Help the Horn Oil Co.

The Albuquerque Journal on Tuesday kinda sorta came out against the preservation of the circa-1947 Horn Oil Co., which is slated to be bulldozed for multi-use infill but the decision is being appealed. (For more on the background of the Horn Oil Co. fight, read last week's Journal story here.) First, the editorial -- which … Continue reading Help the Horn Oil Co.

Should CBS News have paid Route 66 tour guides?

Public Eye, which is sort of an ombudsman of CBS News, received a question from a New York Times reporter about the CBS "Evening News" story about Route 66 and the impact of the interstate highway system. CBS correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi paid John and Lenore Weiss, two Illinois Route 66 preservationists who also conduct tours … Continue reading Should CBS News have paid Route 66 tour guides?

Ruminations on roads

Hank Stuever of the Washington Post has some interesting ruminations about the 50th anniversary of the interstate highway system. It seems he's trying to praise it and, at the same time, deflate Route 66 a little. But he's mostly unsuccessful at both. Go read it. It's food for thought, at least.

Re-connect with America through Route 66

With the 50th anniversary of the interstate highway system, CBS News decided to take a look at its impact on society. And it's not been all good, says Columbia University historian Kenneth T. Jackson. Jackson also says the highway that was supposed to bring us closer together actually pushed us farther apart, as suburbs blossomed, … Continue reading Re-connect with America through Route 66

Mini-golf on the Mother Road

The Washington (Mo.) Missourian reports that the new Route 66 Mini Golf is set to open next month in Gray Summit, Mo., on Highway 100, aka Route 66, next to the Diamond Inn Motel. It's at the site of a mini-course that closed a few years ago. If you want to learn more about the … Continue reading Mini-golf on the Mother Road

Norwegian classic-car group nears the end of its trip

The group of Norwegians who are driving pre-1966 automobiles the entire length of Route 66 is nearing the end of its trip, reports the Big Bear Grizzly of Big Bear, Calif. The group encountered mechanical problems, difficulty acquiring insurance, and dealt with a hit-and-run in Chicago. But they had a lot of fun, too. “We've … Continue reading Norwegian classic-car group nears the end of its trip

A look at the Green Spot Motel

Syd, the proprieter of the super Roadside Peek site, sent me some photos of the Green Spot Motel along Route 66 in Victorville, Calif. This was spurred by an earlier post about an article from the Los Angeles Daily News. Syd concurs that it appears that the formerly run-down motel is on an upswing. I … Continue reading A look at the Green Spot Motel

A Route 66 guidebook with broad shoulders

The newly published "Exploring Route 66 in Chicagoland" by David G. Clark, aka the Windy City Road Warrior, is not just a guidebook of the Mother Road in Chicago, but a history primer of that great city. The book is about 150 pages, filled with dozens of black-and-white photos, maps, driving directions, a walking-tour guide, … Continue reading A Route 66 guidebook with broad shoulders

Ace Jackalope visits historic Tulsa restaurant

Ace Jackalope has had impeccable timing lately. First, the blogger encounters the Coleman Theatre Beautiful sign in Miami, Okla., shortly after it was refurbished and relighted. Now, he's cruising Tulsa and finds an electrician doing maintenance on the historic neon sign of El Rancho Grande restaurant on 1629 E. 11th St., on Route 66. Ace … Continue reading Ace Jackalope visits historic Tulsa restaurant

A gas-sipping cruise down Route 66

The Amarillo Globe-News ran into a group Tuesday that's crossing the United States -- much of it on Route 66 -- on motor scooters. Top speeds of the contraptions are about 45 mph, so for obvious reasons the Wandering Wheels group is sticking to secondary roads like old 66 so to not tie up traffic. … Continue reading A gas-sipping cruise down Route 66