8.
City Council Work Session
- Meeting Date:
- 02/25/2025
- From:
- Heidi Hansen, Economic Vitality Director
- Department:
- Economic Vitality
Co-Submitter:
TITLE:
Route 66 Centennial Celebration Plans
DESIRED OUTCOME:
Information Only.
Executive Summary:
Route 66 will be celebrating 100 years on 11/11/26. The route runs through eight states; Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, California, and Arizona.
Flagstaff, Arizona serves 14.2 miles of the 401 miles in Arizona. Our value proposition is - Flagstaff is the only 7,000-foot elevation, pine fresh, dark-sky city on the Mother Road.
Reason to celebrate this Centennial is because it's a must-see experience by not only locals but visitors from all over the globe. The Mother Road draws a huge international interest and we will use this fact to encourage increased visitation for the betterment of our community and businesses.
The term "Mother Road" for Route 66 originated in John Steinbeck's 1939 novel, The Grapes of Wrath. He called it "the Mother Road, the road of flight" to highlight how the road provided refuge for people displaced by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Route 66 was a popular route for cross-country road trips after World War II. The road was lined with motels, diners, gas stations, and roadside attractions. In the 1950s the Federal Higway Administration began building interstates that would eventually replace Route 66, such as the I-10 and I-40. Route 66 was officially removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985. However, sections of the original road exist and many states, cities, and groups work to preserve the route. The popular 2006 Disney movie, Cars, took a lot of its inspiration from the historic Route 66.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is also involved in the Route 66 Centennial celebrations with our internal team and through the Arizona Historic Route 66 Corridor Management Plan that guides the future preservation and enhancement of this historic roadway.
The Museum Club (dating back to 1918), Miz Zips Cafe, Flagstaff Visitor Center, Motel DuBeau Travelers Inn, and many other buildings are part of the Mother Road history with the very popular Mother Road Brewery located along part of the old route.
Flagstaff, Arizona serves 14.2 miles of the 401 miles in Arizona. Our value proposition is - Flagstaff is the only 7,000-foot elevation, pine fresh, dark-sky city on the Mother Road.
Reason to celebrate this Centennial is because it's a must-see experience by not only locals but visitors from all over the globe. The Mother Road draws a huge international interest and we will use this fact to encourage increased visitation for the betterment of our community and businesses.
The term "Mother Road" for Route 66 originated in John Steinbeck's 1939 novel, The Grapes of Wrath. He called it "the Mother Road, the road of flight" to highlight how the road provided refuge for people displaced by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Route 66 was a popular route for cross-country road trips after World War II. The road was lined with motels, diners, gas stations, and roadside attractions. In the 1950s the Federal Higway Administration began building interstates that would eventually replace Route 66, such as the I-10 and I-40. Route 66 was officially removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985. However, sections of the original road exist and many states, cities, and groups work to preserve the route. The popular 2006 Disney movie, Cars, took a lot of its inspiration from the historic Route 66.
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is also involved in the Route 66 Centennial celebrations with our internal team and through the Arizona Historic Route 66 Corridor Management Plan that guides the future preservation and enhancement of this historic roadway.
The Museum Club (dating back to 1918), Miz Zips Cafe, Flagstaff Visitor Center, Motel DuBeau Travelers Inn, and many other buildings are part of the Mother Road history with the very popular Mother Road Brewery located along part of the old route.
Information:
The Route 66 Centennial plan includes significant dates, our strategy, objectives, and tactics.You will hear how our Economic Vitality and PROSE divisions plan to engage the public over an 18-24 month period of time.
We have initiatives that include ADOT signage placement, events and tours, marketing and advertising (print/digital/social) campaigns that will also include two commemorative magazines and a passport, Route 66 shield placement and fence repair, sales missions, conference exposure, bus wraps, and co-op opportunities with the Arizona Office of Tourism and Brand USA.
We have initiatives that include ADOT signage placement, events and tours, marketing and advertising (print/digital/social) campaigns that will also include two commemorative magazines and a passport, Route 66 shield placement and fence repair, sales missions, conference exposure, bus wraps, and co-op opportunities with the Arizona Office of Tourism and Brand USA.