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 Over the past few months, the
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway received many exceptional
applications, and are announcing $5,000 to the following businesses:
Litchfield Skyview Drive In - $1,000
The Skyview is one of four originally operating drive ins on
historic Route 66 nationwide, and the only in Illinois. This year
will be their 71st consecutive season in operation. The current
caretakers, The Pastrovich Family, have been with the drive in for
five years, and the staff has an accumulated 120 years with the
company. The Skyview brings fans in from the local area and from one
to three hours away every weekend. It’s no surprise to find someone
on a Route 66 holiday from across the pond once a month or so as
well. Showing movies both new and old, and with great food to boot,
the Skyview is open April 2nd through October 16th this year.
The Skyview is looking to upgrade some of the grounds, while still
in keeping with the historic style and theme. The Ticket Booth is in
need of rebuilding, and the landscaping is in need updating. The
$1000 Byway Project Funds are to help paint the screen. The paint is
a special type and costs approx. $5000,
not including labor. The family will be painting the screen so that
expense is covered. This is a much- needed update to an historic
business that the local area and all 66 fans around the world enjoy.
Joliet Historical Museum/Old Joliet Prison - $1,000
The Old Joliet Prison is an iconic structure located just off Route
66 in Joliet, Illinois and is arguably among the most recognizable
penitentiaries in the world. Built prior to the Civil War in 1858,
the Prison is perhaps most famous for its role in the 1980 film "The
Blues Brothers" in which John Belushi's beloved "Joliet Jake" is
released to begin the film's adventure. The Prison also has
increasing notoriety as the fictional "Fox River Penitentiary" from
the television series "Prison Break." Abandoned from 2002-2017, the
site is now operated by the City of Joliet and Joliet Area
Historical Museum who offer a variety of public tours and programs.
The site is immensely popular with international visitors traveling
Route 66.
The Byway Project Funds of $1000 will be used to fund a series of
informative and interpretative banners and signage throughout the
site (see included example) directing guests to information
regarding Prison tours. As a result of the Prison's immense size (16
acres inside the walls), concise, directional signage is critical to
ensuring a positive guest experience which exceeds expectations. As
many Route 66 visitors speak a primary language other than English, JAHM also wishes to include multilingual capabilities via QR codes
throughout the new and existing onsite signage.
City of Atlanta - $1,000
The Atlanta Coal Mining Company Historic Mine will transport
visitors back to the late 1800s when Atlanta was focused on
obtaining a functioning coal mine. Visitors will view the original
coal mine shaft sunk in 1879 through glass panels. There will be a
light system and sound recording so visitors can see the mine shaft
approximately 150 ft in depth and hear the water still running at
its bottom. On the wall of the exhibit there will be a monitor
showing Go-Pro footage of a person rappelling to the bottom of the
mine, played on a loop. This will allow the visitors to experience
the sights and sounds if they were to descend to the bottom of the
mine shaft.
Byway Project Funds totaling $1000 will be used towards the creation
of interpretive panels for the Atlanta Coal Mining Company Historic
Mine. An illustrator will create images used on the panels as we do
not have photo documentation from the early coal mine. The
illustrator will interpret the coal mine story, reference the
historic news articles, and then draw images accordingly to maximize
the visual effect of the exhibit. Children can learn the history of
the coal mine through the images, while adults will be able to read
the story through the interpretive panels.
The story portrayed throughout the exhibit's panels is the story of
The Atlanta Coal Mining Company and the company which followed, the
Atlanta Water Works. The panels will trace the history, beginning
with the community's need and desire for a coal mine, followed by
the April 13, 1869 charter and approval for The Atlanta Coal Mining
Company to sink a coal mine shaft.
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Henry’s Rabbit Ranch - $750
Henry’s is a past, present and future Route 66 attraction for people of all
ages. This attraction celebrates Route 66 and the people along the highway with
its emporium of highway and trucking memorabilia and a replica of a vintage gas
station. This attraction offers all things about rabbits: Volkswagens and the
friendly furry kind!
The Byway Project Funds of $750 will be used to replace 3 of our 4 present
outdoor sign panels of 4'x8' each. Each panel to be done on aluminum sheets with
outdoor sign overlay would cost approximately
$350 each.
Village of Elkhart - $750
The Village of Elkhart has worked hard to preserve Illinois Route 66 by
increasing tourism to support it and its history in the community. Visitors from
over 30 different countries traveling on Route 66 have been documented at
Elkhart's Horsefeathers shop. An Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Historic Route
66 Statue and Wayside Exhibit is located to the west of Elkhart's Village Hall
and compliments the Village's ongoing initiative to make Elkhart a special stop
for Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway tourists. The Elkhart Historic Route 66 Wall
Mural commemorates the Village's long association with Route 66, historical
figures and beautiful Elkhart Hill. The Village of Elkhart Native Plant and
Pollinator Habitat is located at the entrance of the village on the Route 66
Scenic Byway in a location currently without purpose and accessible to travelers
on The Mother Road. It will be an active and attractive native plant and
pollinator habitat. The site has extra value as a focal point because it is very
visible on Route 66, which is being promoted as "Route 66 Monarch Flyway." The
habitat will be a pleasing, functional garden that is designed with
consideration for the needs of pollinators and beneficial insects and will be
used to teach adults and children about designing, implementing and sustaining
native plant gardens and about the insects that utilize them. The public can
walk to and in the garden on mulched paths.
The village received $750 in assistance from the Byway Project Funds to
advertise and support their June 12, 2021, Ribbon Cutting Opening Celebration
event for the "Village of Elkhart Native Plant and Pollinator Habitat." The
funds were specifically used to support the event through the printing of
invitations/postage and a welcome banner, the purchase of a permanent wayside
exhibit sign, craft table supplies/volunteer recognition and native plants
signage. The event was an enormous success.
City of Edwardsville - $500
The City of Edwardsville is excited to welcome the Route 66 community back to
town. The downtown park was the place to step back in time and come together
right on Route 66 for their one-day Edwardsville Route 66 Festival held on June
12, 2021. Visitors enjoyed great food, live music, the classic car cruise
through town, local artists, children's activities, and much more.
As 2021 brought back the festival, it also embodied the visual of the classic
Route 66 vibe. Byway Project Funds of $500 were used to add photo opportunities,
selfie stops and backdrop props with Route 66 energy that encouraged people to
interact and have old fashioned fun in a safe, touch-less way. The festival also
added street signs and roadside billboards.
“This is just one of many Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway member benefits for
businesses and attractions that we offer,” said Executive Director Casey
Wichmann. The plan is to launch another round of Byway Project Funds in mid-late
September with awards being made at the end of November, said Wichmann.
[Casey Wichmann, Executive Director]
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