About 1,000 attend hearing on proposed Mojave Trails Monument

More than 1,000 people attended a public hearing near Palm Springs, California, on Tuesday to discuss U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's proposal to have President Barack Obama use his executive authority to declare a large part of the Mojave Desert into the Mojave Trails National Monument, reported The Desert Sun. The Mojave Trails National Monument would … Continue reading About 1,000 attend hearing on proposed Mojave Trails Monument

“The Club”

"Route 66: The Mother Road" author Michael Wallis emailed this essay, titled "The Club," on Monday night, just days after the remaining walls of the historic but long-closed Club Cafe in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, were torn down. I commend this to your attention. Below is the essay in its entirety. --- It was a … Continue reading “The Club”

Auctions of Shea’s Gas Station Museum begin

A series of auctions of the Shea's Gas Station Museum in Springfield, Illinois, began Saturday, according to the State Journal-Register newspaper. The gas-station museum's longtime owner, Bill Shea, died at age 91 in December 2013. The Shea family requested offers for the museum, but apparently had no takers. Shea's son, Bill Shea Jr., said it was sad to … Continue reading Auctions of Shea’s Gas Station Museum begin

Lawsuit says Marsh, associates engaged in sex trafficking

Longtime Cadillac Ranch owner Stanley Marsh 3 died more than a year ago, but allegations of sex abuse with teenage boys continue to cause big problems for his family and associates. A lawsuit filed by Houston attorney Chad Pinkerton last week seeks up to $50 million and other damages for nine plaintiffs who claim Marsh sexually abused them … Continue reading Lawsuit says Marsh, associates engaged in sex trafficking

Last of the Club Cafe building comes down

The remains of the storied but long-closed Club Cafe restaurant in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, were torn down Friday, according to reporting by the Guadalupe County Communicator. The newspaper's publisher, M.E. Sprengelmeyer, posted the above photograph on Facebook about midday Friday. We'd cruised by the site a few days before. All the debris was cleared … Continue reading Last of the Club Cafe building comes down

Grand opening for Cucamonga Service Station set for Wednesday

A grand opening is set for Wednesday for the historic Cucamonga Service Station along Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The big event in the 9600 block of East Foothill Boulevard will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday. The Route 66 IECA has spent years and organized many fundraisers to restore the century-old gas station. The group plans to use … Continue reading Grand opening for Cucamonga Service Station set for Wednesday

Hearing signals that Mojave Trails Monument is likely

Officials from President Obama's administration and a congressman will be in Southern California on Tuesday to hear opinions on U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's proposal to have much of Route 66's Mojave Desert from Needles to Barstow declared a national monument. The Press-Enterprise reports the public hearing will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Whitewater Preserve at 9160 … Continue reading Hearing signals that Mojave Trails Monument is likely

Tulsa wants your feedback on a proposed Route 66 art project

A few weeks ago, the city of Tulsa's Arts Commission requested proposals from artists for a Route 66-related sculpture at the traffic circle at Admiral Place and Mingo Road, which was a crucial intersection during the Mother Road's early days. The city also is seeking feedback not only from Tulsa residents, but the entire Route … Continue reading Tulsa wants your feedback on a proposed Route 66 art project

Ten years

On Oct. 10, 2005, in just the second day of Route 66 News' existence, I hit the "publish" button on a post titled "Has it been 10 years already?" The post was about the anniversary of the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville. Today, that title could apply again, for it is the 10th anniversary of Route … Continue reading Ten years

Clifton’s Cafeteria reopens to huge crowds

The long-awaited reopening of Clifton's Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles last week brought huge crowds in which diners waited an hour to get a meal, according to the Los Angeles Times. Here's short video from opening day via L.A. Weekly: The landmark restaurant, which opened in 1935, underwent an extensive remodeling that took five years … Continue reading Clifton’s Cafeteria reopens to huge crowds