A weeks-long project to repair the 120-year-old Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma, was finished on Feb. 9. The general contractor, Holman Construction, said the repairs would add another 30 years of life to the Route 66 landmark. The cost was a little more than $110,000, with $30,000 coming from a grant from the Route 66 … Continue reading Repairs to Arcadia’s Round Barn were completed this month
Category: Preservation
Vintage firetruck added to fire station along Route 66 in east Tulsa
Tulsa Fire Station 66 -- along Route 66, naturally -- acquired and restored a 1950 former city firetruck for a photo op at the station. According to News on 6 in Tulsa: The work took more than 3 years of work by volunteers, who rebuilt the truck that was junked about 15 years ago. "And … Continue reading Vintage firetruck added to fire station along Route 66 in east Tulsa
Former Vegas wedding chapel sign christened in Kingman with three weddings
A new neon sign that once touted a wedding chapel in Las Vegas was altered and re-erected along Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona, with three weddings recently held underneath after a lighting ceremony. Here's a video from the lighting and wedding ceremonies that were held on the evening of Feb. 9: The Kingman Visitors Center … Continue reading Former Vegas wedding chapel sign christened in Kingman with three weddings
Papers of Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark are donated to OSU-Tulsa
The research materials of late Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark recently were donated to the Tulsa branch of Oklahoma State University. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association stated in a Facebook post that Clark's papers were given by her family to the association several years ago. With the donation to OSU-Tulsa, the papers are now … Continue reading Papers of Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark are donated to OSU-Tulsa
Great Rivers & Routes video features Doc’s Just off 66 in Girard
The Great Rivers & Routes tourism bureau recently began a "Main Street of America" video series. The first video, which dropped in the last few days, features Doc's Just Off 66 soda fountain and restaurant in downtown Girard, Illinois. The video's hosts, Kevin and Emily, are understandably agog at the historic memorabilia on display at … Continue reading Great Rivers & Routes video features Doc’s Just off 66 in Girard
Couple acquires John’s Modern Cabins, Vernelle’s Motel in Missouri
A couple with close family ties to the shuttered Vernelle's Motel near Newburg, Missouri, also recently acquired the long-closed John's Modern Cabins property next door. They plan to convert the Vernelle's property into an RV park, using the now-abandoned Interstate 44 / Route 66 roadbed, and rename it Vernelle's Route 66 RV Park & Campground. … Continue reading Couple acquires John’s Modern Cabins, Vernelle’s Motel in Missouri
Future site of the Glancy Motel sign appears to be still uncertain
The fate of the distinctive sign for the now-demolished Glancy Motel in Clinton, Oklahoma, remains uncertain, though the city manager said its likely home still would be the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in town. According to a recent print edition of the Clinton Daily News, city manager Robert Johnston said he was hopeful the Glancy … Continue reading Future site of the Glancy Motel sign appears to be still uncertain
Community group buys McLean’s historic water tower for $1, will repaint it
A nonprofit community group has purchased the endangered and historic water tower of McLean, Illinois, for $1. It will repaint the structure and hire an artist to paint a mural on it. The purchase reverses a 4-2 vote by the village board in November to tear the water tower down for almost $34,000. The village … Continue reading Community group buys McLean’s historic water tower for $1, will repaint it
Cool Springs Camp is marking the 20th year of its resurrection
Cool Springs Camp between Kingman and Oatman, Arizona, this year is marking the 20th anniversary of its improbable resurrection and reopening. "Improbable" is warranted because the old Route 66 gas station was abandoned for years, then literally blown up in a scene in the 1991 Jean Claude Van Damme movie "Universal Soldier." Here's the scene … Continue reading Cool Springs Camp is marking the 20th year of its resurrection
Pony Bridge renovations may be complete by mid-April to early May
The reconstruction of the landmark Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, will be finished by mid-April to early May, a project supervisor recently told an Oklahoma City television station. A KFOR-TV reporter went to the site, where workers were busy reinstalling the pony truss sections on the bridge on what was anticipated to be a two-year … Continue reading Pony Bridge renovations may be complete by mid-April to early May