In 2011, after years of research, Rutgers University collaborated with the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Conservation Program and the World Monuments Fund to complete a landmark economic impact analysis of Route 66. For many communities along the highway corridor, the Route 66 Economic Impact Report has served as a planning tool to create strategies that align tourism and economic development.
This week, the university released its latest report. Route 66 Revisited, It was developed with the support of the Route 66: Road Ahead Partnership, a non-profit organization founded in 2016 to preserve, promote and revitalize the historic corridor. The report will provide valuable information to communities looking to revitalize their historic districts and use them as a catalyst for tourism-related economic development as Route 66 celebrates its centenary in 2026.
The new report centers on case studies and provides detailed assessments of several Route 66 communities. These include Atlanta, Illinois, Pontiac, Illinois, Springfield, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Amarillo, Texas, and Kingman, Arizona. Detailed reports delve into the history, conservation and economic activity of each community. A PDF of the entire study is available at the following link. this link.
A variety of consultants were utilized in the preparation of the report. Among them are former Pontiac City Administrator Bob Carls and former Pontiac Mayor Bob Russell. During their tenure, the city of 11,350 people was transformed into a destination city in Illinois for tourists and investors, and the historic district was revitalized.
In the Kingman, Arizona case study, consultants were Joshua Noble, Deputy Director of Economic Development and Tourism, FAIA, architects William Otwell, and Jim Hinckley. Hinckley is a member of the Route 66: The Road Ahead Partnership Economic Development Committee and is the author, lecturer, and developer of this book. Jim Hinckley’s America travel network. He has also served as a tourism development consultant for several communities, including Cuba, Missouri, and Tucumcari, New Mexico.
Capitalizing on the popularity of Route 66 is one element of the region’s tourism development. Gina Klemper and Tami Ursenbach of the Mojave County Office of Economic Development and Tourism have led the creation of a program to build collaborative partnerships that enhance tourism-related local marketing. These programs include monthly meetings with tourism industry representatives and business owners in Peach Springs, Arizona, Kingman, Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, and Needles, California.
While the Rutgers University report is centered around Route 66, it also highlights tourism initiatives and projects that can be strengthened by connecting with Route 66. “Kingman has utilized some of these programs, both to enhance community-wide and Route 66-specific economic development. For example, we have two Business Improvement District (BID) programs focused on the Route 66 area in downtown Kingman, while also providing citywide benefits for activities such as façade restoration and improvements.”
The report mentions several initiatives that promote tourism, contribute to the development of a sense of community and lead to investments in historic business districts. An innovative project developed by Kingman Main Street was introduced. “… has initiated a multifaceted project that includes public art, the renewal of the Route 66 Walk of Fame project, and the development of a narrated guided walking tour of the historic business district and Route 66 corridor. The website (https://kingman.tours) has then and now photos, extended captions for each site, and audio files.”
Enhancements and infrastructure additions to the powerhouse visitor center, including the signature drive-thru arch and Tesla charging stations, and the centralization of events such as Chilling On Beer in the historic business district will increase the economic impact of Route 66-related tourism.
The upcoming 100th anniversary of Route 66 presents an unprecedented opportunity for tourism and related economic development in western Arizona. It’s also ideal for coordinating promotions and marketing to serve as a vehicle to introduce the area to people looking for a place to raise a family, open a business, or retire.
