Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway

06/23/2026

A very special thank you to Tom Hart at The Stadium Smokehouse Bar and Grill for supporting the Springfield, Illinois Big Texan 72 ounce steak eating challenge!

Visit Springfield The Illinois State Fairgrounds Route 66 Experience GoRoute66 Route 66 Centennial Caravan U.S. Route 66 Centennial Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership

06/23/2026

The first 72 ounce steak challenge in Illinois is complete! Thank you to Cory Jobe and the City of Granite City for welcoming the The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery!

Join us Tuesday night at The Illinois Route 66 Experience at the Fairgrounds and Wednesday night at the Old Joliet Prison! Both events are open to the public and start at 5pm!

06/22/2026

Wednesday night, June 24th at the Old Joliet Prison! Live streaming starts at 5 PM, the challenges start at 5:30.

The public is invited to join us for one of the final stake eating challenge challenges from the The Big Texan Steak Ranch and the Route 66 Centennial Caravan!

Come out for the fun, or maybe even participate?

Heritage Corridor Destinations Joliet Area Historical Museum

06/20/2026

Meet the People of Route 66

🌟 Member Spotlight: Scott & Beth Buenger 🌟

Scott and Beth Buenger are proud owners of O’Brien Tire & Auto Care, the oldest auto repair shop in America. Located along Historic Route 66, the family-owned business has been serving customers since 1906 and is now celebrating an incredible 120 years in operation. For the Buengers, Route 66 isn't just where they do business—it's part of their family's legacy. Having owned the shop for more than 50 years across three generations, they continue to uphold the values and traditions that have made O’Brien Tire & Auto Care a beloved stop on the Mother Road.

One of Scott's favorite Route 66 memories takes him back to childhood family trips across the McKinley Bridge. As he and his brother crossed the bridge with their parents, they would lie down on the floorboard of the back seat because they could see straight through the bridge deck to the Mississippi River below. Convinced the bridge might collapse at any moment, the experience was equal parts terrifying and unforgettable.

Visitors to O’Brien Tire & Auto Care can experience a true piece of Route 66 history. From meeting Earl the Mechanic—their larger-than-life American Giant—to seeing the largest tire on Route 66 and a unique American flag made of license plates, there's plenty to discover. Most importantly, travelers get a glimpse of a 120-year-old service station that continues to thrive by treating customers like family. As Scott and Beth put it, O’Brien Tire & Auto Care is the quintessential Route 66 business—a place where small-town hospitality, history, and the spirit of the Mother Road are still alive and well.

06/19/2026

The Illinois State Museum Society is embarking on a series of day trips to look beyond the rose-colored glasses of Route 66. Together, we will delve past the family station wagons and kitschy attractions to a highway that offered a livelihood for many and threatened it for others. Our second journey takes us north to Joliet.

Highlights will include:
A tour of the historic Joliet Prison
Joliet Area History Museum
Local African American entrepreneurs talk about their community today.
Lunch at Juliet's Tavern

Learn more: https://illinoisstatemuseum.networkforgood.com/events/101929-route-66-untold-stories-joliet?hid=NTYzNTcxMDA=&utm_campaign=dms_email_blast_4694763

Old Joliet Prison Joliet Area Historical Museum Heritage Corridor Destinations Illinois State Museum

Join us June 30 for another Route 66 adventure! The Illinois State Museum Society is embarking on a series of day trips to look beyond the rose-colored glasses of Route 66. Together, we will delve past the family station wagons and kitschy attractions to a highway that offered a livelihood for ...

06/19/2026

🥩 ROUTE 66'S MOST FAMOUS STEAK CHALLENGE IS COMING TO ILLINOIS! 🥩

The legendary Big Texan Steak Ranch from Amarillo, Texas is bringing its world-famous 72 Oz Steak Challenge to Illinois as part of the Route 66 Centennial Caravan!

Since 1960, travelers have stopped at The Big Texan along Route 66 to test their appetite against one of America's most iconic food challenges. Now, for Route 66's 100th Anniversary, the challenge is hitting the road and making four exciting Illinois stops!

📍 June 22 – Neon Sign Park, Granite City
📍 June 23 – Illinois Route 66 Experience, Springfield
📍 June 24 – Old Joliet Prison, Joliet
📍 June 25 – Navy Pier, Chicago*

🎥 Live Streaming Begins Daily at 5:00 PM
🥩 Challenge Begins Daily at 5:30 PM
*Chicago Challenge starts at Noon; not 5:30pm
🎟 FREE Admission for Spectators

Come cheer on contestants as they attempt to conquer the legendary 72-ounce steak challenge while celebrating the Mother Road's Centennial year. Bring your family, bring your friends, and be part of Route 66 history!

Log on to The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery page and search their events for specifics!



The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery Old Joliet Prison The Illinois State Fairgrounds Route 66 Experience Navy Pier Heritage Corridor Destinations Great Rivers & Routes Visit Springfield City of Granite City, IL

06/18/2026

Meet the People of Route 66

🎸 Member Spotlight: Ron Romero 🎸

For Ron Romero, CEO and Founder of the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66, the Mother Road has been a lifelong part of his story. Growing up, Ron traveled Route 66 with his parents every year between Chicago and St. Louis, creating memories that would eventually inspire his passion for preserving and celebrating the road's rich history and culture. He credits both those cherished experiences and the countless wonderful people he has met along the way as the inspiration behind his involvement with Route 66.

When asked what visitors shouldn't miss in his community, Ron's answer is easy: the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66. Combining two iconic pieces of Americana—Rock & Roll and Route 66—the museum offers a unique experience where visitors can learn about Illinois' incredible musical heritage while enjoying all that downtown Joliet has to offer, from great restaurants to local shops.

For first-time travelers, Ron believes there isn't just one must-see stop on Route 66. "There is no one place... Route 66 is the place," he says. From Illinois to California, the journey itself is the destination. Through every mile, travelers discover the stories, people, and experiences that make Route 66 one of America's most beloved highways.

06/18/2026

The public is invited to join us! Come out on the evening of June 23rd at the Illinois Route 66 Experience at the fairgrounds. Live stream starts at 5 PM, and the steak eating challenge starts at 5:30 PM.

Who’s participating? Good question! Scott Dahl from Visit Springfield and Rocki from 98.7 WNNS.