From the When It Rains, It Pours Department: After years of very few volumes about the famed 1928 "Bunion Derby" footrace across America, two remarkably comprehensive books are released three months apart. The first was "C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race" by Geoff Williams. The second is "Bunion Derby" (256 pages, University of New Mexico Press, … Continue reading Book review: “Bunion Derby”
Month: February 2008
El Vado back before Landmarks commission
Here's an e-mail from Ed Boles, historic preservation planner for the City of Albuquerque, that was sent Friday: This coming Wednesday, the El Vado Motel owner's application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition will be heard again by the City of Albuquerque Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission. The application was remanded to the LUCC … Continue reading El Vado back before Landmarks commission
Route 66 bridge booster named Citizen of the Year
From the Waynesville (Mo.) Daily Guide: The woman who began the drive to place vintage lighting on the Historic Route 66 bridge over the Roubidoux Creek in Waynesville has been named Citizen of the Year by the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce. Charli Hartley, a lifelong resident of Waynesville, was nominated by All-American Security, a … Continue reading Route 66 bridge booster named Citizen of the Year
A look at the Gay Parita station
KOLR-TV in Springfield, Mo., has a story about Gary Turner's re-creation of the Gay Parita gas station on old Route 66 west of Springfield in a settlement called Paris Springs. Here are more photos of Gay Parita. There's a video link with the story. But buried in the story is this item that's not on … Continue reading A look at the Gay Parita station
Where memories live
April Wilkerson of the Shawnee (Okla.) News-Star paid a visit to the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, Okla., which is in the town's historic armory building. Check it out. And check out the interpretive center's Web site, too. It's been overhauled in a major way.
Saratoga Lanes named to National Register
Barely a block south of the Manchester Avenue alignment of Route 66 in the St. Louis area is Saratoga Lanes, an upstairs, eight-lane bowling alley that's been there since 1916. Yep, it predates the Mother Road. On Jan. 29, the Saratoga Lanes building was named to the National Register of Historic Places. Saratoga Lanes is … Continue reading Saratoga Lanes named to National Register
Ghost Road
Here is a segment of "Return to the Road" documentary, a look at modern-day Route 66 starring Martin Milner before he became ill a few years ago. Using the near-deserted Rock Cut segment and the quiet village of Devils Elbow in Missouri, this segment looks at the more contemplative stretches of a once-bustling Mother Road. … Continue reading Ghost Road
A more restful stay
Here's a news release from the Hualapai Lodge on Route 66 in Peach Springs, Ariz.: The Hualapai Lodge, owned and operated by the Hualapai Nation at Grand Canyon West, has placed new premium beds in all 60 of its rooms. The rooms now feature Elite 1350, FR Plush Serta mattresses and premium Serta box springs. … Continue reading A more restful stay
Flagstaff bringing back parking meters
The Flagstaff City Council voted 5-2 this week to reintroduce parking meters to 400 spaces in the downtown area, which includes Route 66, reports the Arizona Daily Sun. I'm not necessarily against parking meters, especially if they stop those who squat on spaces for hours or even days at a time. But there's reason to … Continue reading Flagstaff bringing back parking meters
His own Cozy Cone
Rick Shalander of Whites Creek, Tenn., liked the "Cars" movie and decided to re-create one of the Cozy Cone Motel cabins in the film. He's going to use it as a place to park his motorcycle. He's building it out of of salvaged materials, including a motor from a hospital bed that will be used … Continue reading His own Cozy Cone