my feed. KSDK-TV, the popular NBC affiliate in St. Louis, gave two minutes to Henry's Rabbit Ranch on old Route 66 in Staunton, Illinois. Henry's been doing this schtick for more than 20 years now, which makes him a veteran in Route 66 circles. (Image of Rich Henry by Marcin … Continue reading Rich Henry keeps hopping along

A visit with Rich Henry

KC Keefer continues his "Genuine Route 66 Life" video series with an interview of Rich Henry, owner of Henry's Rabbit Ranch on a stretch of old Route 66 in Staunton, Illinois. https://youtu.be/nCSM7wyOGoU It's good to see Henry breaking in a new bunny to greet tourists. He has to do that every few years because their life … Continue reading A visit with Rich Henry