The Chain of Rocks Bridge was an active Route 66 passage over the Mississippi River between 1936 - 1966. Although no longer open to vehicular traffic, the Chain of Rocks Bridge allows visitors to walk a 1 mile authentic stretch of Route 66 across the Mississippi.

Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks tih Elizabeth Simmons, from the Great Rivers Greenway about the popularity and almost complete demise of the Chain of Rocks bridge.

Highlights from this episode include:

• The Great Rivers Greenway Mission

• Earliest bridges to cross the Mississippi River

• Physical location of Chain of Rocks Bridge

• 1936 Route 66 alignment on Chain of Rocks Bridge

• Peak bridge years with amusement park

• Commercial barge traffic on Mississippi River

• Namesake of Chain of Rocks

• Chain of Rocks channel

• Chouteau Island

• Construction of 1953 canal on east side

• Castle like structures at Chain of Rock Bridge

• Physical dimensions and unusual bend on Chain of Rocks Bridge

• Gretchen (bridge keeper volunteer)

  • Earliest memory of Chain of Rocks Bridge

  • Involvement as an ambassador at Chain of Rocks Bridge

  • Typical bridge keeper duties

  • Personal connection to bridge

  • Most memorable people on the bridge

  • Wildlife sightings on Mississippi

  • Most recent renovations on the bridge

1970 - 1999

• Bridge closed to the public and slated for demolition

• What ironically saved the Chain of Rocks Bridge from demolition

• Reopening as a pedestrian bridge in 1999 with Trialnet

• Great Rivers Greenway established in 2000

• Future options for Chain of Rocks Bridge

• Activities and events at Chain of Rocks Bridge

• Other Green Rivers Greenway destinations

Remembering Connie Echols

The Route 66 Podcast pays a special tribute to Connie Echols, who passed away on May 2, 2026, at the age of 76 years old. The Wagon Wheel Motel is the longest, continuously operated motel along Route 66.

The Route 66 Podcast pays a special tribute to Connie Echols, who passed away on May 2, 2026, at the age of 76 years old.

This episode was originally released in 2018 as Connie was nearing her 10th anniversary of owning and operating The Wagon Wheel Motel.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Connie about:

Website: The Wagon Wheel Motel

Website: Wagon Wheel Facebook Page

Connie Echols, owner Wagon Wheel Motel

Show highlights:

• Connie's other profession before purchasing The Wagon Wheel Motel
• Early history of The Wagon Wheel Motel
• Most popular items sold at The Wagon Wheel Gift Shop
• Why the original motel garages were removed from adjoining rooms
• The original Wagon Wheel Neon sign and why there's only one sign facing east, and no sign facing travelers as they travel west
• Keeping in touch with other historic Route 66 Motels
• Latest projects at The Wagon Wheel that Connie is working on
• Local area attractions for Cuba, MO
• Annual events in the area
• Famous guests who stayed at The Wagon Wheel Motel

The Cadillac Ranch is one of the most popular stops along Route 66, and on this very special episode, host Anthony Arno speaks with the only surviving who created the art installation. At 81 years old, Chip not only talks about establishing Ant Farm, the creative group behind the Cadillac Ranch, but two other "unimaginable" projects that honor the automobile.

Join Anthony as he talks with Chip about

• Pivoting away from a traditional career as an architect
• How Ant Farm was established and the origin behind the name
• Finding and burying 10 classic Cadillacs in Texas
• The intention was never to allow visitors defact the cars with grafitti
• Working with Amarillo businessman Stanly Marsh, who financed the project
• Bruch Springsteen sings about The Cadillac Ranch
• Quietly relocating the ranch down the road 23 years later
• Modifications to cars that were burried at the Cadillac Ranch
• Preserving the Cadillac Ranch
• Special anniversary celebrations
• The secret behind the Cadillac Ranch

MEDIA BURN

• Creating a "spectacle" was the goal
• Evil Knieval meets a lunar launch with a JFK impersonator
• Secretly renting the parking lot of the Cow Palace
• Setting 100 TV's on fire- you only get one chance

GM TRAINING VIDEO

• • 1950'S GM training video for sales force
  • Widely accepted for something so basic from decades earlier
  • Public performance at Whitney Museum
  • Chip played the rold of customer
• Age of Youtube culture
• What would be done differently?
• What happened to Ant Farm movement?
• Ant Farm fire
• Chip's public Persona and recognition today
• EALI & Columbia University Ant Farm Archives