The condemned Midtown Travel Inn in Clinton, Oklahoma, may be spared the wrecking ball after a local art community presented possible plans for the Route 66 motel in front of the city council. Clinton-based West OK Co-op officers Jason Smith and Andrew Stone asked the council to pause plans for demolition of the motel for … Continue reading Group’s development plan may save condemned Midtown Travel Inn motel in Clinton
Joplin may allow neon signs in its historic downtown districts
The City of Joplin, Missouri, is exploring a proposal to allow neon signs in its historic downtown districts. According to the Joplin Globe, city staff and the Joplin Historic Preservation Commission are seeking input for the plan at a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the 530 Somewhere restaurant at 530 S. Main … Continue reading Joplin may allow neon signs in its historic downtown districts
Route 66 Podcast is offering scholarships for students from kindergarten through college
Anthony Arno of the Route 66 Podcast recently announced he is offering Route 66 scholarships ranging from $25 to $1,000 for students from kindergarten age through college. Here's what Arno stated in an email: Students simply need to show the spirit of Route 66 in their very own creative and expressive way. Past recipients can be … Continue reading Route 66 Podcast is offering scholarships for students from kindergarten through college
Oklahoma Tourism’s updated Route 66 Guide goes fully digital
The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department recently released an updated digital Route 66 Guide --- the first such publication to be re-released as fully digital. The updated guide is 63 pages. According to a news release from the department: “Going digital with our specialty publications gives us an exciting opportunity to make our guides more … Continue reading Oklahoma Tourism’s updated Route 66 Guide goes fully digital
Oklahoma Route 66 Association, Route 66 Association of Japan form an ambassadorship
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association and the Route 66 Association of Japan announced this week they had formed an ambassadorship. More information from a story from the Oklahoma association: Working together, the two associations hope to increase awareness of Oklahoma’s unique culture for Japanese travelers while also bringing opportunities to experience Japan’s cultural traditions to … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association, Route 66 Association of Japan form an ambassadorship
Local journalist acquires former Hazelgreen United Methodist Church
A local journalist recently acquired the former Hazelgreen United Methodist Church that stands along Route 66 near Hazelgreen, Missouri. The church not only is known for being right next to the Mother Road, but it also contains a still-working neon cross atop its steeple visible from nearby Interstate 44. The church only is about 1 … Continue reading Local journalist acquires former Hazelgreen United Methodist Church
Joliet Area Historical Museum interested in buying closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant
The Joliet Area Historical Museum is considering the acquisition of the closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant -- best known for its unique, 28-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue -- in nearby Wilmington, Illinois. The Herald-News published the story Saturday less than a week after the Launching Pad was listed for $1.4 million on the Crexi commercial … Continue reading Joliet Area Historical Museum interested in buying closed Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant
West Central Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque offers sneak-preview hours
The West Central Route 66 Visitor Center won't open until sometime next year, but the facility is offering sneak-preview hours while stuff is being moved into the facility. The center stated this in a recent Facebook post: Open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, these preview days provide a unique … Continue reading West Central Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque offers sneak-preview hours
Holiday lighting event for Blue Whale adds a new twist
The iconic Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, has been decorated for the Christmas season for nearly 15 years. But on Saturday, the city added a new twist to the annual event. Santa in his sleigh was placed onto the pond, with a long string of Christmas lights leading to the whale, as if the big … Continue reading Holiday lighting event for Blue Whale adds a new twist
Closed Stratford Inn hotel in Fenton to be torn down by March
The closed Stratford Inn hotel along the Route 66 corridor of the west St. Louis suburb of Fenton, Missouri, will be demolished by mid-March. The St. Louis Business Journal, citing a newsletter from Fenton's mayor, reported the motel, event space and bar along Interstate 44 will be torn down within a few months. The complex … Continue reading Closed Stratford Inn hotel in Fenton to be torn down by March