Mother Road Route 66 Passport now available along the highway

The Mother Road Route 66 Passport, created by the folks who developed the Route 66 Navigation app, now is available at locations along Route 66.

Marian Pavel, CEO of Touch Media, put out this news release over the weekend. It states, in part:

Passport holders collect unique stamps at 28 carefully selected locations on their adventure along Route 66 as well as free souvenirs or discounts. This as well as special pages to collect autographs or write notes, and illustrated maps created by Illustrator Joyce Harbin Cole of Pontiac, Illinois, make the passport the ultimate customizable souvenir. With an array of trivia and information about unique destinations such as the locations where dioramas created by Dutch artist Willem Bor are on display, the passport is also a valued companion to popular travel guides.

Conceived by Marian Pavel, developer of the Route 66 Navigation app, the passport is the culmination of nine months work that included several trips along Route 66 and extensive research. To ensure the accuracy of the information within the passport, Pavel enlisted assistance from several noted authorities including Dries Bessels, president of the Dutch Route 66 Association and chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership International Advisory Committee, and author Jim Hinckley. Hinckley is the author of numerous books including The Route 66 Encyclopedia and is the creator of Jim Hinckley’s America as well as a tourism development consultant. […]

A primary goal for the project is to increase traffic at visitor centers, or select businesses in locations where visitor centers are not available, which will, in turn, provide additional promotion for area businesses including motels, restaurants, museums, attractions, and events. Advertising sponsors of the passport also are promoted through the Route 66 Navigation app and related social media network. To ensure the passport remains relevant, plans are being developed for annual updates.

The suggested price for the passport is $9.99, plus tax. Sales will help support small businesses along the route.

Here’s a video about it:

For westbound travelers, the Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, is the first location for purchase. Eastbound travelers can buy the passport at 66-to-Cali at Santa Monica Pier or at Cucamonga Service Station in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

They will also be sold through locations all along Route 66 and soon through an e-shop at  route66navigation.com, eBay and Amazon.

Pavel had planned to have the passports available a few days earlier, but they were stuck by delays in customs at the Los Angeles airport.

Pavel also stated he was “confident” additional visitor centers will be added that carry the passport.

(Image of the Route 66 passport courtesy of Touch Media)