Old sounding new

Change the key and slow the tempo, and Bobby Troup's "Route 66" sounds like a new song. This version is performed by Steve Binetti.

A drive through the desert

Timothy O'Grady of The Observer in London writes about his driving journey through the American Southwest, much of it on Route 66. Among the places featured in the story is the Route 66 Motel in Barstow, Calif., and the Monte Vista Hotel in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Mother Roadrunner

I've seen roadrunners in Oklahoma, where I live, but only as a blur as they zip by at incredible speed. This videographer got good footage of two of them, on old Route 66 between Oatman, Ariz., and Kingman: I got my camera to take a video, and when I tried to slowly approach the bird … Continue reading Mother Roadrunner

Notes from the road

There seems to be some activity at the long-abandoned old Route 66 town of Spencer, Mo. We heard from Gary Turner up the road at Gay Parita that someone has bought the town's handful of buildings and plans to revive it with a gift shop and maybe other things. When we drove by on Sunday … Continue reading Notes from the road

Montana, R.I.P.

Word came today that Montana, the beloved mascot of Rich Henry's Rabbit Ranch on Route 66 in Staunton, Ill., died overnight, likely from natural causes. Montana some months ago underwent abdominal surgery and was nearly seven years old, which is the upper limit of the typical life span of rabbits. Montana even had her own … Continue reading Montana, R.I.P.

Baby steps for national Route 66 alliance

During last week's Route 66 Summit at Litchfield, Ill., a steering committee was formed to establish a national Route 66 alliance. One of the organizers at the meeting is optimistic the group will be operating by 2009. The organization would be similar to the old U.S. Highway 66 Association, which operated until 1976, and the … Continue reading Baby steps for national Route 66 alliance

Fodor’s “Essential USA” a disappointment

On Wednesday, I received a copy of Fodor's "Essential USA" (688 pages, $21.95), which is subtitled "Spectacular Cities, Natural Wonders and Great American Road Trips." I requested the book from Fodor's because of this description: The book includes classic road trip itineraries like Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway, where to stay and eat … Continue reading Fodor’s “Essential USA” a disappointment

UPDATED: City will try to buy Red Cedar Inn

The Red Cedar Inn restaurant in Pacific, Mo., which closed a few years ago after more than 70 years on Route 66, eventually will reopen as a visitors center and area history museum, reports KTVI-TV in St. Louis. As expected, the City of Pacific voted unanimously Tuesday night to acquire the property. The city had … Continue reading UPDATED: City will try to buy Red Cedar Inn

Frozen custard in Tucumcari? I’m there

I found this fascinating little tidbit in the Quay County Sun about the CornerStone Deli, a fairly new restaurant on Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M. It's in an old Pizza Hut building, and is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week. But this part of the story got my interest up: … Continue reading Frozen custard in Tucumcari? I’m there

‘Tucumcari Tonite’ billboards will return

After a short hiatus, the famed "Tucumari Tonite!" billboards that once graced Route 66 will be returning to Interstate 40 and U.S. 54 to publicize that eastern New Mexico town, reports the Quay County Sun. For more than a year, billboards advertising the city have featured a silhouette of cowboys on horseback and the slogan … Continue reading ‘Tucumcari Tonite’ billboards will return