Contact / About Us
Ed Klein has lived almost all of his life in, or near, the City of Chicago. Then he picked up and moved to Arizona!
Change is good….
Self-described as a ‘True American’ (his family heritage includes arriving from England in the 1620’s, being part of the Hatfield family (Hatfield – McCoy Feud), the Doolin family (Doolin – Dalton Gang aka ‘Wild Bunch’), and having Shawnee & Cherokee Indian blood running through his veins), seeing and exploring the United States has always been on top of his list of ‘Must Do’ vacations.
Having been to 38 of the 50 states and driving close to 1,000,000 miles (so far) – whether it has been for business, vacation, for fun (or simply because he got lost!) – traveling Route 66 was always a dream since he was 10-years old.
“I can remember as a ‘city boy’ growing up in Chicago there was, at one time, one road that would take you from Chicago all the way to Los Angeles. I thought ‘wow’ and made it a mission to drive it one day.”
Like so many other folks who have traveled it, who have read about it, and who have dreamed of taking a week (or two) to drive the ‘Mother Road’ – he had the desire to see it all – as well as a calling to help preserve it.
“This road is truly Americana at its finest, and you can see how desperately we, as Americans, are trying to keep it alive by driving it, by cherishing it and by supporting the business’ and associations who want to keep it alive.”
While talking to a friend about various books, Ed wanted to create a Route 66 book with his friend and then thought to expand his love of the road to a website which literally links the ‘world’ to this wondrous road.
“Through my research for the book, I hear and read stories about so many travelers who come here from outside the USA and how they want to experience the road – a road which travels through so many different terrains, towns, colors, and even temperatures. They want to see how Capitalism began here in the USA with these little ‘mom and pop’ stores that would spring up along the route. Today we have restaurant, hotel and gas station chains which, after a while, all start to look the same. Visit the little shops, the no-name restaurants. Buy from the little stores and stay at the hotels you have never heard of before. You will be surprised on how you get treated, how someone will actually be glad that you are there and will talk your ear off if you let them!! It not only keeps the route alive, it helps it grow! It helps bring back what this country stood for at one time: Traveling cross country, visit interesting places, having fun, and creating life-long memories!”
This website was created to educate, inform, entertain, and to help preserve Route 66 for generations to come. This website is an interactive website – a site which grows with the help and support from you.
Route 66 World will donate a percentage of all sales from the site and 100% of all donations to the different Route 66 State Associations that help preserve, rebuild and grow Route 66. You will have the option to choose if you want your dollars to go any one of the eight hard-working State Associations or in a ‘general’ National Fund that gets evenly divided between the eight states.
Route 66 World
Ed Klein – Owner
8776 East Shea Blvd.
Suite B3A-409
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
