The historic Route 66 Restaurant in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, will be closed for weeks after a lightning strike destroyed the building's electrical system, according to this week's print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator, based in Santa Rosa. The strike Wednesday afternoon knocked out a fuse box and scorched a wall of the restaurant, … Continue reading Lightning strike closes Santa Rosa restaurant for weeks
Month: July 2015
‘Great Food Truck Race’ on Route 66 begins Aug. 23
The sixth season of the Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race" begins Aug. 23 with a variety of challenges along Route 66 towns, according to a news release this week. The season opener will air at 9 p.m. Eastern Sunday, Aug. 23. Here's a trailer for the series: More from the news release: In … Continue reading ‘Great Food Truck Race’ on Route 66 begins Aug. 23
Joplin barber shop likely to become gallery, visitors center
An automotive artist from California may buy Dale's Ole 66 Barber Shop in Joplin, Missouri, and turn it into a gallery and visitors center, according to the Joplin Globe. Len Nordmann of Lake Elsinore, California, wants to buy the property at 2312 Utica St. (aka Route 66) from Shirley Holly, widow of longtime owner Dale Holly, who owned it … Continue reading Joplin barber shop likely to become gallery, visitors center
New T-shirt features Whoopee Coaster
Tourist Trap Tees, based in Oklahoma, is releasing a new T-shirt featuring a Mother Road legend from Illinois. This one is the Whoopee Coaster of Lyons (also known as the Whoopie Coaster) -- a long wooden structure basically designed as a roller coaster for cars. Living History of Illinois has a nice summary of this short-lived … Continue reading New T-shirt features Whoopee Coaster
Signs saved from the demolished Bel-Aire Motel
An article this week in the The State Journal-Register answers one question in the wake of the demolition of the Bel-Air Motel in Springfield, Illinois -- what will happen to the neon signs? The short answer: They've been acquired by two local residents, where they likely will be restored. Retired Springfield businessman Ron Metzger and … Continue reading Signs saved from the demolished Bel-Aire Motel
Route 66 Malt Shop soon will close
What appeared to be almost inevitable is becoming reality -- the Route 66 Malt Shop in Albuquerque soon will close after losing its lease, according to a report by KRQE-TV in Albuquerque. It was reported in April the restaurant had lost its lease at 3800 Central Ave. SE, which would have expired July 31. Owner … Continue reading Route 66 Malt Shop soon will close
‘American Pickers’ filming on Route 66 in Oklahoma
Two of the cast members of the History Channel's "American Pickers" reality show spent part of last week filming on Route 66 in Oklahoma, according to an article in the Grand Lake News and one of the star's Instagram accounts. The newspaper said Danielle Colby and Mike Wolfe of "American Pickers" dined at Waylan's Ku … Continue reading ‘American Pickers’ filming on Route 66 in Oklahoma
2015 cost-share grants for Route 66 announced
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced four cost-share grants totaling more than $97,000 for 2015. Boots Court architectural neon restoration, Carthage, Missouri, $20,000 grant, $20,565 match: Built in 1939, the Boots Court Motel is an outstanding example of a mom-and-pop motor court built in the Streamline Moderne style. Once threatened with demolition, the owners … Continue reading 2015 cost-share grants for Route 66 announced
Crocodile Lile’s tips for traveling Route 66 in Texas
Many of you know Crocodile Lile, a longtime officer of the Texas Old Route 66 Association and owner of Lile Art Gallery along Sixth Avenue (aka Route 66) in Amarillo. In this new video from Texas Tourism, Lile is the star in describing the state's Route 66 attractions. https://youtu.be/kxvJVphA7Hk (Screen capture from the Texas Tourism … Continue reading Crocodile Lile’s tips for traveling Route 66 in Texas
Incredible scenes from the Cajon Pass fires
Wildfires along the Cajon Pass north of the Los Angeles metro area are an unfortunate but fairly regular occurrence during summer, and the fires often close the Interstate 15 / Route 66 corridor for a few hours. Friday's fire was different. The 3,200-acre blaze jumped the freeway and ignited about 20 vehicles, causing motorists to … Continue reading Incredible scenes from the Cajon Pass fires