Cool Springs Camp needs new caretakers

The owner of Cool Springs Camp, on Oatman Road, aka old Route 66, between Oatman and Kingman, Arizona, needs a caretaker to look over the historic property. Owner Ned Leutchner said one caretaker he enlisted early last year is moving to Colorado to set up a Wounded Warrior retreat, and another is moving on to … Continue reading Cool Springs Camp needs new caretakers

Missouri likely won’t give up possession of Gasconade River Bridge until next year

Route 66 advocates learned Wednesday the Missouri Department of Transportation won't turn over possession of the closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen to an "interested party" until early next year. The news was a bit of a disappointment for the Route 66 Gasconade River Bridge Guardians, which had hoped to take possession in September. According … Continue reading Missouri likely won’t give up possession of Gasconade River Bridge until next year

Two historic properties for sale in Galena, Tucumcari

In the past week or so, we've stumbled onto historic properties along Route 66 in Galena, Kansas, and Tucumcari, New Mexico, that might interest a prospective entrepreneur for not a lot of money. The Tucumcari property once was the Jerry's Liquors store. It also once was a tattoo shop and a grocery store. Records indicate the … Continue reading Two historic properties for sale in Galena, Tucumcari

Route 66 in St. Clair gets its eclipse kicks

Pacific, Villa Ridge, Cuba, Sullivan, Bourbon, Stanton, Eureka and a few southwest suburbs of St. Louis along Route 66 experienced a total eclipse. But leading the way was St. Clair, Missouri, which had the longest total-eclipse duration on the route of 2 minutes, 41 seconds. Here's a report from KPLR-TV in St. Louis: KSDK-TV in … Continue reading Route 66 in St. Clair gets its eclipse kicks

Hundreds show up in St. Clair two days before total eclipse

Saturday still was two days before the full solar eclipse would occur in the Route 66 town of St. Clair, Missouri, but hundreds of people already had descended there. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported visitors from Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, California and elsewhere Saturday. And the bulk of the traffic wasn't even anticipated … Continue reading Hundreds show up in St. Clair two days before total eclipse

Red Cedar Inn in Pacific will become history museum, visitors center

The historic but long-closed Red Cedar Inn near Pacific, Missouri, will be bought by the city and converted into a history museum and visitors center, according to a scoop by the Washington Missourian.  The newspaper reported that city officials wouldn't talk about the impending deal officially, but several sources confirmed it to the Missourian. A … Continue reading Red Cedar Inn in Pacific will become history museum, visitors center

Bicycle Across Missouri will ride Route 66 in 2018

The annual Bicycle Across Missouri event, aka Big BAM, will travel 304 miles from Joplin to Eureka for its 2018 event, it was announced this week. The ride begins June 18 in Joplin and ends June 22 in Eureka, according to KTTN radio. Four additional overnight towns will host the ride — Willard, Lebanon, Waynesville … Continue reading Bicycle Across Missouri will ride Route 66 in 2018

Buffalo Inn auction canceled; fate remains uncertain

A county tax-delinquency auction for the Buffalo Inn in Upland, California, recently was canceled, but the fate of the historic Route 66 restaurant won't be known until at least October. The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports Positive Investments, based in nearby Arcadia, California, paid off the $350,000 in delinquent taxes, but Richard Rinard said he and … Continue reading Buffalo Inn auction canceled; fate remains uncertain

Birthplace of Route 66 Festival attendance shatters records

Total attendance at the just-completed Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, not only broke a record, but shattered the old mark. The Springfield Business Journal reported total attendance over the past weekend was 53,000, which exceeded last year's record of 38,000 by an astonishing 40 percent. The newspaper reported: During the event celebrating … Continue reading Birthplace of Route 66 Festival attendance shatters records

Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public

Ryburn Place, aka Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, held its grand opening Saturday after a multi-year restoration of the historic Route 66 site. Ryburn Place is named after Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who owned the site for years and shepherded its renovations. Here is video of the site's sign reveal: And here … Continue reading Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public