Bill Shea, owner of Shea’s 66 Gas Station Museum, dies at 91

Bill Shea, a longtime owner of a gas station in Springfield, Ill., and then curator of a gas-station museum on Route 66, died in his sleep today at age 91, according to a post on the Shea's Route 66 Museum Facebook page. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Shea started in the gas-station business shortly … Continue reading Bill Shea, owner of Shea’s 66 Gas Station Museum, dies at 91

Santa returns to Catsup Bottle after a long hiatus

A decorative Santa Claus figure on the lower structure of the historic World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Ill., has returned after a more than a 10-year hiatus, according to a news release from the landmark's preservation group. From the news release: The 12-foot-tall, 400-pound Santa figure is wrapped in lights and colorful garland and … Continue reading Santa returns to Catsup Bottle after a long hiatus

Pops store coming to Tulsa airport

If you're traveling by air to Tulsa or have a changeover at Tulsa International Airport, you'll soon have access to a taste of Route 66 while you're there. Pops, a convenience store and restaurant based on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla., will open at the airport its third location. It will be inside the former … Continue reading Pops store coming to Tulsa airport

Santa Monica Pier considers designs to replace its aging bridge

  The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is mulling over several designs to replace its 1939 bridge that links the mainland to the Santa Monica Pier, according to a report in The Malibu Times. The city had discussed replacing the bridge in the 1990s. But the passage of time and an upcoming light-rail line that … Continue reading Santa Monica Pier considers designs to replace its aging bridge

Joplin likely will acquire minor-league baseball team

The City of Joplin, Mo., is moving swiftly to accept a proposal to renovate historic Joe Becker Stadium and land a minor-league team from El Paso, Texas, as its new tenant, reported the Joplin Globe. The council voted to have the city staff write a formal agreement defining the terms of a deal toward relocating … Continue reading Joplin likely will acquire minor-league baseball team

Frenchman travels length of Route 66 on special bicycle

French cyclist Thierry Suptil last month became the first person to travel the 2,400-mile length of Route 66 in an ElliptiGO, an elliptical bicycle. According to a news release from the bicycle company:  Averaging 47 miles per day, it took him just 52 days of riding to travel from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California, ending … Continue reading Frenchman travels length of Route 66 on special bicycle

Chinese tourists’ take on Route 66

This is fascinating. These two videos from the China-based Blue Ocean Network contain interviews with a Chinese couple that recently traveled Route 66. Those in the tourism industry should take notes. Part 1: https://youtu.be/AwFC0cVlj5g Part 2: https://youtu.be/bccQAT3wmfk The number of Chinese tourists in the United States reportedly will reach 100 million a year by the … Continue reading Chinese tourists’ take on Route 66

Wigwam Motel gets decked out for Christmas

For the first time Sunday, the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, Calif., was decorated for Christmas -- thanks partly to the efforts of kitsch aficionado Charles Phoenix. Motorists on Route 66 in the Inland Empire got their first look Sunday evening at one of the motel's decorated concrete wigwams during the so-called Wig Wam Holiday Lighting … Continue reading Wigwam Motel gets decked out for Christmas

Pontiac bed-and-breakfast wins third straight national honor

Three Roses Bed and Breakfast in Pontiac, Ill., won a Guest Favorite Award from BnBFinder.com for the third straight year, according to a news release from Pontiac Tourism. It's the fourth such honor overall for Three Roses, having won in  2007, 2011, 2012, and 2013. According to the release: “Innkeeper Sharon Hansen received high praise from … Continue reading Pontiac bed-and-breakfast wins third straight national honor

Art show involving motel room on Route 66 coming to Tulsa

Tulsa-based photographer Western Doughty will display 75 original images from his "Route 66: Room 116" project from Jan. 3 through Jan. 23 at Living Arts in Tulsa, according to a story from the Associated Press. Doughty explained the project on his website: We have this romanticized idea of Route 66 and all that it has … Continue reading Art show involving motel room on Route 66 coming to Tulsa