Cross Country Great American Road Trip This Week and Next-- Part 3: Red Carpet Corridor Festval

Whether you're looking to chart a cross-country trip from Chicago to Santa Monica,or simply experienece a unique getaway that's close to home, the First Hundred Miles of Route 66 is the best place to start your journey.

This famed trek takes you off the interstate and encourages you to explore the communities that line the Mother Road.  From the hustle and bustle of Chicago's awe-inspiring Magnificent Mile to the picturesque farmland of Central Illinois. 

The First Hundred Miles of the original two-lane blacktop is lined with throwback diners, fascinating museums and some of the most popular photo ops you'll find along the entire route.

And, remember, May 6 and 7, just a couple weeks away, the stretch between Joliet and Bloomington-Normal is having their  annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival.  Every town has events going on.  

Lots of Fun.  --RoadRed

Along66, March 2023: Bringing Back the Meramec River Bridge and Saving the Santa Monica Pier

MARCH 5

Missouri budget plans include $6 million to rebuild the bridge at Route 66 State Park outside of St. Louis near Eureka.  It will be a pedestrian bridge.  

It is 20 feet wide and 1,008 feet long and closed October 2009 and the driving surface removed.

Known as the Meramec River Bridge and was built at Times Beach in 1932.  Times Beach was evacuated in the 1980s because of dioxin contaminant.

The main office of the park is at the former Steiny's Inn restaurant.

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MARCH 6

Santa Monica Pier was saved from destruction fifty years ago.  It opened in 1909 to carry sewage pipes out to sea.    By 1916, it started looking as it does today.

Sure glad they kept it.

--RoadDog

Along66, Dec. 2022: Mel's, the Prez and Muffler Men

DECEMBER 18

Mel's Drive-In restaurant is celebrating its 75th anniversary.  It is at the western terminus of Route 66 in Santa Monica, California.  It has eight locations.

DECEMBER 28

President Biden to appoint 12 people to the Route 66 Centennial Commission.  I've seen the list and they all seem to be well-qualified.  Author and Sheriff Michael Wallis  is on that list.  Was I even considered?  Doubtfully.

DECEMBER 29

New documentary talks about an early champion of Muffler Men.  Glen Good of Texas spent decades repairing and preserving the giants.

The film is by Joel Baker.

And, speaking of movies, I watched "Cars" in TV the other day.  Still good after all these years.

Like With Neon, You Can Never Have Too Many Muffler Men.  --RoadDog

Route 66's Quirkiest By State-- Part 5: California

CALIFORNIA

Oro Grande  (Elmer Long's Bottle Tree Ranch)

Victorville  (Emma Jean's  Holland Burger Cafe)

Victorville  (Route 66 Museum)

San Bernardino  (Original McDonald's)

Rancho  Cucamonga  (Cucamonga Service Station)

Amboy  (Roy's Motel and Cafe)

Santa Monica  (Santa Monica Pier)

--RoadDog

Have Fun at Burr Ridge's Route 66-Themed Playground-- Part 4: Get Your Play on Route 66

Why do they make these for kids?

While in the nearby Texas section, you'll see two spray-painted cars half buried  in the ground -- a clever homage to Amarillo's classic public art installation (you know, Cadillac Ranch), a fixture on the modern Route 66 road trip.

Next, in the New Mexico section, kids can bounce atop a recreation of the Blue Hole, a popular stop on the Mother Road featuring a clear blue pool of water, with extensive underwater caves.

In the Arizona portion, children can take a spin on the Wigwam motel-inspired rope structure.  The route comes to an end in California, where a pier-themed area allows you to surf on the turf with a spring balance board.  At the end of the roadway, you'll find a giant 3D Route 66 photo-op sign.

The multi-generational play area is sure to be highly popular with travelers of all ages -- allowing even the youngest road-trip enthusuasts to Get Their Kicks on Route 66.

Open tothe public from dawn to dusk, the Harvester Park Playground is at 15W400 Harvester Drive in Burr Ridge.

You can see the whole thing at mykidslist.com/harvesterpark.

Is 71 Too Old to Play on It?  --RoadYoung

Ten Reasons Why to Drive Route 66 This Summer (Well, Hopefully)-- Part 1

From Travel Pulse

By Patrick Clarke.

Well, we knew these, but always fun to take a look, plus the article has nice photos accompanying it.

He calls it "a-one-of-a-kind highway.  Sure is.

1.  THE DISTANCE--  Nicknamed Main Street of America, it is nearly 2,500 miles between Chicago and Santa Monica, California.  Spans three time zones and eight states.

2.  THE HISTORY--  Established nearly a century ago on November 11, 1926.  Became popular route for Americans migrating west.  Then for vacationers, especially those going to Disneyland. 

Played a role in the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl "The Grapes of Wrath", and World War II.

3.  THE LANDSCAPE--  An amazing variety of land to see, from mountains, deserts, rivers and plains.

--And, That's Not All.  --RoadDog

A Father-Daughter Trip on Route 66-- Part 4: From Winslow to Santa Monica Pier

Well worth watching the videos they took along the way.

DAY 7--  Winslow, Arizona  Stayed at La Pasada in the Amelia Earhart Room, Standing on the Corner, Meteor Crater  Seligman, Oatman Highway, Oatman

DAY 8--  Needle, California.  Two day side trip to Las Vegas.

DAY 9--  Las Vegas

DAY 10--  Mojave Desert

DAY 11--  By now, they'd been through pouring rain, blistering heat and lots of mechanical problems, but finally got to Santa Monica Pier.

--RoadDog

Ten Things Not to Miss On Route 66

From the February 4, 2020 AutoTrader by Lesley Wimbush.

Great pictures accompany as well as text.

1.  The Berghoff--  Chicago, Illinois   Great kick-off you sojourn place.  Established in 1898.  I still haven't forgiven them from the great shutdown, sell-off they did a while back.

2,  Galena, Kansas

3.  East Meets West--  Tulsa, Oklahoma   Interesting sculpture of a horse and wagon encountering an early car.

4.  Cadillac Ranch--  Amarillo, Texas

5.  Glen Rio Ghost Town--  Texas/New Mexico

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PART 2:  ALBUQUERQUE TO SANTA MONICA  By Jeff Wilson

6.  Gallup, New Mexico   Native America  and the El Rancho Hotel

7.  Holbrook and Winslow, Arizona  Only 30 minutes apart.  Holbrook has a Wigwam Motel.  Winslow, of course, has "Standing On the Corner."

8.  Grand Canyon--  Not technically on Route 66, but what the hey.

9.  Oatman, Arizona--  The drive, those burros.

10.  Roy's Motel--  Amboy, California.

END OF THE ROAD:  Santa Monica Pier.

--RoadDog

Along 66, September 2019: Bottles and A Tourist Trap Named Totem

These are taken from the Route 66 News site which goes into much greater detail and has one or more posts every day.  I just pick out the ones of most interest to me.


SEPTEMBER 1--  Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro, California, reopens full-time after the death of its creator.  Elmer Long, 72, creator, died June 22.

This is a really eye-catching thing to see.  Probably my favorite thing in California other than the Santa Monica Pier.

SEPTEMBER 3--  The Phelps County Focus newspaper had an article about the Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri.

It dates to 1931, when it opened in Arlington, Mo., (which today is essentially a ghost town at the end of one section of Route 66 which includes John's Modern Cabins).  With realignments, it moved to Rolla in the 1960s and to its present location since 1979.

Tim Jones has been a co-owner since 1974.

The last several times we stopped in (I really love Tourist Traps) it was sad to see how little business they had so I'm hoping it will find a way to continue.

--RoadDog

13 Must-See Sights on Route 66-- Part 4: Theaters, Rabbits, Ghosts, Wigwams and Piers

9.  KiMo Theater--  Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Built 1927.  designed to reflect the Indian/Hispanic and Anglo cultures.

10.  Jack Rabbit Trading Post--  Joseph City, Arizona.  You know, all those "Here It Is" signs.  Or is it "Hare It Is?"

11.  Ghost Town of Calico--  north of Daggett, California.  What is left of an 1881 mining town.  OK, this one I had never heard of before.

12.  Wigwam Village Motel--  Rialto, California.  There is also one in Holbrook, Arizona, on Route 66.

13.  Santa Monica Pier--  Not exactly on Route 66, but close and makes for a good end-of destination.  Built 1908.

She suggests Drew Knowles' "Route 66 Adventure Handbook" for reading.

Obviously, I Love My Lists.  --RoadDog

News From Along Route 66-- April 2015

From Route 66 News site.  Ron Warnick goes into more detail and has many other news stories.  I am just writing about the ones of most interest to me.

APRIL 2ND:  Atsuywki Katsuyama of Japan  plans to retrace Andy Payne's Bunyan Derby trek.  It will be 3,400 miles from Los Angeles to New York City and plans to begin it April 25.  Here come the really sore feet.  Good luck.  He plans to be in Chicago June 21st.  Does anyone know where he is right now?

APRIL 3RD:  Kean Isaacs is restoring a 1920s gas station in Foyil, Oklahoma.  I love old gas stations.  Thanks.

APRIL 5TH:  A new Route 66 souvenir shop has opened on Santa Monica Pier in California.  It is in a trailer, but at least they now have one.  Liz and I were greatly disappointed when we got to the end after starting in Chicago, and there was nothing really there.  Hey, we wanted a frove the whole way license plates or a tee shirt at least.

Getting my Kicks You know Where.  --RoadDog

Route 66 February 2015

Again, these news items are taken from the Route 66 News blog.  For photos, video and much more information go there.

FEBRUARY 1ST:  Route 66 reopened from Ludlow, California and Amboy.  Closed in September because of flood damage.

FEBRUARY 4TH:  Restoration of Tulsa's Blue Dome.  An impressive building.

FEBRUARY 6TH:  Santa Monica Pier lays claim for Popeye's inspiration as being based on real-life sailor who hung around the pier.  Olaf Olson (photograph with article)  This guy sure looked like the Popeye we know.  He was described as a "local character."

Of course, Chester, Illinois, might have something to say about this.  After all, they have a Popeye statue and the pier doesn't.  Chester holds that Popeye was based on Frank "Rocky" Fiegel

Down That Old Road.  --RoadDog

It's Official Now-- Western Terminus of Route 66

The Nov. 10th Santa Monica(Ca) Daily Press reported that the Santa Monica Pier has always been considered the unofficial end of Route 66, but now it is the official terminus according to the Route 66 Alliance.

Tomorrow is the road's 83rd anniversary, having been commissioned on November 11, 1926. At 9 AM, there will be a procession of 66 vintage vehicles and motorbikes from Santa Monica Blvd. and Lincoln Avenues to the pier.

At one time, there was a marker at Santa Monica Blvd. and Lincoln Avenue that was thought to be a movie prop. However, it mysteriously disappeared about 50 years ago.

In 1952, the road was dedicated to the memory of Will Rogers and a plaque placed at the park overlooking the pier and the Pacific Coast Highway.

We ended our cross-country Route 66 trip in 2006 at the park overlooking the Pacific and saw a beautiful sunset before driving down to the pier, parking on it and thinking, "Wow, we made it."

At Trail's End. --RoadDog

Santa Monica Pier 100th Anniversary

This past year, the famous Santa Monica Pier, generally considered the western terminus of Route 66, although it never was, celebrated its 100th anniversary of when its construction began.

It was originally built to carry sewage out to the Pacific. In the 1980s, we were fortunate to have a preservation group fight to keep it from being torn down. An estimated 4 million visit it each year, including my wife and I when we completed our Route 66 End-to-End Tour back in the fall of 2006.

The 1600 foot pier opened September 9, 1909, after 16 months of construction.

1910-- carousel opened (built by the man who also built Coney Island's first carousel)
1916-- Another pier built next to it.
1924-- La Monica Ballroom opened.

The halcyon days were 1924 through the depression/
1983-- storms tore off huge chunks of it.

A Fitting End to Route 66. Park Out Over the Pacific. --RoadDog

Some More on the Santa Monica Pier

As mentioned earlier, someone bought the Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel on e-Bay.

Grant Humphreys bought it for $132,400, the high-bid among five competing for it and a total of 35 offers. He is the CEO of Humphreys Real Estate Investments in Oklahoma City which specializes in walkable communities (whatever that is). At this time, he has no immediate plans for it. Perhaps, he will put it at one of his communities, or, I'd like to see it remain somewhare on Route 66.

May 4th will be the last day of operation for this Ferris Wheel and all rides will be FREE that day. The pier hopes to have the new $1.5 million one up and running by May 22nd.

Round and Round I Go. --RoadDog

Route 66 Revisited

Some news of the Mother Road:

1. SPRINGFIELD, IL- I got some of this story as I didn't want to pay to get the whole thing- A Springfield railroad enthusiast has made a very detailed scale model of the newly remodeled and reopened Union Station. This cost $12.5 million and is located right across from the Lincoln Museum and Library and will serve as Springfield's tourist center. There is still a lot of controversy as some still think it was money ill-spent. I have seen it and it is ONE impressive structure.

2. Ron Warnick's ROUTE 66 NEWS on the death of Ladybird Johnson, said that hers was a mixed legacy to Route 66. Her 1965 Highway Beautification Act, while it did make America's roads more scenic without the clutter of billboards, really hurt struggling Route 66 businesses as billboards along the interstates were the only way to get customers off the interstates.

3. There was some discussion on a website about the WESTERN TERMINUS of Route 66. Actually, it is at the corner of Lincoln and Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica. However, Swa Franzen of www.historic66.com said its spiritual endpoint at Palisades Park at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Ocean Drive because of the Will Rogers historical plaque.

Keep on Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog

Route 66 on Jeopardy

Que Sera Sera's blog said that Jeopardy had a category dealing with Route 66 during the Double Jeopardy round.

The questions:

$400- Car lovers go to San Bernadino, home of the Route 66 Rendezvous, in this state.

$800- Read by Neil Patrick Harris "If you get your kicks on Route 66, come visit this city, my hometown, also home to minor league baseball."

$1200- Take a detour to Meteor Crater and "Don't forget Winona" in this state.

$1600- Well, "It winds from Chicago to LA" but you're at the end of the road at this beach city on the Pacific.

$2000- "Go down to Missouri" and see this largest city between Chicago and LA.

Well, Alex, let's see:



$400- What is California?

$800- What is Albuqueque? I probably would have missed this one. Who cares where Doogie was born.

$1200- What is Arizona? Is there really a Winona? We didn't see it last fall when we rolled through.

$1600- What is Santa Monica? Que Sera Sera missed this one. "Welcome to the Hotel California."

$2000- What is St. Louis? "Meet Me in St. Louie, ______"

Humming the Jeopardy Final Question Tune, How 'Bout You? --RoadDog