Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity this week announced seven awards, totaling $3.3 million, through the Route 66 Grant Program. This funding is intended to boost local tourism and attract visitors to Route 66, leading up to the 100th anniversary of the highway in 2026, according to a … Continue reading Illinois announces seven grants for projects along Route 66
Tag: Normal
City of Normal to return Sprague’s Super Service Station to its original footprint
The town council of Normal, Illinois, recently voted to spend $300,000 on work on three historic properties in the city, including the Sprague's Super Service Station along Route 66, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The station's previous owner, Terri Ryburn, told Route 66 News the work will include removing the 1960s one-bay garage and restoring the … Continue reading City of Normal to return Sprague’s Super Service Station to its original footprint
Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference announces full schedule
The eighth annual Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference will be Oct. 19-22 in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, with the theme “The Great American Road Trip” and four days of speakers, tours, museums, networking, plus musical and movie entertainment. In a nod to this year's hosts, Thursday's events will be at the McLean County Museum of History … Continue reading Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference announces full schedule
Keynote speakers announced for 2023 Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference
The organizers for the Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference, scheduled for Oct. 19-22 in Bloomington-Normal, announced the keynote speakers for the event a few days ago. The theme for the eighth conference will be "The Great American Road Trip," and the speeches will be on Oct. 20-21. The conference will be headquartered at the … Continue reading Keynote speakers announced for 2023 Miles of Possibility Route 66 Conference
Normal Town Council approves a large Route 66 monument sign
The Normal Town Council of Normal, Illinois, several days ago approved the installation of a large Route 66 monument sign. The monument will be on Pine Street (aka Route 66), adjacent to the south edge of One Normal Plaza, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. "It will be a fun Route 66 photo (opportunity) for visitors … Continue reading Normal Town Council approves a large Route 66 monument sign
Illinois awards $6.6M in Route 66 and tourism marketing grants
The governor of Illinois and the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced last week it would give 58 awards totaling $6.6 million through the Route 66 and Tourism Marketing Grant Programs to boost Route 66 tourism. The Route 66 grant program is awarding $3.7 million to seven recipients for the development of tourism, … Continue reading Illinois awards $6.6M in Route 66 and tourism marketing grants
Red Carpet Corridor festival adds second day, Bloomington-Normal to its itinerary
This year's edition of the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor festival is going to be a two-day affair, with Bloomington-Normal added to its list of towns to visit. The May 6-7 event, which starts in Joliet, lengthens to 100 miles and 14 communities, according to a news release from the Illinois Route 66 Scenic … Continue reading Red Carpet Corridor festival adds second day, Bloomington-Normal to its itinerary
Check out this Normal man’s display of 900 Christmas decorations at his home
If you want to see what likely is the king of outdoor Christmas decorating, Mike Holtz's home in Normal, Illinois, probably rules them all. Holtz's residence at 1210 W. Hovey Ave., a half-mile west of Route 66, features about 900 blow-mold Santas, gingerbread men, snowmen, reindeer and even a few aliens in his yard, on … Continue reading Check out this Normal man’s display of 900 Christmas decorations at his home
Route 66 bike trail extension in Normal would link to Sprague’s Super Service station
The town council of Normal, Illinois, on Monday will consider whether to approve a bid for an extension of a bicycle trail along Route 66 that would connect to the historic Sprague's Super Service station. According to WGLT, an National Public Radio affiliate at Illinois State University: The roughly $471,000 contract would extend the trail … Continue reading Route 66 bike trail extension in Normal would link to Sprague’s Super Service station
Chat ‘n Chew near Route 66 in Normal catered to black customers in Jim Crow era
The Route 66 Bloomington-Normal, Illinois page on Facebook recently posted an interesting, if obscure, historical item for Black History Month -- the Chat 'n Chew restaurant and grocery in Normal. Here's the post, with Terri Ryburn of Ryburn Place (formerly Sprague Super Service station) in Normal supplying the photo: https://www.facebook.com/Route66BN/posts/153881979883693 A 2017 article, titled "Jim … Continue reading Chat ‘n Chew near Route 66 in Normal catered to black customers in Jim Crow era