A brief history of Camp Cajon

Freelance writer Mark Landis writes a fascinating historical piece in the San Bernardino County (Calif.) Sun about William H. Bristol, who was a key member of the community and a major promoter of the area in the late 1800s and much of the first half of the 20th century. His contribution to Route 66 is … Continue reading A brief history of Camp Cajon

Raising the Pops bottle

Jim Ross sent us some photos he shot Monday of the raising of the 66-foot-tall giant pop bottle and drinking straw that will stand near the Pops convenience store and diner along Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla. Pops is the brainchild of Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon. Ross wrote: Here are some shots of the … Continue reading Raising the Pops bottle

Saying goodbye to a friend

Dot Leavitt, owner of Dot's Mini Museum in Vega, Texas, passed away this morning, reports Linda Drake, manager of the Oldham County Chamber of Commerce. Linda describes Dot as "a dear, sweet lady that loved Route 66 and all the people that traveled the road." Dot -- pictured above with Jim Conkle during a visit … Continue reading Saying goodbye to a friend

Sheriff on patrol

Randy Chevrier, owner of Paintmaster Collision and a prominent member of the Route 66 Business League of Tulsa, sent me this photo of Michael Wallis driving riding along in what looks like an old patrol cruiser in this past weekend's PSO Christmas Parade of Lights in downtown Tulsa. Wallis portrays the Sheriff of Radiator Springs … Continue reading Sheriff on patrol

Maple Motel is torn down

Tonya Pike, a Missouri roadie, reports that the Maple Motel & Restaurant at 2233 N. Glenstone Ave., a Route 66 alignment, in Springfield, Mo., has been torn down. The property had been for sale. Pike said it was the third historic property in Springfield to be torn down this year. The above image comes from … Continue reading Maple Motel is torn down

Sun-Times picks up Launching Pad story

Dave Hoekstra, a staff writer for the Chicago Sun-Times who's written about Route 66 over the years, has a story about the Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Ill., being up for sale. Hoekstra's story has nifty tidbits of history about the restaurant and talked to the owners, who wish to retire and travel the Mother … Continue reading Sun-Times picks up Launching Pad story

A “Cars” collage

Kutz63 has posted on YouTube a collage of scenes from "Cars" with Sheryl Crow's "Real Gone," which is part of the original soundtrack. It's a nice way to relive some of the scenes from the film. SPOILER ALERT: A few of the scenes might reveal too much of the plot. So if you haven't seen … Continue reading A “Cars” collage

Sci-Fi Channel’s “The Lost Room” has Route 66 angle

A new drama on the Sci-Fi Channel that premieres tonight called "The Lost Room," which takes place in the fictitious Sunshine Motel in New Mexico along old Route 66. Here's a summary of the show, straight from its Web site: In the 1960s, there still were hundreds of motels with thousands of rooms along Route … Continue reading Sci-Fi Channel’s “The Lost Room” has Route 66 angle

A 90-mile-long event

The Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph reports that a 90-mile stretch of old Route 66 from Joliet to Towanda, Ill., is going to be part of the Red Carpet Corridor Weekend Experience on May 5-6. Not all the details have been worked out, but Pontiac is having a meeting Monday about its portion, and the corridor will … Continue reading A 90-mile-long event

Another sinkhole appears in Galena

Details are sketchy at this point, but another sinkhole appeared in Galena, Kan., late Saturday. Rod Harsh of Route 66 TV Online tells me the sinkhole, which is up to 20 feet deep already, appeared at Bob H. Carr Used Cars at 410 W. Seventh St. in Galena, just off Route 66 near the Sonic … Continue reading Another sinkhole appears in Galena