Route 66 is an American icon for good reason. One of the original highways established all the way back in 1926, it runs through Chicago, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. While officially removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, stretches still exist in the aforementioned states.
However, that also means several abandoned stretches of the iconic roadway still exist too. One of the most “famous” abandoned stretches, you could call it, actually still sits in a small suburban/city enclave in the state of Illinois. I grew up not too far from it, and know the sounds of the area well.
I mention sounds because the stretch, located in McCook, IL, is right near a rock quarry. No matter what time of day you travel through or near the area, there always seems to be the clanking and rumbling of heavy machinery. While much of the former road is drivable, this section isn’t, and is actively decaying as Mother Nature appears to be reclaiming the land for herself…