Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Route 66 Cruise begins Thursday night in downtown Joplin

(From the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau)

  • Gathering point – the parking lot behind Joplin City Hall at 6th and Joplin Avenue
  • Departure – 5:45
  • Cruise route – Joplin, Webb City, Carterville, Carthage
  • Caution – Open course and this is at the end of rush hour
  • Activities at the Drive-in start at 6:30 but the movie does not start until 8:55
  • There is plenty of time to Cruise The Route
  • Please be safe and observe all traffic signs
  • You can stop anywhere along the Cruise you wish – enjoy yourself
  • If attending the SOLD OUT showing of CARS at the Route 66 Drive-In Theatre you must have a printed copy of your ticket confirmation to get into the movie
CRUISE IN (THE ROUTE):
At 6th & Main Street, Downtown Joplin turn left (north) to 2nd Street. At the corner of 2nd & Main is Cooper’s 66 restaurant (they are open if you want to eat before the Cruise). Turn right (to the east) onto 2nd Street. Going over the Vernon Sigars Bridge, 2nd Street turns into Broadway. Stay on Broadway to St. Louis. At St. Louis turn left (north). Passing over Turkey Creek bridge turn right onto Euclid through the neighborhood known as Royal Heights. As the road curves to the right (east) you will pass Ole Dale’s Barber Shop; a former gas station. Here the road turns into Utica and will intersect with Florida. At Florida turn left (north) a few blocks to Zora. Turn right (east) onto Zora to Range Line Road. Turning left (north) onto Range Line Road you will be leaving Joplin. Entering into the Webb City the road becomes Madison.
Remain on Madison (heading north) through the intersection of US-171 (MacArthur) until a 4-way stop at Broadway. Turn right (east) on Broadway heading into Downtown Webb City. The road will come to a “T” at Webb Street. Here turn left (north) for a half block then right back onto Broadway. At this jog in the road is the Webb City Visitors Center. They will be open for a visit. Back on Broadway, heading east cross Main Street (Downtown W.C.) continue ahead on to Carterville.
Route 66 becomes Main Street in Carterville. Just on the east edge of downtown at Pine Street is Stewart’s CafĂ©, turn left (north) here. Traveling for nearly a mile the road will curve to the right (east). The Carterville Cemetery will be on your left.
Go with the curve to the right, heading east for 2½ miles. Turning right (south) US-171 will be just ahead. This is turn not well marked. Crossing over US-171 there will be a slight hair-pin turn to the left. The Route 66 Drive-in Theatre is 1 mile down the road on the left (north) side.
Alternate route to avoid the Drive-in Theatre traffic:
Taking US-171 to the east will travel into Carthage and by the Boots Motel (now Boots Court) and the Jasper County Court House on the Carthage Square.
Follow US-171 into Carthage for just over 3 miles. Passing under the I-49 overpass (the road becomes Central) continue on another mile until Garrison Avenue. Turn right (south) and the Boots will be to the immediate right. The Jasper County Court House and Carthage Square are two blocks from the Boots and visible to the east. Cruise In for dinner and shopping.
From the Boots Court to get back on Route 66 for the return home or to the Drive-in, go south two blocks to Oak. Turning right (west) it is 3 miles to the Route 66 Drive-in Theatre. Along the way, just after crossing over I-49, on your right is the Powers Museum. It will open until 8:00 p.m. Thursday night.

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