Historic Route 66 basically created the Village of McLean as we know it, from establishing the McLean Depot as a popular tourist attraction to the opening of Dixie Family Restaurant. Stops like the depot, Dixie, Arcadia, and coming soon, the Constitution Trail are the reasons why people will stop in McLean. People who are hungry or need gas will stop at Dixie. If you’re a little bit older and you want to go back in time, you’re going to stop at Arcadia: America's Playable Arcade Museum and feel like a kid again. If you’re just interested in the people and events that have shaped the area over the past 100 years, you can stop at the Mt. Hope Township Community Hall & Museum. The McLean Depot Train Shop is a very cool place to stop, too. We have a couple of things outside of it that give visitors opportunities for photo-taking. And if you’re a train enthusiast, the depot features so many different train models. There’s also a mural right off the square, completed by muralist Troy Freeman of Free Sky Studios. McLean is old school, but we’re modernizing.

I’ve grown up driving down Old Route 66 my entire life, going to and from work and then living in McLean later in life. I worked at Dixie when I was younger, when they had busboys. What was neat about being a busboy was that I got to talk to a lot of people who would come in and out of the village — not just the regulars. I remember an older couple who were traveling through. They had just retired, and they were traveling Route 66 from start to finish. Even at 15 years old, I still thought that was cool — I’ve always been into cars and road trips. In fact, today, when someone mentions Route 66 to me, I picture classic cars, road trips, cruise-ins, and car shows. So, driving Route 66 myself has recently been added to my bucket list.

Historic Route 66 appeals to so many generations today simply because it’s still here and still used. You ask someone who’s 80 years old what his favorite aspect of Route 66 is, and it’s why we’re still here. This is why our community is where it is. You ask someone who just turned 16 and is driving, Route 66 is the safest road to drive. It’s well-maintained. You can go slower or faster if need be. It’s safer for new drivers and convenient for older drivers.