Test your ability to Hit the Road

The folks in Atlanta, Illinois, unveiled a deceptively simple but unusual new attraction in their Route 66 town — a Hit the Road game modeled after an old strongman contest commonly seen at county fairs many years ago.

The Hit the Road game is next to the Bunyon Statue in downtown Atlanta. More details:

The Hit the Road game challenges visitors to Atlanta to see how far they can “travel” on Route 66 by swinging a giant mallet that hits a steel weight up along a map of the Mother Road depicting each state and the major cities along the route from Chicago to L.A. The large 7-foot-wide by 16-foot-tall map also includes famous Rt. 66 landmarks. Visitors who hit the weight high enough, ring the large bell next to where Los Angeles is located on the map.

The Hit the Road game is the brainchild of the Atlanta Betterment Fund group and is in keeping with Atlanta’s efforts to provide interesting, unique experiences to Rt. 66 travelers. The ABF did not, however, set out to create a new tourist attraction when this project began. The original intent was simply to repair crumbling stucco on the back wall of the brick building next to Atlanta’s famous Bunyon Giant. The group wanted to make sure the photos visitors took of the giant didn’t also include a brick wall in bad need of repair. As discussions progressed, however, it was suggested that more might be done than just fixing the crumbling stucco. Faced with a large, blank wall space, the ABF came up with the idea of creating an experience that would be both interactive and Rt. 66 themed. A local metal fabricator was hired to design and build what is technically called a highstriker game. Members of the ABF then worked with a graphic artist to create the large map that provides the game’s background.

Bill Thomas of the Atlanta Betterment Group said ringing that bell “takes a bit of strength and skill” to ring that bell. But he says several people already have done it since the game was introduced last Saturday.

(Image of the Hit the Road game via the Atlanta Betterment Fund)