Text by Tammie

  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 .

  The Lexington Neon Arrow Sign, Route 66 Memory Lane and the American Standard elephant are all attractions on Route 66 in Lexington, Illinois. Chenoa, Illinois, has Route 66 Fetch & Stretch Dog Park. It’s at the dog park where you can learn more about the dogs Rosie and Fido. Ulysses S. Grant loved Rosie. Abraham Lincoln loved Fido. There’s more about that here .