Underground Tunnel: Odell, IL

Rolling down the streets of the sleepy little town of Odell, IL it is hard to believe that the Route was so busy that it required a tunnel to be constructed. Across the street from St. Paul Catholic Church lies the underground subway.



The traffic along the Route was so congrested at the time, that for the safety of church-goers and schoolchildren, a tunnel was constructed in 1937 for everyone's safe passage.



By 1947, the main road bypassed Odell and the tunnel no longer was needed. The tunnel was then filled in. In 2006, the Route 66 Association of Illinois restored the first few steps and erected a sign detailing the tunnel's importance to the city.

Big Al's Hot Dogs: Dwight, IL

Big Al's Hot Dogs. I really don't know much about this establishment. I could have swore it was opened last year. But the last time I went by, there was a "For Sale" posted.



Definitely not an original hot dog stand on Route 66...



But it was modeled as being a throwback to all those great food stops on the way.



Unfortunately, like most places on the Mother Road, it's slowly fading away.



Get your "Kicks on Doghouse 66."