Oklahoma Route 66 Association wants plans altered for rehabbing Ribbon Road

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is asking fans of Route 66 and Oklahoma history to lend their voice to an effort to preserve the Ribbon Road, a unique stretch of the famous highway in Ottawa County. “We agree that the road needs to be rehabilitated,” said Rhys Martin, president of the association. “With the centennial … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association wants plans altered for rehabbing Ribbon Road

New Mexico Route 66 Association unveils centennial logo

The New Mexico Route 66 Association recently unveiled an official logo commemorating the upcoming centennial of Route 66. According to the association's newsletter to members, the logo was designed by Darryl Willison. "Keep your eyes peeled for exclusive merchandise featuring this stunning design, coming soon!" the association stated. Route 66 will mark 100 years in … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association unveils centennial logo

Oklahoma Route 66 Association moving into new site in Tulsa

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is moving from its longtime base in Chandler into the Renaissance Square Event Center at 2620 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) in Tulsa. The association will hold an open house at its new home from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 23. Local author Michael Wallis will be … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association moving into new site in Tulsa

Quest to revive 4 Tucumcari businesses earns award from New Mexico Route 66 Association

Robert Moore Jr. and his brother William Cooke have been busy acquiring and cleaning up four long-abandoned businesses along Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Though reopening at least three of those businesses is a long way off, those efforts earned the annual Route 66 Heritage Award from the New Mexico Route 66 Association. The … Continue reading Quest to revive 4 Tucumcari businesses earns award from New Mexico Route 66 Association

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

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

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

European Route 66 Festival resumes later this year after a six-year hiatus

The European Route 66 Festival will resume late this summer in Prague, Czech Republic, after a six-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival will be from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 on exhibition grounds in the Czech capital. Zdenek Jurasek of the Czech Route 66 Association recently announced the resumption of the festival. … Continue reading European Route 66 Festival resumes later this year after a six-year hiatus

Oklahoma Route 66 Association puts 30 years of newsletters in online archive

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced it had placed about 30 years of its quarterly newsletters on an online archive, including its very first issue in 1990. Association President Rhys Martin stated the archive provides "a window into the past to show how far we’ve come.” The newsletters chart the ups and downs over … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association puts 30 years of newsletters in online archive

Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership issues its fourth-quarter report

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership recently released its report on its activities for the fourth quarter of 2023. Bill Thomas, chairman of the partnership, summarized highlights from the report in an email: The Route 66 Road Ahead State Associations Advocacy Working Group is discussing an informational piece that celebrates the upcoming Centennial and which … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership issues its fourth-quarter report