Route 66 in the News

Route 66 Campaign Kicks Off

2007-11-21 09:14:57

JOLIET, Ill. - Gas pumps may not say Christmas to most people. But with prices like 48 cents a gallon, the nostalgic gas pumps in downtown Joliet are a timely reminder of the way things used to be as the holiday season starts with record-level gas prices.

Finishing touches, including placards with brief histories of downtown landmarks, were recently added to fiberglass replica gas pumps that have been in place for months and will be on display during Friday's Light Up the Holidays Festival and Parade.

The pumps are part of the Joliet Kicks on Route 66 campaign to attract Route 66 tourism to the city.

“You can stop at the Texaco pump outside the Rialto and read the history of the Rialto," said Rebecca Lantka, marketing manager at the Joliet Visitors Bureau.

Lantka described Route 66 tourism as “very loyal niche market, and people tend to travel the entire route."

The downtown gas pump locations include: a Mobil Oil pump outside of the Joliet Area Historical Museum at Cass and Ottawa streets; a Sinclair pump outside of the Will County Court House; and a Standard Oil pump at Chicago and Cass streets.

Other Route 66 features in Joliet include a Joliet Kicks on Route 66 lighted ice cream cone at the Rich and Creamy Ice Cream Stand next to Route 66 Park. The park has a 12-foot tall Joliet Kicks on Route 66 shield and a Shell nostalgia gas pump.

The Joliet Area Historical Museum includes a Route 66 Experience and Visitors Center with videos describing the history of the highway and an interactive guest book for those interested in seeing who else has come through town while traveling the old route.

The projects are part of a $150,000 Attraction Development Grant from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism.

More information about the city's Route 66 attractions is available at www.jolietkicks.com.

~HeraldNewsOnline.com