Original sign re-installed at Boots Motel

Workers from the Wilhite Signs delivered and installed a replica of the original Boots Court sign at the historic Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo. Wilhite was the sign company that installed the original Boots Court sign when the Route 66 motel was built in 1939. The sign and its color scheme later was changed to … Continue reading Original sign re-installed at Boots Motel

Was the wrong developer chosen for De Anza?

A guest column in the Monday edition of the Albuquerque Journal suggests the redevelopment of the historic De Anza Motor Lodge stalled  because a city agency overruled an independent panel's recommendation for the property. John Bloomfield said the city should have followed the recommendation to hire NewLife Homes to rejuvenate the Route 66 property. NewLife … Continue reading Was the wrong developer chosen for De Anza?

Route 66 exhibit opens at Springfield, Mo., museum

A new exhibit about a local history of Route 66 -- "Woodruff's Dream: The Mother Road Through Springfield" -- opened over the weekend at the History Museum on the Square in downtown Springfield, Mo. It speaks a lot for the exhibit when Tonya Pike, a local who's very well-versed about Route 66, said it made … Continue reading Route 66 exhibit opens at Springfield, Mo., museum

An NPR commentary about the “Route 66” TV show

In 2003, Larry Cohen delivered this commentary about the 1960s television drama, "Route 66," on WRVO-FM, a National Public Radio station in New York state. https://youtu.be/61b1ZxqnW0Y Cohen said he was inspired to do the piece after talking to the officers of Route 66 organizations. On a related note, you can read about my chat with … Continue reading An NPR commentary about the “Route 66” TV show

Geoff Ladd resigns from Logan County Tourism

Geoff Ladd, director of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County in Lincoln, Ill., resigned his post Wednesday so he could pursue "new employment opportunities," according to the Lincoln Courier. Ladd oversaw the bureau when the county saw a 30 percent increase in hotel tax revenue and helped draw the World's Largest Covered Wagon … Continue reading Geoff Ladd resigns from Logan County Tourism

Palms Grill Cafe will close for six days to transition to new operators

The Palms Grill Cafe in downtown Atlanta, Ill., will close from April 30 to May 5 to allow for a transition for the restaurant's new operators, the Atlanta Public Library Board said in a news release. The board recently selected J-R Culinary Partners as the restaurant's new managers. The lease for the previous manager was … Continue reading Palms Grill Cafe will close for six days to transition to new operators

Evicted dinosaur coming to Route 66 in Arizona

A huge dinosaur statue that was evicted from a Southern California neighborhood over a zoning dispute is being moved to Route 66 at Grand Canyon Caverns in Arizona. The 40-foot-long apatosaurus was installed at the Zoomars petting zoo in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. However, city officials nixed the statue. According to the Los Angeles Times: … Continue reading Evicted dinosaur coming to Route 66 in Arizona

Hotel Brunswick scheduled to reopen in September

The historic Hotel Brunswick and its restaurant along Route 66 in Kingman, Ariz., are set to reopen in September, reported the Kingman Daily Miner . Next door, Route 66 Ice Cream and Sweets, a bakery and ice-cream shop, is set to open in June, the newspaper said. As we reported in September, Werner Fleischmann of … Continue reading Hotel Brunswick scheduled to reopen in September

Library planned in abandoned Route 66 gas station in Mojave Desert

An artist and an author plan to establish a Philosopher's Library inside an abandoned gas station along Route 66 east of Amboy, Calif. The Philosopher's Library website contained these details: In our age of increasing distractions, the need for perspective and reflection is essential. Candy Chang and James A. Reeves will transform an abandoned gas station on Route 66 … Continue reading Library planned in abandoned Route 66 gas station in Mojave Desert

Two historic theaters near Route 66 corridor are coming back

Historic theaters in the Route 66 towns of Winslow, Ariz., and Santa Fe, N.M., have reopened or soon will reopen, according to news reports. The Winslow Movie Theater, known as the Rialto in downtown Winslow, held its grand opening March 29, reported the Tribune-News in Winslow. Stephen and LuAnne Hancock of nearby Joseph City recently … Continue reading Two historic theaters near Route 66 corridor are coming back