Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announces $6,000 worth of grants

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway this week announced the latest round of the Byway Project Funds program to provide financial assistance to byway members. Byway Project Funds are meant to support events, marketing and advertising efforts, and projects that help preserve the heritage of Illinois Route 66 and promote travel to Illinois Route 66 … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announces $6,000 worth of grants

New Mexico Route 66 Association to honor Hotel Zazz in Albuquerque

The New Mexico Route 66 Association on Saturday will give its Heritage Award to Hotel Zazz in Albuquerque at noon Saturday. According to a news release from the association, it is recognizing the "revitalization of this classic Route 66 motel into a whimsical, memorable experience with piZAZZ." Originally opened as Albuquerque TraveLodge East in 1966, … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association to honor Hotel Zazz in Albuquerque

City of Amarillo begins repainting water tower that will sport a Route 66 emblem

The City of Amarillo recently began repainting a water tower that will include a special Route 66 emblem, probably by early spring. KFDA-TV reported about the project last week: “You really don’t know if you’re on Route 66, unless you’re seeing those brown Route 66 signs that are pretty spread out. Having these markers will … Continue reading City of Amarillo begins repainting water tower that will sport a Route 66 emblem

New music video shows dozens of Tulsa attractions, including those on Route 66

Tulsa-based musician Charlie Redd recently released an animated music video, "Tulsa Hills," described as "a love letter to Tulsa." The video contains images of nearly 150 sites in Tulsa, including quite a few along the city's stretch of Route 66. https://youtu.be/IIhZlo4ZDbA Mort Johnson, a Tulsa native, did the animation. In an article in the Tulsa … Continue reading New music video shows dozens of Tulsa attractions, including those on Route 66

Largest handmade guitar sculpture coming to Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet

A 24-foot-tall handmade guitar sculpture proclaimed as the world's largest will be coming to the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 in downtown Joliet, Illinois. The work, called Gigantar, will begin a nearly one-week road trip to the museum with a launch party at the legendary Stone Pony nightclub in Asbury Park, New … Continue reading Largest handmade guitar sculpture coming to Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet

The man behind the scrap-metal elephant sculpture in Lexington

Along the side of Route 66 in Lexington, Illinois, is an 11-foot-tall elephant sculpture made of scrap metal, titled "American Standard." It's become a photo-op, as it's listed on the Roadside America website and the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway site. According to a recent profile by NPR affiliate WGLT Radio, the artist behind the … Continue reading The man behind the scrap-metal elephant sculpture in Lexington

Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau honored for Route 66 mural trail

The Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism recently honored the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau with a Cooperative Partnership award for The Last 100 Miles of Route 66 Postcard Mural Trail. More about the honor from The Alton Telegraph newspaper: Working with 12 different Route 66 communities to create a vivid Route 66 … Continue reading Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau honored for Route 66 mural trail

Memorial dedicated to Joplin tornado victims of 2011

A 17-foot-tall sculpture was dedicated Wednesday to the people who died in the 2011 tornado that ravaged Joplin, Missouri. The Joplin Memorial Run sculpture bears the names of the 161 dead from the EF5 twister. It is located at the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex at Joplin Avenue and Seventh Street (aka Route … Continue reading Memorial dedicated to Joplin tornado victims of 2011

Gearhead Curios in Galena to hold official ribbon-cutting on June 17

Mark your calendars. Gearhead Curios of Galena, Kansas, will hold an official ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. June 17 to celebrate several years of work on the former Texaco station. "It will have been almost 5 years of renovations; we have been soft open since March of '22 but come June we will be ready ready … Continue reading Gearhead Curios in Galena to hold official ribbon-cutting on June 17

Texas Old Route 66 Association helps replace damaged VW at Bug Ranch

The Texas Old Route 66 Association a few days ago swapped out a damaged Volkwagen at the Bug Ranch art installation in Panhandle, Texas. The association stated in a Facebook post: One of the VWs out at the Bug Ranch had been severely vandalized and pretty much on the ground for the last 2 years.Thanks … Continue reading Texas Old Route 66 Association helps replace damaged VW at Bug Ranch