Down Da Road I Go- Part 2: Old Red Trail, Ship Hotel and Launching Pad

Being an account of some recent road stuff.

1. The Bismarck, ND Tribune reports of efforts by the Old Red Trail Committee to have a 90 mile stretch of US-10 placed on the state's scenic byways list. It was originally called the Red Trail and used by ND's earliest homesteaders. Later it became part US-10 in 1926. This stretch runs from Mandan (where Lewis & Clark spent the winter of 1804-1805) to Dickinson. It's always good to hear civic groups working to retain the flavor of old highways.

2. The Daily American of Somerset County, Pa., announced that there will be a play about the old Ship Hotel, high up in the mountains of Pennsylvania. This used to be a major tourist spot from the 1920s up until its destruction in a fire in the 70s or 80s. It sat on the side of a mountain and was shaped like a ship. You should look it up and see its picture. It's official name was "SS Grandview Ship Hotel." Laurie A. Conrad, the playwright spent a lot of time interviewing people who were connected with it. It runs June 1-3 and June 8-10 at the Garden Memorial Theater at Old Bedford Village.

This was one great-looking structure, that, unfortunately, I was never able to get to see.

Route 66 News:

3. Wilmington, Illinois' Launching Pad Restaurant has been sold. It sounds like the new owner, Morey Szczecin knows what a goldmine he has acquired and he plans to keep it the same.

The place originally opened in 1960 as a Dari Delite. In 1965, the name was changed to the Launching Pad in honor of the US Space Program. Shortly afterwards, the owners, the Korelc family paid $3500 for a 28 foot tall, 500 pound muffler man. A school contest resulted in its being name the Gemini Giant, today, one of the best-loved icons along the whole of Route 66. He appears large shortly after you enter town from the north, holding that rocket in his hands.

We've stopped here on many occasions and enjoyed the great food and Route 66 stuff all over the place.

4. Arcadia, Oklahoma- the birth of a new Route 66 attraction. This June, a new place will open in Arcadia called Pops. You will be able to get gas (if you can still AFFORD it), and food at the restaurant. But this will not be any regular place. The first thing you'll see is a huge 66 (get it) foot soda bottle lit up at night in LED and with a straw coming out of the top. The gas pumps will have a 110 by 70 foot cantilevered canopy over them. The inside walls are of native Oklahoma red rock. I'd expect there to be lots of retro stuff all over as well.

5. Springfield, Missouri- The historic 1926 Gillioz Theatre, right off the wonderful old square, has finally been restored. Kay Van Kamden's blog told of a trip there to see an old favorite group called the Ozark Mountain Daredevils play together for the first time in 26 years. One of their big hits was "If You Wanna Get to Heaven (You've Got to Raise a Little Hell)"

The city square is beautiful and is the site where the first recorded gunfight in the west took place when Wild Bill Hickock (or do you say Hikok, or Hickok, there is a lot of controversy over the exact spelling) shot down poor David Tutt after he accused Bill of cheating at cards. There is a really small medallion in the street showing where Bill stood. We found it, but be careful of the traffic.

What?  Wild Bill Cheat At Cards?  Accuse At Your Own Risk.  --RoadCheat