NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick's No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang racecar will feature a Mobil 1 / Route 66 paint job during the Cup Series finale at Daytona International Speedway. According to Heavy.com, the car "will feature the rock formations that sit along the iconic highway, as well as a blue skyline. The purpose of … Continue reading Kevin Harvick’s racecar will sport Mobil 1 / Route 66 paint job during race on Saturday
Category: Attractions
Ace Sign Co. gives a preview of A. Lincoln Motel sign replica coming to state fairgrounds
The Ace Sign Co. of Springfield, Illinois, provided a sneak peek a few days ago of a facsimile of the A. Lincoln Motel neon sign that stood along Route 66 in the city. The sign eventually will be incorporated with the Legends Neon Park as part of the Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State … Continue reading Ace Sign Co. gives a preview of A. Lincoln Motel sign replica coming to state fairgrounds
Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington closes; future of restaurant appears uncertain
The landmark Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois -- famous for its Gemini Giant fiberglass statue that stands next to Route 66 -- has closed, and its future appears to be uncertain. Several reports of the restaurant's closing have surfaced on various Route 66 social media groups in recent days, including unconfirmed rumors the … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington closes; future of restaurant appears uncertain
Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa plans big expansion
The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, is planning an expansion project that will add to its size by 60% within the next few years. According to a new release: Executive Director Lina Holmes hopes to complete this 7,400-square-foot addition in time for the historic highway’s 2026 centennial. “That is our goal,” said … Continue reading Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa plans big expansion
Big Route 66 neon sign installed at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield
A 40-foot neon sign was installed a few days ago at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The sign is near the fairgrounds' Gate 2, which is at the corner of Peoria Road (aka Route 66) and Sangamon Avenue. It's the first of five signs at the gate. The Route 66 Experience also is located … Continue reading Big Route 66 neon sign installed at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield
Joliet clarifies what it will do with nearly a half-million dollars for Route 66
A report in an area newspaper recently clarified how Joliet, Illinois, will use nearly $500,000 to beef up its Route 66 attractions for the highway's centennial in 2026. According to the Herald-News (paywall), the city council loaned $484,500 to the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau so it could get started quickly on Route 66 … Continue reading Joliet clarifies what it will do with nearly a half-million dollars for Route 66
Route 66 Experience at Illinois State Fair gets $500,000 grant; Old Joliet prison gets $250,000
The Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield will receive a $500,000 grant to help add to the exhibit, according to a news release from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Old Joliet Prison in Joliet also will receive $250,000 from the same program for exterior illumination of the … Continue reading Route 66 Experience at Illinois State Fair gets $500,000 grant; Old Joliet prison gets $250,000
Atlas Obscura podcast features Mary Beth Babcock and her Buck Atom statue in Tulsa
A recent podcast by the Atlas Obscura travel website featured Mary Beth Babcock, owner and creator of the Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66 shop in Tulsa, and the landmark Buck Atom fiberglass statue that anchors the site. It's an entertaining 11-minute podcast, and Babcock's irrepressible personality comes through: Babcock commissioned the Buck Atom statue … Continue reading Atlas Obscura podcast features Mary Beth Babcock and her Buck Atom statue in Tulsa
Albuquerque dedicates new bronze statues dedicated to “Breaking Bad” lead actors
Statues of the main characters of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman from the "Breaking Bad" drug kingpin drama were dedicated Friday at the Albuquerque Convention Center, with co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul present at the unveiling. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and "Breaking Bad" creator and director Vince Gilligan also attended the ceremony to dedicate … Continue reading Albuquerque dedicates new bronze statues dedicated to “Breaking Bad” lead actors
Never-before-seen diamond crystal structure found in a meteorite from Meteor Crater
Scientists recently found a unique structure of diamond and graphite in a meteorite that created Meteor Crater near Route 66 in northern Arizona that could hold big implications for the electronics industry. The Meteor Crater meteorite is known as the Canyon Diablo meteorite, which typically are named after nearby landmarks. Diablo Canyon is well known … Continue reading Never-before-seen diamond crystal structure found in a meteorite from Meteor Crater