Friday night marked an official relighting ceremony of the Boots Motel's refurbished neon sign in Carthage, Mo. The event also revealed who made a donation of $2,500 months ago to restore the sign. That person was Ron Jones of Bartlesville, Okla. Jones is better known as "Tattoo Man" due to his more than 100 tattoos of … Continue reading Boots Motel sign’s benefactor revealed
Month: July 2013
“Blackbird”
Here's another musical posting by guitarist Pat Kelley, who's touring Route 66 with Cow Bop and other musicians. This performance of the Beatles' "Blackbird" was taken on the Mother Road, near what appears to be Williams, Ariz. https://youtu.be/AryoshZ7w_c It reminds me of another memorable performance of "Blackbird" by a Beatle himself, Paul McCartney, during a … Continue reading “Blackbird”
“Don’t Fence Me In”
Guitarist Pat Kelley was traveling west and western-swing band Cow Bop was traveling east. They met on Route 66 near Tijeras, N.M., just east of Albuquerque, to hammer out this song. https://youtu.be/ON8EXuITUHM
A visit to Totem Pole Park
Lee Carter, a photojournalist based in Tulsa, took his family to the Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park in nearby Foyil, Okla. The video provides a rare glimpse inside the big totem pole. Totem Pole Park from Lee Carter on Vimeo. Totem Pole Park lies a few miles east of Route 66, but it remains inextricably … Continue reading A visit to Totem Pole Park
The new “Yukon’s Best Flour” sign
A few weeks ago, we reported that the "Yukon's Best Flour" sign on top of the mill in Yukon, Okla., had been refurbished with longer-lasting and energy-efficient LED bulbs. Here's a new video which shows the animation of the sign: https://youtu.be/ZE0Gj8igpls The Friends of Yukon's Best continue to raise funds for other preservation work on … Continue reading The new “Yukon’s Best Flour” sign
Our Lady of the Highways caretaker dies
Lee William Marten, 64, a co-caretaker of The Shrine of Our Lady of the Highways on Route 66 near Raymond, Ill., died at his home Saturday after a bout with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, according to an obituary in the The Journal-News in Hillsboro, Ill. Lee and his younger brother … Continue reading Our Lady of the Highways caretaker dies
Route 66 touring exhibit being developed
A company based in Washington state is developing a touring show, "America’s Road: The Journey of Route 66," that will launch in early 2014. It is seeking artifacts or objects it can borrow to help tell the Mother Road's story. Seth Leary of NRG! Exhibits is based in Kirkland, Wash., but grew up in the Route … Continue reading Route 66 touring exhibit being developed
El Trovatore Motel continues to add murals
Sam and Monica Frisher haven't quit improving his historic El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, Ariz., by restoring its neon signs, including a prominent one on a tower on a nearby hill. The latest additions are new murals on the grounds. According to the Kingman Daily Miner: The Frishers have invested about $7,000 so far in … Continue reading El Trovatore Motel continues to add murals
Ground broken for apartments at old Silver Moon Lodge site
Officials broke ground recently on the Silver Moon Apartments on 10th and Central Avenue near downtown Albuquerque, on the old Silver Moon Lodge motel site, reported the Albuquerque Journal. The $13.5 million project will add 151 units for low-income residents, and is expected to be finished in July 2014. Oregon-based DBG Properties, the developer, is … Continue reading Ground broken for apartments at old Silver Moon Lodge site
Kellyville adds commemorative oil derrick
The Route 66 town of Kellyville, Okla., recently added a commemorative, 30-foot-tall oil derrick next to Route 66 that was donated nearly a decade ago, according to the Sapulpa Daily Herald. The Kelleyville Heritage Days Foundation plans to eventually place an LED sign on the derrick to tell travelers about upcoming events. A pump jack also was … Continue reading Kellyville adds commemorative oil derrick