St Louis, MO
St Louis is the largest Route 66 town between Chicago and Los Angeles. The 630 foot tall Gateway Arch dominates the skyline. It is the tallest man made monument in the United States. Rides to the top are available, but it looks pretty confining.
St Louis used to be accessible by crossing the Mississippi River on the 1929 Chain of Rocks Bridge, which has a 22 degree turn in the middle. The angle was caused when they started building the bridge from opposite shores of the Mississippi River and they didn't meet exactly in the middle. The bridge has been closed to vehicles for decades, but it is open to hikers. It was used in Escape from New York.
Many St Louis Route 66 attractions have vanished in the last few decades. The 1941 Coral Court, which started as a fine motel but later became a house of ill repute, was torn down in 1995. One of the rooms was preserved and is on display in the Museum of Transportation in St Louis.
The 1946 Crystal Court, across the street from the Coral Court, was torn down in 1988. The 1937 White Castle on Chippewa was lost in 1983. The 1945 66 Auto Court was demolished in the 1980's, and the 1948 66 Park-In Theater flickered its last flick in 1996.
But some old places have survived. Most notable is Ted Drewes Frozen Custard at 6726 Chippewa. Ted and his family started selling frozen custard out of a truck in 1929. By 1935, the business was so popular Ted built a permanent stand. In 1941, he opened a second stand on Route 66, which is the current Route 66 location. They serve dozens of flavors of Concretes, which are frozen custards so thick that they will not spill out of the cup when turned upside down. Forget your diets and enjoy.
Don't forget the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Free beer and Clydesdales!
The 277 Mile Club was a biker themed restaurant and bar that claims to be at the 277 mile marker along Route 66. It featured live entertainment. It was not an Old School kind of place, but lots of bikers stop in. Unfortunately it closed, but it has been replaced by the Twisted Tree, which is a pretty good steak place with a good bar..
If you need a place to stay after imbibing, the Holiday Inn Route 66 is next door and accessible through internal hallways.
From Chippeqwa/Hwy 336, keep going West past the St Louis City Limits sign - This turns into Watson Rd - Follow Watson Rd into Shrewsbury
Follow Watson Rd, which will become Chipewa - Follow Chippewa to Gravois - Go left on Gravois - Follow Gravois across I-55 and follow the signs to I-55 North - Follow I-55 North to I-70 West (That's right - you will need to go West to wind up going East) - Take Exit 245B (Florissant Ave) - Go straight on Florisant - Go through two Stop lights, and at the third Stop light, go right between two cemeteries onto Calvary (there is no street sign going Eastbound; If you get to Union you have gone too far) - Go left at the fork to a stop light at Broadway - Go left on Broadway - After going through four Stop lights and a Stop sign, continue on to Riverview - Go right on Riverview by Speedie Gas and follow it to I-270 - Get on I-270 East and cross over the Mississippi River into llinios - Get of at Exit 3A - get on Hwy 3 South and take an immediate left on to Chain of Rocks Rd - Go to the Stop sign at Old Alton Rd - Go left, then take another left on to the I-270 East on ramp - Go over the overpass and take the next off ramp to Hwy 203 (Granite City) - Go right and go under I-270 and get back on Chain of Rocks Rd in Mitchell
View Route66mc.com - St. Louis to Mitchell in a larger map
