An urgent message from Albuquerque

Here it is, in full: Greetings: El Vado Motel is back on the Albuquerque Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission's agenda in two weeks. If you support preservation of this historic Route 66 landmark, know that its designation as a City of Albuquerque Landmark is again at stake, along with its very existence. Two related questions … Continue reading An urgent message from Albuquerque

This is short notice …

... but Shellee Graham will have a screening of her documentary "Built for Speed: The Coral Court Motel" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History at 717-719 Manvel, aka Route 66, in Chandler, Okla. The Coral Court Motel was an exquisite art deco business on Route 66 in Marlborough, Mo., … Continue reading This is short notice …

Ghosts at the former Big Chief?

The former Big Chief Dakota restaurant and motel complex on the Manchester Road alignment of Route 66 in Wildwood, Mo., now a B. Donovan's restaurant, may have some ghosts on the premises, reports the Suburban Journals. Smith said he has heard a number of stories about the property. "One is that there is a female … Continue reading Ghosts at the former Big Chief?

Magazine publishers get the Harley & Annabelle Experience

According to an article last week in the Elk City and Sayre newspapers in Oklahoma, Harley and Annabelle Russell of the Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, Okla., entertained 57 members of the International Regional Magazine Association earlier this month. The group was in Oklahoma City for the gathering, but drove a few hours west to … Continue reading Magazine publishers get the Harley & Annabelle Experience

History of the Green Spot

Mark Landis, writing for the San Bernardino County Sun, wrote an interesting historical overview of the Green Spot Motel, built in 1937 on Route 66 in Victorville, Calif. The Green Spot, at 16937 C St., was the finest motel in town, offering the most modern comforts and services available for the traveling public. Twin arched … Continue reading History of the Green Spot

Faster fiesta

Brad Carter has created a time-lapse video of the sights from the recent Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The fiesta needs to use this guy's work for publicity, pronto. It makes me wanna go. (Hat tip: Duke City Fix.)

No bull

Straight from the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff: The fiberglass bull welded to the sign outside Crazy Bill's Saloon and Steakhouse has been stolen. According to Flagstaff police reports, the brown bull, which is about half-sized in scale, was taken between 8 p.m. on Thursday and 4 a.m. on Friday from the bar and restaurant, … Continue reading No bull

Spinning yarns about Oklahoma Joe’s

Johnny Mango at Duke City Fix shows a postcard of one of Albuquerque's first barbecue joints, Oklahoma Joe's, on Central Avenue (aka Route 66) near the University of New Mexico campus. Mango said Okie Joe's, later known as Okie's, was known for 10-cent beer nights, with the brew served in paper cups. It was a … Continue reading Spinning yarns about Oklahoma Joe’s

You’re invited

Today, I received a message in the mail from the Illinois Department of Transportation. Here's what it said: Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and the Illinois Department of Transportation in conjunction with the Great Rivers Greenway District Cordially invite you to the Dedication Ceremony for the McKinley Bridge and the opening of The Chamber of Commerce … Continue reading You’re invited

A ‘Hero’ in Amboy

I heard a few days ago that the video for Enrique Iglesias' hit song "Hero" was shot in the Route 66 settlement of Amboy, Calif. Sure enough, it is. Check it out: Roy's is featured prominently, as is a church in town. And I was thinking the stone ruins were at Cadiz Summit, on Route … Continue reading A ‘Hero’ in Amboy