Illinois announces $4 million in grants for projects along Route 66

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced $4 million in grants for various projects along Route 66, including a visitors center in a former Edwardsville gas station, reopening the old Cannonball Jail in Carlinville and a new Muffler Man on a restaurant in Berwyn. According to Riverbender.com and … Continue reading Illinois announces $4 million in grants for projects along Route 66

“Mega Mayor” Muffler Man installed at Uranus Missouri complex

A new, 22-foot-tall Muffler Man fiberglass statue was installed Tuesday at the Uranus Missouri complex in St. Robert, Missouri. The statue is called Mega Mayor, a likeness of Uranus Missouri owner and self-proclaimed mayor Louie Keen when he's duded up in his American-flag-inspired costume. Mega Mayor, which holds a large golf ball in one hand … Continue reading “Mega Mayor” Muffler Man installed at Uranus Missouri complex

Muffler Man statue planned at Uranus Missouri complex

Louie Keen, the self-proclaimed mayor of the Uranus Missouri complex near St. Robert, Missouri, announced plans to erect a Muffler Man fiberglass statue in his own image next month. Keen revealed the plan in a Facebook post Wednesday: https://www.facebook.com/MayorofUranus/posts/3408565502560705 Keen calls it a "Mega-Mayor" statue that obviously is patterned after his "official" costume of a … Continue reading Muffler Man statue planned at Uranus Missouri complex

Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios will light its new neon signs the evening of April 29

Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66 in Tulsa will light its newly commissioned neon signs during a ceremony the evening of Wednesday, April 29. Sunset will be at 8:10 p.m. that day, though it may get dark earlier if it becomes overcast. The lighting will be streamed live on Facebook, and more details will be … Continue reading Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios will light its new neon signs the evening of April 29

New Muffler Man being added to Route 66 Food Truck Park in Springfield

A new Muffler Man fiberglass giant will be erected at the soon-to-open Route 66 Food Truck Park in Springfield, Missouri. The Facebook account for the Route 66 business made the announcement Monday: Kirk is Kirk Wheeler, owner and creator of the food-truck park, which is slated to open in mid-February. The original projected opening was … Continue reading New Muffler Man being added to Route 66 Food Truck Park in Springfield

New Mexico Route 66 Association hands out three Heritage Awards

The New Mexico Route 66 Association recently gave out Heritage Awards to Glenn's Bakery in Gallup, May Cafe in Albuquerque and Pecos Theatre in Santa Rosa for their efforts at revitalization. The Pecos Theatre at 219 S. Fourth St. (aka Route 66) was honored for renovating the oldest theater on Route 66, built in 1917. … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association hands out three Heritage Awards

Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios on Route 66 in Tulsa raising money for a new neon sign

Mary Beth Babcock, owner of Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on Route 66, is crowdfunding an effort to build a new neon sign at her Tulsa gift shop. Babcock aims to raise $10,000 through a GoFundMe.com campaign that launched about three days ago. As of Tuesday night, she'd raised more than $1,000. She wrote on Facebook … Continue reading Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios on Route 66 in Tulsa raising money for a new neon sign

New Muffler Man named Frecs erected on old Route 66 in Galena

A new Muffler Man -- a 19-foot-tall miner named Frecs -- recently was erected on old Route 66 in Galena, Kansas. The Muffler Man isn't 100 percent done. He still needs touch-ups after a weld broke on his supporting frame, and his boots needed to be finished. Regardless, it stands just west of the historic … Continue reading New Muffler Man named Frecs erected on old Route 66 in Galena

Restoration complete on Muffler Man lumberjack in Albuquerque

Restoration on a Muffler Man lumberjack on the premises of a Vietnamese restaurant in Albuquerque finished a few days ago, including the statue's severed arms and his ax. Repair work on the fiberglass statue at the May Cafe at Central Avenue (aka Route 66) and Louisiana Boulevard began a couple of weeks ago. Strong winds … Continue reading Restoration complete on Muffler Man lumberjack in Albuquerque

Launching Pad Drive-In likely will be fully open by April

The wait for the once-closed Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, to become a full-service restaurant again won't be much longer. When I asked the new owners, Tully Garrett and Holly Barker, by text when the Route 66 restaurant next to the famed Gemini Giant statue would be fully open, they replied: "Sometime in March no later … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In likely will be fully open by April