Text by Tammie

  Travel hounds are taking up space on Old Route 66 in Hamel, Illinois. “Harry – The Historic Highway Hound” sits at Route 66 along what’s now Route 157. Harry’s a 10-foot-tall blue sculpture dog. Harry’s next to Hamel 66 Dog Park. Harry and the dog park are the newest Route 66 attractions in Hamel. There’s more here .

  The Standard Oil Gasoline Station on the original Route 66 in Odell, Illinois, has winter months from November through March when it’s not open. But you always can examine it from the outside. The outside of the building has a blue button for you to press for a recorded message. In that message, it tells you the station was once very, very busy. Route 66 in Odell, Illinois, once was so busy that a pedestrian tunnel was constructed so people could get across the road. That tunnel now is quiet, too. More information is available here .

  Recognition of Route 66, by necessity, will need to go beyond celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, Casey Claypool is trying to get across. As executive director of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, Claypool has seen that travelers of Route 66 are older. There is a need for younger people to get excited about traveling the route. “We need to educate these kids on what Route 66 is,” Claypool said during the Mid-Illinois Communications Association’s “Lunch & Learn” event on Jan. 28, 2026, at The Horace Mann Companies, downtown Springfield, Illinois. “We need to show these kids the Gemini Giant (in Wilmington),” Claypool said. “We need to show them the big catsup bottle (in Collinsville) so they can go home and tell their parents, ‘Hey, we want to go see that.’ ” What will help with that? Simon the Sputnik will be launched in schools along Route 66 later in 2026. More on that here .  

  People frequent the site of the former Livingston Community Consolidated High School in Livingston, Illinois, not for study but for shopping. The old high school is now The Pink Elephant Antique Mall on Historic Route 66. It has “antique furniture, jewelry, collectibles, glassware, memorabilia, candles, home goods and home décor.” Plus, there are two retro shops – The Twistee Treat Diner and The Mother Road Fudge Factory. During a particular holiday, the fudge factory made fudge with sprinkles and ghost peppers!   Fun. Hot! More information is here .  

    Don’t bring outside food or drink to the Old Log Cabin Restaurant & Spirits in Pontiac, Illinois .   A sign on the eatery’s door asks you kindly not to do that.   There’s no need “to do that.”   For 100 years the log-style roadhouse café has served homestyle meals for travelers on Route 66.   Try the Turkey Bacon Swiss Melt with a cup of chili.   Delicious!!!!!   Try the homemade poppy seed salad dressing.   What?!!!!!   After you leave the restaurant, content and full, there’s The Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame & Museum to explore.   More is available here .

  People taking road trips on Old Route 66 can see remnants of bygone days in Staunton, Illinois. A couple of attractions on Route 66 are closed in Staunton, Illinois. Shuttered: Henry’s Ra66it Ranch at 1107 Historic Old Route 66 and Country Classic Cars on Old Route 66 at 2149 E. Frontage Road by I-55. The places are abandoned but not forgotten. See why here .