Along66, August 2022: Neon Sign Goes Up at Illinois State Fair and Miles of Possibilty Update

AUGUST 7

A big Route 66 neon sign was installed at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.  It is 40 feet high and near Gate 2, the corner of Peoria Road (Route 66) and Sangamon Avenue.

Bigger is better in my book, especially NEON!!

AUGUST 7

An updated list of speakers has been announced for the Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference being held October 20-23 at the Pontiac Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center in Pontiac, Illinois.

Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckeys will be the keynote speaker Friday morning, October 21

They have quite the list of speakers.

--RoadDog

Along66, April 2022: The Round Barn, Cotton Ball Motel and Miles of Possibilities Conference

APRIL  8

Acadia, Oklahoma's Round Barn is marking its 30th anniversary of it restoration.  An impressive structure.

APRIL 12

A Canute, Oklahoma, preservation group wants to restore the Cotton Ball Motel neon sign for the 2026 centennial of the Mother Road.

It opened in the 960s and closed in the 1980s when I-40 bypassed it.

APRIL 13 

The Miles of Possibilities Route 66 Conference announced the the CEO of Stuckey;s, Stephanie Stuckey, will be the keynote speaker at the October 20-23, 2022, meeting to be held in Pontiac, Illinois.

The conference will be dedicated to the late David Clark, aka The Windy City Road Warrior who died this past January..  Stephanie Stuckey will give the keynote speech on Friday, October 21.  She has been on a mission to revive Stuckey's.

I like those pecan logs.

--RoadDog

Along 66, May 2021: Tulsa's Route 66 Neon Park and Stuckey's

MAY 16

Discover Oklahoma features Tulsa's Route 66 Neon Sign Park.  A segment of this series was done on this new park on Southwest Boulevard (Route 66) near West 17th Street in Southwest Tulsa.

The park features three marge motel signs from the Will Rogers Motor Court on Tulsa's east side, the Oil Capital Motel on the city's west side and the Tulsa Auto Court on Admiral Place.

As I have said many times before, you can never have too much neon in your life.

MAY 18

Stuckey's heiress aims to revive her family's brand..

Stephanie Stuckey, the granddaughter of the company's founder, W.S. "Sylvester" Stuckey, has some mighty high ambitions.  Her grandfather started the business in 1937 and the chain eventually grew to 350 stores, including many on Route 66.

But, the years have been rough on the chain and it declined at one time to just 75 stores, but now it is up to 115.

I Need Me a Pecan Log Roll.  --RoadLog

Along 66, August 2020: Route 66 Centennial Bill Goes to the House and the Giant Rt. 66 Sign in Springfield, Illinois

AUGUST 11--  The U.S. Senate has advanced the Route 66 Centennial bill, but it must be reconciled in the U.S. House of representatives before it goes to President trump for his signature.   Go Bill.  Go Bill!!

AUGUST 12--  Route 66 Motor Heads will dedicate the "World's Largest Route 66 Sign on Friday.

And this one is a big one.  It is mounted on two sixty-foot poles that once held a Stuckey's sign.  The bar and grille is in a former Stuckey's and is located at 600 Toronto Road.  You can get off I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois, then go just a short distance west and you're there.

Ace Sign Company is making this huge sign.  They have also restored the old Sonrise Donuts sign and the Bel Air Motel's sputnik sign in Springfield as well as the Art's Motel sign in Farmerville and the Tropics sign in Lincoln.

Two great new organizations that we have on the Mother Road, both dedicated to the preservation and furthering of all things fun and enjoyable on 66.

Great Job, Guys!!  --RoadDog

Best of the Midwest-- Part 4: Route 66 in Illinois from Waldmire to Da Bridge

From Wilmington, you go to Pontiac and the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum with all that Bob Waldmire (the inspiration for the hippy van in the movie "Cars") stuff , all those murals, museums and that wonderful county courthouse which I regard as the prettiest anywhere.

Then, on to Springfield for all that Lincoln stuff and a definite stop at the Cozy Dog Drive In, home of those wonderful Cozy Dogs (don't call them corn dogs or you'll be corrected).   This place was owned by Bob Waldmire's parents.   Then four miles south of town is the Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill & Museum, which just opened in 2018 (in an old Stuckey's store) and is a real trip back.

Last stop is at the interesting old Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River.

--RoadDog

This Blackhawk Fan Was Pulling for the Blues in Stanley Cup

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12

We were shocked to see the parking lot at the Route 66 Hotel and Conference center in Springfield, Illinois, full, and when we went to get a room, found out they were all sold out.  We've never had a problem getting a room in Springfield before.  We heard that there was a big horse show and golf tournament going on.

We did get the last room at the Motel 6 just a bit south of Springfield on Toronto Road.  Then, we went to get our Cozy Dog fix and to Curve Inn to see the first part of the St. Louis Blues-Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Championship Game 7.  Watched the first period there, with several Blues fans.

We are both Chicago Blackhawk fans, but pulling for the Blues for several reasons:

 #1.  If the Hawks aren't in, pull for someone from the Midwest.

#2.  No one wants anyone from Boston or New England winning anything else.

#3.  The Blues had never won a Stanley Cup.

We saw the last two periods and Blues win at Motorheads on 66, a new bar and grill on Toronto Road in an old Stuckey's.  This place was jammed with Blues fans and everyone was really having a great time.

We Went Right Along.  --RoadDog

Along 66, February 2018: Texas License Plates, Cozy, Motorheads

FEBRUARY 25--  Texas approves Route 66 license plates.  Show people your favorite road.

FEBRUARY 26--  Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Illinois, will be offering its own soda.  Anything to do with Route 66?  I think so.  Now wash those Cozies down with Cozy Cola.

FEBRUARY 27--  The new Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill will open in March in Springfield, Illinois.  It is in the former Stuckey's restaurant on Toronto Road West.  It has the former front entrance to Bill Shea's Gas Station Museum and other items of interest to Route 66ers.

Reckon We'll have to Check Out Motorheads.  --RoadDog