Randy’s of Wildorado is moving

A reader tipped me off that the fine-dining restaurant on Route 66 in Wildorado, Texas, is moving to nearby downtown Amarillo. Sure enough, Randy's Web site says the restaurant closed its Wildorado location on Feb. 17 and is moving into the historic Paramount Building at 817 S. Polk, about two blocks south of Route 66. … Continue reading Randy’s of Wildorado is moving

Grand Canyon Skywalk opens tomorrow

The Grand Canyon Skywalk opens to the public at 10 a.m. local time tomorrow, reports KVBC-TV in Las Vegas. The story also has plenty of other details if you want to go there. Reservations are recommended. Chris Kahn of the Associated Press took a tentative but ultimately rewarding stroll on the Skywalk during a media … Continue reading Grand Canyon Skywalk opens tomorrow

“Voices from Route 66”

Joe Loesch of Readio Theatre teaches eight students in an advanced voice-over class. He used those students in about a four-minute "Voices from Route 66" podcast. You can listen to it here: (Hat tip to Readio Theatre blog.) 

Cyber-driving

This Associated Press article touts a bunch of Web sites for people who want to take a virtual road trip down Route 66 and other historic highways if they can't do the real thing. Many of these sites have already been linked here, but a few interesting finds turned up: StateEnds.com has a group of … Continue reading Cyber-driving

Historic Barstow cafe torn down

Debra Hodkin, who runs the Barstow Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow, Calif., gave the Route 66 yahoogroup some bad news yesterday: Greystone Cafe at 31317 E. Main in Barstow, CA, is being torn down. This is a section of Route 66 where the road runs parallel with the freeway near the Marine Base. … Continue reading Historic Barstow cafe torn down

Restoration of Needles hotel begins

The long-closed El Garces Hotel in Needles, Calif., built in 1908 and one of the last surviving railroad Harvey Houses, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its rehabilitation, reported the Mohave Daily News. According to the article: Plans call for El Garces to include a state of California Needles Visitor Center, an inter-modal transit center, … Continue reading Restoration of Needles hotel begins

Southwest Missouri tourism site launched

The site, which features Route 66 prominently, is here. According to the Springfield News-Leader: The alliance is a marketing organization that aims to create positive economic growth in the region through cooperative tourism promotion and development. Its members include convention and visitors bureaus in Springfield, Carthage and Joplin as well as several chambers of commerce … Continue reading Southwest Missouri tourism site launched

Book review: “Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride”

When Michael Wallis informed us that he was writing a book about Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid, we hoped that Wallis would separate the reality from the myth in Billy the Kid's story. It wouldn't be an easy task. Since his death at age 21 to a bullet from Pat Garrett's gun in 1881, … Continue reading Book review: “Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride”

“First Snow” opens to limited release

"First Snow," the thriller starring Guy Pearce that was filmed almost entirely in the Route 66 town of Albuquerque, opened to limited release on Friday. According to some stories I read, the film will gain wider release later. Here's the premise: Stranded after an accident outside a desolate town, Jimmy Munson (Guy Pearce) visits a … Continue reading “First Snow” opens to limited release

Lawmaker wants to protect old police building

The Pontiac (Ill.) Daily Leader reports that state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, has introduced a bill that would protect the long-closed Illinois State Police District 6 headquarters on Route 66 in Pontiac. Senate Bill 768 would transfer ownership of the unique gun-shaped building to Livingston County for $10. The building recently had been declared state … Continue reading Lawmaker wants to protect old police building