Creek and river crossings are commonplace, and many noteworthy bridges are still in use. Park In Theater, Abbylee Court, Tri-County Truck Stop, and Funk's Grove, to name a few. Cultivated fields and pastures, occasionally separated by hedgerows, line many of the rural road sections for as far as the eye can see. The road, field, and sky meet at the horizon, bounded by an endless stream of telephone poles. There are few surprises here.
Grain elevators loom in the distance, and roads are flat and straight.
Everything seems to conform to the straight, the square, and the parallel. Competition for motorists' attention along Route 66 brought billboards and flashing neon signs that displayed messages in huge, gaudy letters, often outshining the actual attraction. Images of folksy hillbillies, lumberjacks, rustic architecture, and down-home cooking were immortalized. Meramec Caverns, a genuine attraction, advertised throughout the region on rooftops and barns. Over time, the painted advertisements themselves became regional landmarks.