Down Da 66: 70,000 Attend-- Elevator's Up-- Bel-Aire Motel

Down Da 66:Some New News About an Old Road.

Some news from Illinois.


1. 70,000 ATTEND-- The September 28th Springfield State Journal-Register reports that attendance at the Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield at the end of last month was comparable to last year, at about 70,000 according to the CVB.

There were 847 registered cars and about 1000 participants in Friday night's motor parade. Always quite a sight. Best of Show was Jeff and Joe Jordan's 1958 Impala convertible.

Liz and I usually go, but we went to North and South Carolina that weekend.


2. ELEVATOR'S UP-- The October 10th Pontiac Daily Leader reports that the new elevator at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum and Livingston County War Museum passed a very detailed three hour plus inspection. It was funded by tax increment financing and a $75,000 donation from the Humiston and Bryne trusts.

This will be make getting up and down those steep stairs much easier plus open the upstairs areas to the disabled.

Thanks folks.


3. BEL-AIRE MOTEL-- The October 20th Route 66 News blog reports that the City of Springfield, Illinois, and the state are in discussion about coverting the rapidly deteriorating and crime-infested Bel-Aire Motel into a Route 66 Discovery Center.

However, the state today faces a huge deficit so I doubt funding will be available.

It is sad to see this place with the neat sign and googie ornaments fall into such disrepair, so hope it all goes through.

Now You Know. --RoadDog