June 13, 2026
After a month of planning, outreach, and anticipation, June 13 had finally arrived.
At 8:00 a.m., my brother Craig and I pulled out of Richmond, Kentucky, officially beginning our 2026 Summer Road Trip. While St. Louis was our destination for the day, I quickly discovered that Day 1 was going to be about much more than simply getting from Point A to Point B.
If you missed the introduction to this adventure, you can start here: Blog #1 – The Ultimate Midwest Road Trip
By the end of the day, I had photographed 33 murals, crossed several Route 66 bucket-list stops off my list, discovered one of the most creative haunted attractions I’ve ever experienced, and taken 484 photographs.
Not bad for what was supposed to be a driving day.
Murals, Murals, and More Murals
One of the first surprises came in Indiana.
A sign for Lucas Oil Golf Course caught our attention, prompting a quick detour to check it out for a future trip. While the golf course wasn’t part of our original plan, it turned out to be the first of many examples of how curiosity would shape this road trip.
Not long afterward, a mural in Lebanon, Indiana caught my eye.
As a mural hunter, I rarely pass up an opportunity to stop for public art, and that first mural set the tone for the rest of the day.
By the time we reached Collinsville, Illinois, the mural count was growing rapidly. I had mapped out several murals in advance, including the Route 66, Postcard Trail, Bull Durham, and Let’s Twist murals, but seeing them in person was far more impressive than viewing them online.
The colors, detail, and creativity made each one worth the stop.
And we were just getting started.
A Route 66 Bucket List Stop
One of my long-awaited Route 66 stops was the Brooks Catsup Bottle Water Tower.
If you’ve never seen it in person, it’s difficult to appreciate just how massive it really is.
The structure has been on my Route 66 bucket list for years, and finally standing beneath it was a reminder of why I enjoy road trips so much. Sometimes the roadside oddities are every bit as memorable as the major attractions.
Photographing it proved a little challenging due to its size, but the stop was absolutely worth it.
The Stop That Stole Day One
Around lunchtime, we arrived at Pink Elephant Antique Mall.
From the moment we pulled into the parking lot, I knew this wasn’t going to be a quick stop.
The lawn was filled with quirky statues, Route 66 memorabilia, and colorful roadside attractions. The vibrant entrance invited us inside, and before long we were sitting at the diner counter enjoying lunch.
Craig ordered a Philly cheesesteak and fries while I enjoyed a burger and onion rings. We paired lunch with milkshakes—a chocolate peanut butter shake for Craig and a salted caramel shake for me—and both were fantastic.
During lunch we met co-owner Tania, who welcomed us like old friends and shared stories about the business. Afterward, we spent time exploring the antique mall, eventually leaving with a few Star Wars and Route 66 treasures of our own.
What surprised me most about Pink Elephant wasn’t the antiques.
It wasn’t the diner.
It wasn’t even the incredible milkshakes.
It was what happened next.
The Haunted School
When Tania offered to show us their Haunted School attraction, I assumed we would get a quick walkthrough with the lights on.
Nope.
Instead, we received a full scare-filled preview.
What followed was one of the funniest moments of the entire trip.
As Craig jumped, screamed, and tried to survive the experience, I found myself laughing while Tania, her husband, and their son appeared to be having the time of their lives terrifying him.
The thing that impressed me most wasn’t a specific room or prop.
It was the creativity.
The layout was unlike anything I’d experienced before, and the way the attraction was designed kept us constantly guessing what might happen next.
I’ve visited haunted attractions before, but this one stood apart because of how imaginative it was.
I’ll save most of the details for the dedicated Pink Elephant article because spoilers would ruin the experience.
Let’s just say that nearly four hours after arriving, we finally left wondering where the afternoon had gone.
Without question, Pink Elephant was the most memorable stop of Day 1.
Read more about our experience at Pink Elephant here: [LINK: Pink Elephant Feature Article]
More Route 66 Discoveries
The Route 66 discoveries continued throughout the afternoon.
We stopped by the historic Luna Cafe, where the iconic neon sign and vintage memorabilia offered another glimpse into Route 66 history. I also learned that the neighboring historic home is more than 100 years old, adding another layer of character to the area.
A little farther down the road, Granite City delivered several unexpected surprises.
Earl the Muffler Man made an appearance, along with a giant tire that was impossible to resist photographing.
Nearby, Mural Park added even more color to the day, contributing to a total of 33 murals photographed before we reached St. Louis.
And because every road trip needs a little roadside humor, we also discovered an actual Fork in the Road.
Sometimes the best attractions aren’t on any itinerary.
Walking Across Route 66 History
One of the final stops before reaching St. Louis was the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.
Despite the warm afternoon temperatures, we walked all the way to the bridge’s famous dog-leg bend.
The bridge was busy with visitors, but the views made it worthwhile.
Looking out across the Mississippi River, spotting the Gateway Arch in the distance, and walking a historic piece of Route 66 created one of those classic road trip moments that feels almost timeless.
The geometric patterns of the bridge itself also created some fun photography opportunities.
A James Bond Ending
By the time we reached St. Louis, I thought the surprises for the day were winding down.
Then we arrived at The Cheshire.
The first thing that caught my attention wasn’t even the hotel—it was the enormous vintage Amoco sign next door.
Then we stepped inside.
Having recently returned from London, the British literary atmosphere immediately felt familiar and welcoming.
We were staying in the James Bond Suite, one of the hotel’s themed novelty suites, and it exceeded expectations in every way. The room was larger than anticipated, the details were thoughtfully executed, and the entire experience felt playful and unique.
Later that evening, we visited Fox & Hounds Tavern and took a quick drive through nearby Forest Park.
Even from the car, it was obvious that Forest Park deserved much more than a brief visit.
I left convinced that I could easily spend a week exploring the park and its attractions.
Read more about our stay here: [LINK: Cheshire Feature Article]
Reflections on Day One
Day 1 may have been scheduled as a travel day, but it never felt like one.
Instead, it became a day of discoveries.
A golf course sign led to an unexpected stop.
One mural became thirty-three.
A Route 66 antique mall became a four-hour adventure.
A haunted attraction became one of the funniest memories of the trip.
And a hotel stay became a reminder of our recent travels through London.
By the end of the day, I realized this road trip was going to be special.
Despite all the planning and research that had gone into the itinerary, I knew we would continue finding incredible places that weren’t fully captured on any map.
The best part?
This was only Day 1.
