Highway hounds
Dog sculpture, dog park newest Route 66 attractions in Hamel, Illinois
By Tamara “Tammie” Browning
“Harry – The Historic Highway Hound” sits along Historic Route 66 in the village of Hamel, Illinois.
Harry sits at the Madison County Transit (MCT) Quercus Grove Trail, next to the Hamel 66 Dog Park and along state Route 157 (Old Route 66).
Harry, the blue 10-foot-tall sculpture hound, sits by a sign that encourages attention to the speed limit.
“Who ya racing? Speed Limit 15 MPH,” the sign says.
“Harry – The Historic Highway Hound” and the Hamel 66 Dog Park are the newest Route 66 attractions in the Hamel area that has two original Route 66 attractions:
The Tourist Haven Restaurant, now Weezy’s Route 66 Bar and Grill, opened in 1937.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, known as the “Church of the Neon Cross,” the building of which was dedicated in 1931.
Hamel is on the 1926-54 Route 66, west of Interstate 55.
Hamel 66 Dog Park is described as “a haven for both dogs and their owners.”
“The park features a handicap accessible parking area and walking path and fenced in small and large dog areas,” said the April 2022 “Village of Hamel News” newsletter announcing the dog park’s opening.
The dog park’s policy includes requirements that make for fun times for canines.
“No animals other than dogs are permitted,” the policy says.
Cassens’ four corners
George Cassens purchased all four corners of the intersection at Route 66 and state Route 140 in Hamel. He placed different businesses on each corner.
“The original intersection had a gas station, automobile showroom, office building, and a small white building called the Village Inn,” Madison Historical says.
The Cassens family made the four corners of Route 66 in Hamel a commercial trucking success.
“Based originally in Hamel, Cassens Transport has hauled new automobiles to regional dealerships since 1931,” says a wayside exhibit on Hamel City Hall property, 111 S. Old Route 66.
Albert and Arnold Cassens began Cassens Transport in 1931 when they hauled four new cars from Detroit to their father George’s dealership in Hamel.
“By 1941, Cassens had a fleet of 35 car transporters operating from its terminal next to the Tourist Haven Restaurant,” the wayside exhibit says. “George Cassens opened the Tourist Haven Restaurant next to his terminal in 1937 to serve Route 66 travelers and Cassens drivers. His wife, Louise, managed it.”
Tourist Haven Restaurant is known today as Weezy’s Route 66 Bar & Grill. It’s located at 108 S. Old Route 66 – across the street from the wayside exhibit.
Neon Cross
The large neon cross on the building of St. Paul Lutheran Church signified safe travels for people driving Route 66.
St. Paul Lutheran Church, now known as the “Church of the Neon Cross,” is at Old Route 66 at 6969 W. Frontage Road, just north of Hamel.
The church’s current building was dedicated in 1931 and rededicated in 2014.
“A well-known feature of our building is the neon cross given in memory of a son of our congregation who died in World War II,” says the church’s website. “This cross has been shining on Route 66 and now Interstate 55 for 70 years and is featured in various Route 66 guidebooks and websites drawing Route 66 travelers from all around the world to stop and take a photograph or two.”
WHEN YOU GO
WHAT: “Harry – The Historic Highway Hound,” Hamel 66 Dog Park, Weezy’s Route 66 Bar and Grill, St. Paul Lutheran Church ( known as the “Church of the Neon Cross”)
WHERE: “Harry – The Historic Highway Hound” and Hamel 66 Dog Park are located along state Route 157 (6190 Old Route 66), Hamel.
Weezy’s Route 66 Bar and Grill, 108 S. Old Route 66, Hamel.
“Church of the Neon Cross,” Old Route 66 at 6969 W. Frontage Road, just north of Hamel.
WHEN:
Daily operating hours at Hamel 66 Dog Park are from dawn until dusk.
Call Weezy’s Route 66 Bar and Grill at 618-633-2228 for hours.
Outside of the “Church of the Neon Cross” is always available.
INFORMATION: Route 66 Creamery: Ice Cream, Sundaes, Shakes, Burgers & Fries at 11 S. Old Route 66, Hamel, has new owners.
Josh and Jodi Browell are the new owners.
Route 66 Creamery will open online ordering March 1, 2026, with delivery to customers’ cars.
The business will add pizza to its menu and plans to be open year-round.
Its website is available here. Its phone number is 618-633-2688.
Road Rules – News, Events:
Route 66 Centennial 2026 Celebrations – Save the Dates:
The next Celebrate and Learn! National Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series will take place Tuesday, March 10, 2026, as it aims for every second Tuesday of each month during the centennial year (11 a.m. PT/12 p.m. MT/1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET).
Authors, historians, researchers and advocates will present stories and perspectives about Route 66.
For those unable to attend live, each session will be recorded and made available on YouTube.
Free registration for the Tuesday, March 10, session on “Women’s Work on Route 66” with speaker Cheryl Eichar Jett is open.
For more information and to register, visit “Sessions Overview at-a-glance.”
The Tuesday, Feb. 10, session on “Cy Avery and the Invention of Route 66” with “Father of Route 66: The Story of Cy Avery” author Susan Croce Kelly pointed out Cy Avery’s determination with having good roads in the U.S. plus good roads that connected throughout the country.
Forty years ago, when Kelly was researching the book “Route 66: The Highway and Its People” with photographer Quinta Scott, Kelly heard from numerous people that “Cyrus Avery invented Route 66.”
“That’s the word that they used – ‘invented.’ In fact, Cy Avery did invent the Route 66 that we all know today. In 1926, he laid out the highway in its great sweeping arc, and he gave it the memorable number, although not without quite a bit of controversy.”
Springfield, Missouri, will host the National Kickoff of America’s Route 66 Centennial Celebration in 2026 on Thursday, April 30.
A kickoff concert will be held on Thursday, April 30, at the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, 601 E. St. Louis St., Springfield, Missouri.
April 30, 2026, is the 100th anniversary of the telegram that was sent in 1926 from Springfield, Missouri, to Washington, D.C., requesting that a new transcontinental road be named Route 66, according to https://celebratemo66.com/.
The concert will be livestreamed around the world with cut-ins from Route 66 cities in the United States.
More information is at https://celebratemo66.com/.
The Joliet Slammers will play an official exhibition game “The Big House Ballgame”
on Thursday, April 30, 2026, within the walls of the historic, Old Joliet Prison, Joliet, Illinois.
Visit https://jolietslammers.com/bhbg/ to fill out a form for a ticket lottery.
The Slammers are Joliet’s pro baseball team.
Route of Tulsa’s World-Record Classic Car Parade, Saturday, May 30, Tulsa, Oklahoma, aims to be the world’s largest classic car parade, “with a goal of 3,000 classic cars cruising down 5.5 miles of the historic highway.”
To register, visit CapitalOfRoute66.com.
The Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston, Illinois, plans a Smokin’ on 66 — a Barbecue Cook-Off Competition during its Route 66 Centennial Celebration on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Plans are underway, so the mall isn’t signing up teams or collecting entry fees just yet.
Official updates will be posted on the mall’s Facebook page.
Only In Your State, the official publishing partner of the Route 66 Centennial, is offering a 2026 event calendar outlining planned celebrations for the centennial of Route 66.
The calendar is available here.