“Does Springfield do enough to promote Route 66?”

That's one of the headlines for a long and informative story today from the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader. The story focuses on the College Street Corridor Plan, which aims to revitalize that stretch of Route 66 and pay tribute to it at the same time. The city is holding public hearings before implementing the proposal. Deep … Continue reading “Does Springfield do enough to promote Route 66?”

Motel in St. Louis will be renovated, add Route 66 to its name

The new owners of the Holiday Inn Southwest & Viking Conference Center in Sunset Hills, Mo., will change its name to Holiday Inn Route 66. They also will spend millions of dollars on renovations, including restoring the motel's early 1970s architecture, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Amrit and Amy Gill, who renovated the historic Hotel Blackhawk … Continue reading Motel in St. Louis will be renovated, add Route 66 to its name

Route 66 Corridor program now accepting grant applications

The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is now taking applications for cost-share grants through March 29 for its 2013 season. The grant program’s purpose is: … to support the preservation of the most significant and representative historic Route 66 buildings, structures, road segments, and cultural landscapes in the eight states through which the route passes. Assistance is … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor program now accepting grant applications

Big Texan adds dinosaur to its parking lot

The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, is adding a 27-foot-tall dinosaur statue in front of the landmark restaurant, reported the Amarillo Globe-News and the Big Texan Brewery's Facebook and Twitter accounts. The dinosaur originally stood at a now-closed Planet Hollywood in Dallas. At the Big Texan, the big lizard will be decked out … Continue reading Big Texan adds dinosaur to its parking lot

Boots Motel’s original neon sign will be restored by spring

An anonymous donation will enable the neon sign of the historic Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., to be restored by "early next year" -- including its original color scheme and original "Boots Court" name. Debye Harvey, co-owner of the Route 66 landmark that dates to 1939, explained what happened in a Facebook post on Wednesday: Thanks … Continue reading Boots Motel’s original neon sign will be restored by spring

A man’s trip on Route 66 in 1967

Magnum Redux, a self-proclaimed "writer, artist, published author, car lover, gun nut, professional musician, and nostalgia expert" on YouTube, describes a trip he took on Route 66 in 1967 from Joplin, Mo., to Santa Monica, Calif. https://youtu.be/pgfp3u9UudI He also gives a shout-out to the "Route 66 Adventure Handbook" and the "Here It Is!" map series … Continue reading A man’s trip on Route 66 in 1967

An hour of Asleep At the Wheel

Sit back and enjoy nearly an hour's worth of western swing, courtesy of Asleep At the Wheel. This show comes from Strinx TV, based in Germany. The show's also notable for having steel guitar wizard Cindy Cashdollar as one of the performers. https://youtu.be/n8s54iUhWt4 Asleep At the Wheel's version of "Route 66" is the third song, around … Continue reading An hour of Asleep At the Wheel

Video of Cadillac of China’s tour of Route 66

A video has surfaced that depicts Cadillac of China's tour of Route 66 this past summer. The narration and subtitles are in Chinese, but you'll find appearances by Route 66 ambassadors Angel Delgadillo, Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones, and former Midpoint Cafe owner Fran Houser. https://youtu.be/ntEBxetFOMQ An excerpt in August from the Kingman Daily Miner in Kingman, … Continue reading Video of Cadillac of China’s tour of Route 66

Report offers glimpse of U.S. Bike Route 66

The City Council of Sapulpa, Okla., last week adopted a resolution that supports a proposed path for the U.S. Bike Route 66 laid out by the Adventure Cycling Association, according to a report in the Sapulpa Daily Herald. The council's action was expected, and other municipalities are adopting resolutions as well. But the newspaper's report … Continue reading Report offers glimpse of U.S. Bike Route 66

On the Mother Road with “On the Road’s” director

Rebecca Keegan of the Los Angeles Times talked about the upcoming film "On the Road" with its director, Walter Salles. The film is based on the famed Jack Kerouac novel of 1957. In what had to be a memorable experience, the reporter conducted the interview with Salles driving a 1949 Hudson on Route 66 in … Continue reading On the Mother Road with “On the Road’s” director