Even before Bobby Troup penned “Route 66” in 1946, the iconic highway had captured the imagination of the young and the restless. Now, many communities across the country see the asphalt ribbon as the road to prosperity.

Countryside officials hosted a meeting last month attended by about 30 representatives of area communities and the state to discuss a master plan that would make Route 66 a tourist attraction and destination in itself, thereby attracting tourist dollars to the communities through which it passes, said Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project Executive Director Patti Ambrose.

The state-sponsored, nonprofit Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project is designed to promote tourism of one of America’s first major highways while preserving its heritage. Established in 1926, the route was deemed irrelevant in 1985 and removed from the United States Highway System. In 2005, it was designated a National Scenic Byway.

Starting at Jackson Boulevard in Chicago, Route 66 stretches across eight states, ending in California. In Cook County alone the highway makes its way through Cicero, Countryside, Berwyn, Hodgkins, Indian Head Park, La Grange Highlands, Lyons, McCook, Riverside and Stickney. In all there are about 70 communities touched by Route 66, including Woodridge, Darien, Burr Ridge and Willowbrook.

Countryside’s Community Development Department acts as the Chicago/Cook County Regional Coordinator for the project. The city’s Web site features a logo of a US Route 66 road sign and several businesses are displaying Route 66 flags provided by the city, said Countryside Director of Economic Development Dudley Onderdonk.

“We are working within the larger context of the Scenic Highways group, and one of the things they did with their consultants is identify the important icons along the roadway,” Onderdonk said. “Unfortunately, we lost a site recently, the Wishing Well Hotel, to fire.”

The Lyonsville Community Church, built before the Civil War, has been identified as a candidate for icon status. It was one of the first buildings in the entire area. An overlook to the McCook quarry has also been suggested.

“What we are trying to do is identify all those unique experiences along Route 66,” Onderdonk said.

Berwyn has been taking advantage of its connection to the scenic byway for the past 18 years with its Historic Route 66 Car Show. Each September, the city closes Ogden Avenue, which is a portion of Route 66, from Oak Park to Ridgeland avenues.

The street is turned into an outdoor showroom for custom and classic vehicles.
This year marked an attendance record, said Marybeth Eurek, special events coordinator for the Berwyn Development Corp.

“We had about 10,000 people come through,” she said.

The event drew more than 500 vehicles from a wide area.

“The participants in the car show have been participating for years and they definitely spread the word,” Eurek said.

To that end, in January, Berwyn has a booth at the World of Wheels Car Show in Chicago, to promote its own show in September.

That promotion of the Berwyn car show pays off, Eurek said.

“Most of the restaurants do a good business and we send out invitations to all Berwyn restaurants to participate in a food court,” she said.

The mystique of Route 66 was strong enough to draw at least one musical icon to drive the entire stretch earlier this year.
“Paul McCartney drove through town — nobody knew it but he did stop at the visitors center in Joliet,” Onderdonk said. “The whole road is an American Icon.”