Exotic Animal Paradise to close June 8, 2006
Posted by Ron in Attractions.1 comment so far
Exotic Animal Paradise, a drive-through animal park that's operated on old Route 66 for nearly 35 years near Strafford, Mo., announced Thursday it is set to close Oct. 1, according to the Springfield News-Leader.
The animal park was sold to a real-estate developer, the newspaper said. It will make way for a golf course and possibly a family entertainment center.
I'll have more as the story develops.
UPDATE: Here's more from KOLR-TV in Springfield:
Owner Ron Armitage … said the sale is necessary because keeping the park open is no longer financially feasible. Armitage cited the high cost of fuel, feed, labor and regulatory costs as the reason for selling the park.
"It is a sad time to have such a wonderful family attraction close," Armitage said in a statement. "And just the overall family atmosphere it has provided over the years, has made it a very difficult decision, but i think it`s the right decision and at the right time."
Exotic Animal Paradise drew an estimate 200,000 visitors a year, said Susan Wade, spokesman for the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. That made the attraction the third-most-visited site in the Springfield area behind Bass Pro Shops and Wonders of Wildlife Museum.
UPDATE2: Here's a new, fairly complete story from the News-Leader.
Idol worship at the Edwardsville festival June 8, 2006
Posted by Ron in Events, Vehicles.add a comment
The 10th annual Festival 66 in Edwardsville, Ill., is taking a page from the wildly popular TV show "American Idol" and holding a singing contest, reports the Belleville News-Democrat.
The big event, however, will be the car cruise at 7 p.m. Saturday. More than 200 classic vehicles participate each year. I was stopped in the middle of one as all the cars were exiting a local high school one year; it was the most pleasant traffic jam I'd ever experienced.
The festival also is adding a poker run for the first time.
Here's the festival schedule. Here's another story from the News-Democrat about a dog trainer who will offer canine tips at the festival.
Legends of America site marks third anniversary June 8, 2006
Posted by Ron in Web sites.add a comment
The EMediaWire reports that the Legends of America site is marking its third year of existence this year.
Legends owner Kathy Weiser of Lenexa, Kansas, became consumed by her creation, quitting her full time job two years ago to focus full time on the website. Full of facts and fancy about destinations in the American West, "Legends of America" now has over 2000 pages of in-depth articles on outlaws, ghost towns, hidden attractions, treasure tales and more. From Deadwood to the California Gold Rush, the Santa Fe Trail to Route 66, the site’s appeal continues to grow with readers from China to Germany, Australia to Arizona and all points in between. "Legends of America" has even gained the attention of educators and students who browse the site for its rich content, and is used as a reference link on several other research and information websites.
As www.LengendsOfAmerica.com celebrates its third anniversary this June, Weiser continues to travel, adding to her growing list of articles on the Old West, Route 66, travel destinations and even a ghost story or two along the way. Her first foray into the print world is due soon in the form of a picture book of Old West saloons, and she hopes to finish other print works for Route 66 travelers this year.
In addition to the wealth of information on the site and a wide range of shopping opportunities through Weiser’s online Rocky Mountain General Store, "Legends of America" also provides a free newsletter to over 1,300 subscribers, keeping them up to date on the site’s latest offerings.
I've been periodically checking Legends of America for years. It's a terrific resource, and I had no idea she was up to 2,000 pages of content. It's staggering.
Congrats, Kathy. Hope to meet you on the road one day.
Riding the 844 train June 8, 2006
Posted by Ron in Attractions, History, Railroad.add a comment
Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog not only went to see Union Pacific Railroad's historic No. 844 steam engine when it made a recent stop in the Route 66 town of Claremore, Okla., but he also rode it clear to Kansas City. Click here for the story and a lot more great photos.
