Historic Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary in November. We caught up with vintage car drivers at the Catsup Bottle Festival in Collinsville, IL, on their way to the route's end in Pasadena, CA; plus, the infamous Coral Court Motel on Watson Road, the Sara-Lou Cafe, one of the only Green Book locations still standing; and muralist Ray Harvey's newest work in Ellisville.
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The Great Race
As the Great Race made its way from Springfield to Pasadena, drivers of pre-1962 cars stopped in Collinsville for the Catsup Bottle Festival and shared how they're keeping Route 66's legacy alive for a new generation.
Coral Courts Motel
Motel Row on old Route 66 on Watson Road was home to 7 motels built in the late 30s and early 40s. The most infamous of these hotels was the “Coral Court”. It was also called the “No Tell Motel” and thought to be a discreet place for criminals or shady characters to stay.
Green Book Restaurant Sara-Lou Cafe
The Sara-Lou Cafe is one of the only Green Book locations still standing in our stretch of Route 66. The restaurant has a long and vibrant history but has been closed since 2002. There are currently reports circulating about preservation efforts.
Muralist Ray Harvey
Veteran Route 66 muralist Ray Harvey has painted more than 600 murals since the 1990s. His newest work in Ellisville is part of a five-mural Missouri Arts Council America250 project focused on bringing public art to vacant spaces.
Supported in part by the Betsy & Thomas O. Patterson Foundation, and with a generous gift from Mrs. and Mr. Theodore P. Desloge Trust, made in memory of Mrs. and Mr. Theodore P. Desloge, Jr.
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