Route 66 Ice Open On Springfield Road

Seeing something in another community that makes you think, “that could work in my town” is exactly what crossed the mind of Sullivan surveyor and entrepreneur Marty Marler as he opened Route 66 Ice at 366 West Springfield Road.

The self-service ice house, designed and built by Ice House America, was recently constructed and located on Springfield Road following more than a year in the making and the alert eye of Marler after he traveled to Stockton Lake.

“I was on a trip to Stockton Lake and arrived there realizing I forgot to get ice when I noticed this self service ice machine, so I went up to it, got my ice and thought this is a good idea for Sullivan. I wrote the name and number down on the machine,” said Marler. “After writing the number down I kind of forgot about it and then realized this would be good at our property on Springfield Road.”

That’s when Marler began the process of contacting Ice House America and after meeting several criteria set forth by the company and the company reviewing his location, he received approval to purchase a machine and bring it to Sullivan.

“The City of Sullivan really bent over backwards to help us with this endeavor by approving curb access and getting three-phase electric to the machine, so the entire process went very smooth,” said Marler. “It’s ideal for Sullivan with all the tourists that come to our town from fishermen to floaters to other tourists and the community as well.”

The facility officially opened on April 23 and is open seven days a week and 24 hours a day.

The machine is the largest produced by Ice House America and can generate 6,000 pounds of ice all right at the machine location. The machine accepts cash but residents can also purchase water from the machine as well.

The project is the first to be constructed by Marler Properties along the stretch of Springfield Road with other new businesses expected to locate in the area in the near future as the development grows