Memories of 2016

Frank and Lynne Kocevar put together this video compilation of family and friends from the past year. You'll probably see familiar faces from a wide swath of Route 66. Happy New Year 2017 from Route 66 Experience on Vimeo. The Kocevars formerly owned Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona. They now run the Route 66 … Continue reading Memories of 2016

Central Avenue businesses report 30 percent drop from ART construction

Construction on the Albuquerque Rapid Transit bus project began on Central Avenue in earnest a few weeks ago, and the results are not pretty -- several businesses are reporting as much as a 30 percent drop in revenue. KOAT-TV cited the 30-percent figure during a recent story about the project along the city's Route 66 corridor. Gabriel … Continue reading Central Avenue businesses report 30 percent drop from ART construction

Visits with Lillian Redman at the Blue Swallow Motel

Anthony Reichardt recently uploaded several more videos from Route 66 trips he took in the early to mid-1990s in a 1959 Cadillac. The highlight video of this bunch is several visits with Lillian Redman, longtime owner of the iconic Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It's the most extensive video I've seen of her. https://youtu.be/TS9fp-Tndq0 Reichardt's … Continue reading Visits with Lillian Redman at the Blue Swallow Motel

Sprague’s Super Service station to reopen in April

The historic Sprague's Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, likely will reopen as a Route 66 visitors center by April after the city spent many thousands of dollars to improve the property. According to the Bloomington Pantagraph, the city will have spent about $600,000 on the project -- including purchasing the property itself -- by … Continue reading Sprague’s Super Service station to reopen in April

Two Edwardsville businesses on Route 66 soon will switch places

If you go looking for Afterwords Books or Bailey Cakes at their old locations along Route 66 in Edwardsville, Illinois, and you can't find it, you probably won't have to look for long. That's because the two businesses will be switching locations, almost across the street from each other. The Belleville News-Democrat reports the bakery will … Continue reading Two Edwardsville businesses on Route 66 soon will switch places

Facade of Donut Drive-In in St. Louis gets face-lift

Just before Christmas, the original facade for the Donut Drive-In along Route 66 in St. Louis was restored for the first time in decades with the help of a federal grant. The building at 6525 Chippewa St. (aka Route 66) now sports backlit Plexiglas panels on three sides with lettering from the same style as … Continue reading Facade of Donut Drive-In in St. Louis gets face-lift

Christmas in Devils Elbow

Roamin' Rich Dinkela recently made this video showing Christmas decorations at the Elbow Inn bar and restaurant and the Devils Elbow Bridge along old Route 66 in Devils Elbow, Missouri. So it seems right to post this video on Christmas Day: https://youtu.be/f1DKDD2uLuA The folks in Devils Elbow began decorating the bridge for the Christmas holiday a few years … Continue reading Christmas in Devils Elbow

Route 66: The Road Ahead update, 12/24/2016 edition

Bill Thomas of the Route 66: The Road Ahead recently requested that regular updates about the group’s activities be posted on Route 66 News. I agreed to do so on a monthly or bimonthly basis. Here is the second report, printed in full below the jump (content has been lightly edited). The first report, from early December, … Continue reading Route 66: The Road Ahead update, 12/24/2016 edition

Missouri’s new old Route 66 bridge

Jasper County officials on Wednesday marked the dedication of a new bridge on old Route 66 west of Carthage, Missouri, designed to resemble the 1922 bridge it replaced. Above is a Larry Askren photo, via Facebook, of the new bridge as it was being built in September. The vintage Art Deco details were clear even then. … Continue reading Missouri’s new old Route 66 bridge

Albuquerque buys land for a Route 66 visitors center

Albuquerque city officials on Wednesday morning celebrated the purchase of land on Route 66 west of the city for a Route 66 visitors center. The Albuquerque Journal reported the $3.4 million facility will funded by the city, state and county, and a series of community meetings will help decide the visitors center's design. City Councilor … Continue reading Albuquerque buys land for a Route 66 visitors center