A growing roadside attraction along Missouri’s stretch of the historic Route 66 is drawing renewed attention ahead of the famous highway’s centennial celebrations next year.
According to travel publication Travel and Tour World, the Route 66 Neon Park in St. Robert has become an increasingly popular stop for travelers exploring the iconic American roadway.
Located at George M. Reed Roadside Park near Interstate 44, the open-air attraction features restored vintage neon signs from old motels, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses that once lined Route 66 through Missouri.
The neon displays are illuminated nightly, recreating some of the atmosphere of the highway’s mid-20th century heyday, when Route 66 became synonymous with cross-country road trips, roadside diners and classic Americana.
The park forms part of wider efforts across Missouri and other states to preserve the history and culture of Route 66 ahead of the route’s 100th anniversary in 2026.
The highway, officially established in 1926, originally stretched from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, passing directly through Missouri. Although Route 66 was formally removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, many sections remain popular tourist destinations.
According to the City of St. Robert’s tourism information, several of the restored signs displayed at the park were salvaged from long-closed Missouri businesses and carefully restored to working condition.
One sign, from the former Stanley Cour Tel motel, is linked to Project Mercury astronauts who reportedly stayed there during military training exercises in the region, according to tourism site Atlas Obscura.
The renewed interest in Route 66 comes amid a broader revival of classic American road-trip tourism, with communities across the historic route investing in museums, retro attractions and preservation projects tied to the highway’s cultural legacy.
Travel and Tour World first reported on the growing popularity of the St. Robert attraction.
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