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Route 66 still holds allure for travelers, industry

Reuters --
Reuters) - Route 66 hasn't been a real highway for almost three decades.

The last section of the fabled U.S. route from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, was dropped as a federal highway in 1984. But its hold on travelers' imaginations has revived motels, diners, souvenir shops, gas stations and other buildings along the old route.

The enduring fascination, along with some federal grants, has helped Route 66 thrive, even as people old enough to remember its heyday die off.

"People are looking to see the real America, not Walt Disney's version," said Ron Hart, director and founder of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce in Carthage, Missouri.

A Rutgers University study released in March estimated that people spend $132 million annually along old Route 66, which crosses eight states and

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Submitted Jun 18, 2012 By: mastermariner

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,643 Points:1,611,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 5:54:10 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse eventually all goes the way of the Dodo bird...
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,643 Points:1,611,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 6:03:11 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse a piece of Americana, history at the finest. But like all history in the US, it must give way eventually to the bulldozers and greedy developers.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,021 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 10:45:11 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Even Guy Fieri found good restaurants on the route..
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,021 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 10:42:00 AM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Although there are tourist traps on the route, there is a lot more than that. If you are going to do the route.... try to do some of it in stages where you can spend some time in the area...
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,021 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Jun 19, 2012 11:47:56 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse So it was Reagan who killed Route 66 (grin).... but the road is too stubborn to die ...and outlasted him....
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,013 Points:600,660 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jun 19, 2012 1:16:20 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
tidalwave3 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:1,308 Points:1,465,580 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 11:57:03 PM Ignore tidalwave3 Report Abuse I found it interesting in 2008 thru Mo.
Gnusman53 Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,021 Points:1,114,370 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 10:41:56 PM Ignore Gnusman53 Report Abuse Ahhhh, cognitive dissonance and fantasy still seems to be on display from the Los Angeles and Tucson chapters of the Nattering Nabobs..... tsk...tsk.... ...and it seems they are both blind to the interesting places along Route 66...
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,270 Points:984,285 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 9:52:59 PM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse Just stay home.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,559 Points:1,173,100 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 8:03:14 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Tried to drive Route 66 in New Mexico and Arizona. Unfortunately most of the route is gone, replaced by an Interstate. There are a few stop over areas and in Arizona there is an interesting stretch that runs along the Colorado river below the Boulder Dam.
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:8,919 Points:1,735,535 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 6:23:45 PM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse Ditto to 5Golfer8. Hope we can change that in November.
BayleeBuggy Champion Author Toronto Posts:21,566 Points:3,069,320 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 5:50:30 PM Ignore BayleeBuggy Report Abuse We would love to do it! And in a convertible with a couple of cute guys would be even better!
dacofa Champion Author Nevada Posts:5,375 Points:1,150,610 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:39:55 PM Ignore dacofa Report Abuse And how much did this study cost the taxpayers.
5Golfer8 Champion Author Tucson Posts:2,143 Points:301,625 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:35:32 PM Ignore 5Golfer8 Report Abuse When Obama makes all the interstate roads into toll roads we will still need a free road to get across the country.
snappytom2 Champion Author Corpus Christi Posts:3,561 Points:275,220 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:34:33 PM Ignore snappytom2 Report Abuse Too late.
ItisAJeepThing Champion Author Tucson Posts:19,765 Points:2,153,530 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:31:23 PM Ignore ItisAJeepThing Report Abuse As a child in the 5th grade, we lived 50 to 100 yds. from Route 66 just west of Barstow, California. Barstow was the armpit of CA. in the Mojave desert, but times were good.
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,382 Points:1,981,160 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:25:18 PM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse I want to just leave home, get my youngest brother and go for a drive - us and the drop top Mustang on Route 66.. For however long the ride takes.
adgam Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,264 Points:501,020 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:21:39 PM Ignore adgam Report Abuse Been there done that. And still do.
Gascapade Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:3,027 Points:482,905 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:20:59 PM Ignore Gascapade Report Abuse On the bucket list....
silverfox63 Champion Author Michigan Posts:8,130 Points:1,613,665 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:18:51 PM Ignore silverfox63 Report Abuse Route 66 has not change much over the years.
Gramps001 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,863 Points:1,366,435 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:17:18 PM Ignore Gramps001 Report Abuse Get your kicks on Route 66!
clpassenubye Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,359 Points:755,230 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:14:54 PM Ignore clpassenubye Report Abuse Yes it does
tampacrvdriver Champion Author Tampa Posts:3,361 Points:713,410 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:07:42 PM Ignore tampacrvdriver Report Abuse Not me
FOURXFOUR Champion Author Boston Posts:2,476 Points:1,249,155 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:07:38 PM Ignore FOURXFOUR Report Abuse Get you kicks on Rt.66....
Dougieda Sophomore Author Boston Posts:129 Points:564,715 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:06:18 PM Ignore Dougieda Report Abuse Good old RT66
vincentV All-Star Author Toronto Posts:652 Points:137,305 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:06:01 PM Ignore vincentV Report Abuse wow
dpt Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,255 Points:2,204,760 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:05:26 PM Ignore dpt Report Abuse Not the only "old road". Old US-27 in Michigan is also worth traveling, although the roadside attractions have pretty much moved to the freeway. One stretch south of Grayling got gobbled up by I-75, but most of the old road is there from Lansing to Mackinaw City. A bit of it is still in use as US-127 between St. Johns and Ithaca, but highly modified with interchanges and such.
MDTDriver Champion Author California Posts:9,734 Points:2,156,595 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:04:47 PM Ignore MDTDriver Report Abuse I have traveled 66 most of the route it was fun but it is going away slowly as the world changes.
julius1st4 Champion Author Ontario Posts:4,216 Points:1,191,575 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:00:27 PM Ignore julius1st4 Report Abuse Route 66 will never really die out. Too much "Nastalgy". Route 66 probably put the "Chevy Corvette" on everybodies mind [super advertising for G.M.]
caddilac Champion Author Ontario Posts:16,616 Points:2,141,655 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 4:00:22 PM Ignore caddilac Report Abuse OK
mgune9 All-Star Author Dallas Posts:914 Points:200,395 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:59:35 PM Ignore mgune9 Report Abuse adventure along the old route would be nice
firechief Champion Author New York Posts:3,456 Points:2,068,325 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:59:17 PM Ignore firechief Report Abuse I want to travel it someday
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,297 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:58:34 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse lots of tourist traps too
Feud Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,091 Points:307,765 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:58:11 PM Ignore Feud Report Abuse Yup.
firechief Champion Author New York Posts:3,456 Points:2,068,325 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:57:47 PM Ignore firechief Report Abuse I want to travel it someday
Digger52 Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,417 Points:850,885 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:57:37 PM Ignore Digger52 Report Abuse Great!!
Suzy7Q Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:2,187 Points:371,505 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:56:19 PM Ignore Suzy7Q Report Abuse It is great to hear that these business are coming back.
ezone Champion Author Florida Posts:2,421 Points:948,610 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:52:03 PM Ignore ezone Report Abuse I suspect the TV series, "Route 66' has contributed more to the continued popularity than "The Grapes of Wrath". Wonder how many young people have read, or even heard of Steinbeck's classic. That may also be true for the TV series, come to think of it. Probably been 25 or 30 years since the series aired.
bigthighs All-Star Author Tucson Posts:550 Points:52,965 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:51:08 PM Ignore bigthighs Report Abuse its ok just wish it would be revived
n3tbc Veteran Author Wilmington Posts:355 Points:332,825 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:49:15 PM Ignore n3tbc Report Abuse Rt 66 as well as Rt 30 are great old roads that have many areas grow up around them.
69Bonne Champion Author Gary Posts:1,160 Points:475,100 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:49:13 PM Ignore 69Bonne Report Abuse Maybe someday, I will also make a trip along there.
hallows Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,708 Points:2,806,570 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:47:51 PM Ignore hallows Report Abuse Alrighty!
grandamgt1 Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,356 Points:1,242,275 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:46:56 PM Ignore grandamgt1 Report Abuse Will make my out there someday
highdesertman Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:2,489 Points:1,719,055 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:46:11 PM Ignore highdesertman Report Abuse I've been on most segments from east of Kingman, AZ to Chicago, but never as part of one continuous trip. Even if you have only a few hours to spare in a cross-country trip, it's worth getting off the interstate from time to time and exploring the old route.
The_DR Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,790 Points:586,790 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:41:39 PM Ignore The_DR Report Abuse Maybe one day I'll travel Rt 66
jay93LA Champion Author New Orleans Posts:2,459 Points:601,660 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:39:49 PM Ignore jay93LA Report Abuse seen some of it staying in a tepee motel room a couple of years ago out west
spiderjay Champion Author Little Rock Posts:4,773 Points:1,282,235 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:39:12 PM Ignore spiderjay Report Abuse SOME THINGS NEVER DIE
Stevedog Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,858 Points:1,947,620 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:38:15 PM Ignore Stevedog Report Abuse I'm looking to endorse route 666
LaVonneK Champion Author Iowa Posts:2,955 Points:628,700 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:34:06 PM Ignore LaVonneK Report Abuse Oh.
ampinoy13 Champion Author Oregon Posts:36,687 Points:2,652,555 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jun 18, 2012 3:33:50 PM Ignore ampinoy13 Report Abuse One of these days. It's on my bucket list.