Also included is a business office and video production suite for the Visit 66.com internet web sites and television and documentary productions that will feature Route 66. The exterior of the building will be preserved in it's original state, and efforts will be made next year to obtain a restoration grant from the National Park Service, Route 66 Corridor Grant Program.

The property includes an adjacent grassy lot that has several trees and will become a picnic area for visitor use (the Route 66 Diner is next door and will prepare box lunches). Convenient access to the building and parking lot is suitable for large traveling groups, and RV overnight parking will be offered along with free Wi-Fi high-speed wireless internet access. A computer will also be available for visitors who may wish to check their e-mails.

The VISIT 66 Welcome Center and Gift Shop will be open seven days a week, beginning later this month. The Gift Shop will offer a full array of Route 66 gifts, books, videos, postcards, caps, wearing apparel, maps, Route 66 sodas, guide books and exhibits. A tour guide brochure of southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas Route 66 businesses and attractions will also be handed-out to visitors who are traveling in either direction. The VISIT 66.com website is designed to promote Historic Route 66 as a "vacation destination" to those who are interested in traveling "The Mother Road". An overview of the history surrounding Route 66 is presented, along with travel tips and an extensive "links" list that will help Route-travelers have an enjoyable adventure by researching their journey in advance. Owners Rod and Barbara Harsh will travel the Route at different times throughout the year, producing documentaries about this famous highway and promoting efforts to attract new visitors. These videos will be available on DVD at selected Route 66 businesses and may be ordered online as well. One of their planned productions will focus on the National Route 66 Festival, which is scheduled for late June in Clinton, Oklahoma. Using video footage from this event, several 15 and 30 second promotional spots will be produced for distribution to national broadcast, satellite and cable television networks, and will also be placed on numerous web sites for access worldwide.

According to Rod Harsh, recent surveys taken in cities along the famous highway, indicate that Route 66 tourism is growing every year, with some communities reporting as many as 300,000 visitors last year. It is also reported that 65% of those visitors were from countries other than the U.S.!

Harsh stated, "I think Carterville is the perfect location for a Route 66 Visitors Center. The town is small, yet historic, has a pro-active Route 66 spirit and is situated between Joplin and Carthage. This gives us the opportunity to promote Route 66 businesses and attractions that are located in southwest Missouri, and to attract new visitors by way of our two websites." The new phone number is 417-673-5966, and opening updates may be found on the websites www.visit66.com and at www.route66tvonline.com.