Tucumcari group commits to building Route 66 museum

A group in Tucumcari, N.M., announced today it is committed to establishing a Route 66 museum in town, according to a news release emailed by Richard Talley, owner of Motel Safari in Tucumcari. According to the release: The group is already in the process of forming its foundation, has a new website www.nmrt66museum.org, is currently finalizing … Continue reading Tucumcari group commits to building Route 66 museum

Miami seeing big boost in tourism-related revenue

The Joplin (Mo.) Globe today published a story about how towns in the region are preparing for Route 66 tourism season. One of the most striking parts of the story came out of Miami, Okla.: “We’re anticipating this to be a record travel season,” said Amanda Davis, director of the Miami (Okla.) Convention and Visitors … Continue reading Miami seeing big boost in tourism-related revenue

Shooting day at the Rock Cafe

Sunday afternoon mostly looked like a typical day at the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., with its typical clientele of motorcyclists, locals, and Mother Road travelers stopping to grab a bite to eat. Inside, however, was a little different story: A film crew from England was preparing to shoot footage for a reality-television series that … Continue reading Shooting day at the Rock Cafe

Details on the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum’s renovation

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton won't officially reopen until May 26, but The Oklahoman newspaper has some details on the renovations that are going on there: Not wanting to change the thematic approach, the museum will continue to tell the story of Route 66 by decade, said Smith, but patrons will have the … Continue reading Details on the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum’s renovation

From the precipice to revitalization

This new Cronkite News Service video explains how El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, Ariz., went from the brink of foreclosure to rapid revitalization: https://vimeo.com/40966348 For more about the motel's sign restorations, go here and here.

Prowling on Route 66

Here's a video from a few years ago about Plymouth Prowler fans driving the Mother Road: https://vimeo.com/41148208 WJRT-TV, which produced the video, is based in Flint, Mich. I'm not sure when this aired; the station has nothing about it in its website archives. According to Wikipedia, production stopped on the Prowler after the 2002 model. … Continue reading Prowling on Route 66

CBS News revisits Cadillac Ranch

Three weeks ago, I revisited a video in 1975 where CBS News correspondent Charles Kuralt investigated the Cadillac Ranch art installation, just off Route 66 near Amarillo, Texas. Here's that original Kuralt story. Cadillac Ranch was just a year old: Kuralt's story vaulted Cadillac Ranch into national prominence, and it's remained there since. Thirty-seven years … Continue reading CBS News revisits Cadillac Ranch

A Route 66 engagement

You have to like a couple that uses three Route 66 landmarks in Arcadia, Okla., as the backdrop of their engagement photos -- the Round Barn, Pops, and the closed Hillbillee's complex. https://vimeo.com/41088467 The video and photos are by Blue Elephant Photography. More about the photo shoot is here. And I know for a fact … Continue reading A Route 66 engagement

Red Cedar Inn up for sale again

The Red Cedar Inn, a famous Route 66 restaurant in Pacific, Mo., that closed in 2005, apparently is on the sale block again. The Smith family, owners of the property, announced an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, according to the Washington Missourian. The newspaper reported: “Since it has been remodeled it’s a completely … Continue reading Red Cedar Inn up for sale again

Plan for closed Joliet church includes a Route 66 visitors center

The plan for a long-closed church in downtown Joliet, Ill., includes converting it into senior-citizen housing and creating a visitors center for Route 66 travelers, according to the Chicago Tribune and the Joliet Herald-News. Developer Scott Henry on Wednesday laid out a $20 million plan for the St. Mary Carmelite Church. It will be renamed The Limestone … Continue reading Plan for closed Joliet church includes a Route 66 visitors center