Using the recent $300,000 grant for a bicycle trail as a springboard, the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph’s editorial board ponders why Route 66 has such an enduring appeal to tourists:
What draws these people?
Maybe it is John Steinbeck’s reference to “The Mother Road” in his novel, “The Grapes of Wrath,” or the old “Route 66” television series. Maybe it’s the familiar refrain from the “Route 66” song, urging people to “get your kicks on Route 66.” Maybe it’s the links to that bygone era, from unique “motor lodges” to “maple sirup” in Funks Grove. Most likely, it is a combination of all these things.
But the continuing attraction is not just about the past. It is also about the present, and the small-town atmosphere that continues – even in larger communities – along the route. It is about the friendliness visitors still encounter and a sense of history shared between those who grew up with Route 66 and those encountering it in person for the first time.
Sounds about right.