Green chile stew-eating contest added to Grants festival

Major League Eating announced this week it will add a green chile stew-eating contest to its circuit at the Historic Route 66 Fall Fiesta in Grants, New Mexico, on Oct. 8. The contest will be at 1 p.m. that day at Fire & Ice Park on Santa Fe Avenue (aka Route 66). According to MLE, the total … Continue reading Green chile stew-eating contest added to Grants festival

Singer’s new music video is a postcard from Tucumcari

Albuquerque native and pop-country singer Alex Stern released a music video for her song "Runaways" a few days ago. The video shot by Randy Shaffer practically is a love letter to the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, New Mexico. It features the Blue Swallow Motel, the Odeon Theatre, Watson's Ranch and Farm Supply and Tucumcari … Continue reading Singer’s new music video is a postcard from Tucumcari

Dobson Museum, home undergoing renovations

The Dobson Museum and historic home one block west of Route 66 in Miami, Oklahoma, now are undergoing renovations. The Miami News-Record talked to museum director Jordan Boyd: Volunteers have helped rearrange and move structures, cases and artifacts in order for the contractors to repaint walls and ceilings. The front porch of the house received … Continue reading Dobson Museum, home undergoing renovations

New song by Chely Wright mentions Tucumcari

Not only does the new song by Chely Wright about a truck-stop waitress evoke the open road, but it mentions the small-but-classic Route 66 town of Tucumcari, New Mexico, about halfway through. Here it is. The song is called "Mexico." https://youtu.be/mcQdw90_Yas The MP3 of the song may be downloaded here for $1.29. That doesn't necessarily mean … Continue reading New song by Chely Wright mentions Tucumcari

Scenes from the Best of the West on 66 Fest Parade

Frank Kocevar, former co-owner of Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, recently uploaded this from the Best of the West of 66 Fest in Kingman, Arizona. Grand marshals for the parade were Dries Bessels and Marion Flimm of the Dutch Route 66 Association. Music for the video is "Kings of Kingman" by The Road Crew. … Continue reading Scenes from the Best of the West on 66 Fest Parade

Museum unearths Red Chief Motel diner mural

A museum recently uncovered a nearly forgotten Native American-themed mural from the diner of the Red Chief Motel in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Officials at the Cooper Regional History Museum in nearby Upland, California, recently took the mural out of storage and put it on display. The Red Chief's owners donated the mural in 1979 when the motel was about to be … Continue reading Museum unearths Red Chief Motel diner mural

Hotel plan may endanger original Barney’s Beanery

The original Barney's Beanery restaurant and bar along Route 66 in West Hollywood, California, may be endangered by a proposed five-story hotel in that spot. The Los Angeles Times reported on a few of the details: The proposal — which is in its early stages — would see Barney’s entirely disassembled, stored offsite during construction and later rebuilt … Continue reading Hotel plan may endanger original Barney’s Beanery

More details released on future Big Texan Steak Ranch

While groundbreaking remains weeks away, the owners of the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo revealed many plans for a bigger restaurant and other attractions just down the road. The current Big Texan seats about 500 people, but customer demand has outgrown it with no room to expand. According to the Amarillo Globe-News, the restaurant loses more than … Continue reading More details released on future Big Texan Steak Ranch

Glenn Frey tribute statue unveiled in Winslow

It took a day later than expected, but the Glenn Frey tribute statue was unveiled Saturday at the Standin' on the Corner Park in Winslow, Arizona. Hundreds of people -- along with about an equal number of smartphones -- attended the unveiling. It's a tribute to the co-founder of the popular country-rock band The Eagles and co-writer … Continue reading Glenn Frey tribute statue unveiled in Winslow

Ground broken for Cardinal Route 66 Memorial Park

Area officials broke ground Friday for Cardinal Route 66 Memorial Park in Webb City, Missouri, on a triangular piece of land on the town's east side. Actual construction will begin in a few days. Completion of the park is scheduled for March 1. According to a report from the scene by KSNF-TV: "It's going to … Continue reading Ground broken for Cardinal Route 66 Memorial Park