Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County announces membership drive

[February 20, 2007]  The Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County is currently looking for new members. Community-minded volunteers who seek to restore and promote Logan County Route 66 attractions founded this group late last year. Their first major project has been the restoration of The Mill, a historic Route 66 restaurant that was left in a state of disrepair. The project has garnered local and national media attention. 

If you'd like to join their efforts to save The Mill and other Route 66 attractions in Logan County, this is your chance! An individual membership is $15 per year, and a business membership is $25 per year. Included in your membership is a newsletter, invitations to the group meetings, updates in current and upcoming projects, opportunities for vending at events, and opportunities to place advertisements in publications. All proceeds from memberships and donations to the organization go toward the restoration and promotion projects for Logan County Route 66.

"There is a lot of work to be done as far as restoring The Mill, as well as other pressing projects in need of our attention, such as The Tropics, the Texaco station in Elkhart and the Route 66 'ghost bridge' in Lincoln," said Geoff Ladd, one of the foundation's steering committee members. "Right now our greatest need is funding for these projects, and we especially encourage businesses that benefit from Route 66 tourism, and our larger community corporate partners, to consider helping out with a membership or donation to the cause."

Ladd also is the tourism director for Lincoln/Logan County. According to Ladd and tourism statistics, Route 66 is currently the most popular Illinois attraction on a national and international level. Development of Route 66 attractions in Logan County will bring more tourists and tourism spending into the local economy.

So far this year, the group is organizing several events, including a "Spring Fling" at Hallie's on the square in March and the Logan County Route 66 garage sale in June (details to be released soon). More events are in the works for later in the year.

If you're interested in joining the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County or donating to their cause, please call 217-732-8687 or write to the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County at 1555 Fifth St, Lincoln, IL 62656. More details are also available at www.savethemill.org.

[Text from file received from Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County]