The Fanning 66 Outpost in the Route 66 hamlet of Fanning, Mo., is hosting its annual Picture in the Rocker Day on Aug. 7, where you can enjoy the rare opportunity of sitting (or standing) on the World’s Largest Rocking Chair.
The Viva Cuba blog had some of the details:
The Outpost charges $5.00 per person for you or your group to be lifted to the seat of the rocker. You bring your camera and take your own photos. In the past, photos have been taken for Christmas cards or other special events as well as just for the fun of it. The Saturday, August 7 event runs from 9 am to 5pm.
Previously, the Cuba Fire Department used their lift truck for the fund rasier, but they sold the truck. Rather than end the event, this year the Outpost is renting a lift truck, and the money raised will be used to pay for the truck.
In case you’re wondering, the chair is more than 42 feet tall.
—
TOP ATTRACTIONS: The Blue Whale along Route 66 near Catoosa, Okla., was named one of the “Top 50 American Roadside Attractions” by Time magazine this week. Also cited were the World’s Largest Rocking Chair at the Fanning Outpost near Cuba, Mo., Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean, Texas, and Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas.
—
RESTAURANT REUSE: Ron Sanderson reported on the Route 66 yahoogroup this week that the long-vacant Red Cedar Inn in Pacific, Mo., saw some good news and bad news. The good news is that the former restaurant’s roof has been repaired, and much of the complex has been brought up to code. The bad news is that the complex apparently is being converted into a used-car lot. That’s better than having a date with a bulldozer, I suppose …
—
GRIN AND BEAR IT: Amid this story from the Arizona Republic about the Route 66 town of Williams comes some news about a new attraction, Bearizona. It’s a drive-through outdoor animal habitat that features burros, bison, Dall and bighorn sheep, and bears on 158 acres. It also includes a walk-through area where you can see the newborn or young animals. The complex remains under construction, but is open.
—
REVAMPED WEBSITE: The City of Webb City, Mo., is set to roll out a refurbished website later this week, reported the Joplin Globe. Among the new features is a history of Route 66 in the city. The site can be found here.
—
TOUR TIME: Here’s a report from the Quay County Sun about the first day of the inaugural New Mexico Route 66 Motor Tour in Tucumcari. More than 40 people participated.
—
ENCHANTED FOOD: Jane and Michael Stern of Roadfood.com, one of our favorite sites on the Internet, are planning a 2010 Roadfood Eating Tour in New Mexico on Sept. 17-18. On the itinerary so far are such Route 66 favorites as The Frontier and Mr. Powdrell’s in Albuquerque and a slew of Sante Fe restaurants. Tickets go on sale Aug. 2.
—
OUTDOOR MOVIE: The Rolling Roadshow Tour by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and Levi’s is presenting a free outdoor screening of “The Blues Brothers” at the Old Joliet Prison Park, on Friday, Aug. 13, just outside the walls of the now-closed but infamous prison. The prison, which becomes the setting for the first scene in the film, is just off Route 66. Alamo and Levi’s are taking a portable outdoor movie screen to select areas across the country this summer.