Owl Court in Oklahoma City changes owners

A group of investors has acquired the historic Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City and pledges to revive the property into at least one new business. The Oklahoman reported the group thinks the area, known as the town of Britton before being annexed into Oklahoma City during the 1950s, is ripe for revival: Owl Court … Continue reading Owl Court in Oklahoma City changes owners

Website for ROUTE Magazine goes live

  The official website for the fledgling ROUTE Magazine went live Wednesday, a few weeks after print copies of the Route 66-focused magazine arrived in Barnes & Noble bookstores and some motels along the Mother Road. The website is offering print subscriptions for U.S. and Canada readers. Rates are $55 for the U.S. and $72 … Continue reading Website for ROUTE Magazine goes live

Fire destroys Sirloin Stockade in Rolla

A fire Tuesday night destroyed the Sirloin Stockade restaurant on Route 66 on the west side of Rolla, Missouri. Rolla Fire Chief Ron Smith told the Salem News the building was a total loss. He said an official from the Missouri fire marshal's office will investigate. The flames created a spectacle on the south side … Continue reading Fire destroys Sirloin Stockade in Rolla

Mule Trading Post changes hands, undergoes renovations

The Mule Trading Post east of Rolla, Missouri, recently changed owners, and the new caretakers are renovating it for the next few weeks but keeping it open. In a Facebook post in early January, the Route 66 business stated: Hello everyone! The Mule Trading Post has sold to new owners and big changes are coming! … Continue reading Mule Trading Post changes hands, undergoes renovations

Scotland feels the marketing power of Route 66

In February 2015, the North Highland Initiative launched a campaign to lure more tourists to Scotland's North Coast 500, a circular route that begins and ends at Inverness Castle. In early press coverage, the road was called "Scotland's answer to Route 66," and the group -- and dozens of other newspapers -- latched on to … Continue reading Scotland feels the marketing power of Route 66

Conway restaurant honored for aiding crash-stranded travelers

The Rocking Chair Restaurant in Conway, Missouri, recently was honored for helping travelers affected by a horrific chain-reaction crash on Interstate 44 during a winter storm. The Conway Betterment League bestowed the Route 66 established its first Business of the Month award. KSPR-TV filed this story. Included is footage of a woman who barely escaped injury … Continue reading Conway restaurant honored for aiding crash-stranded travelers

El Reno soon will have a Route 66 Monument

The city of El Reno, Oklahoma, last week approved a contract with an area metal-fabrication firm to build a large Route 66 Monument near downtown. The city announced on its Facebook page: On Tuesday, February 13, the City Council unanimously agreed to celebrate the history of “America’s Mother Road,” historic Route 66, with a monument … Continue reading El Reno soon will have a Route 66 Monument

U.S. bicycle route on Route 66 in Missouri may be ready by summer

Missouri and Kansas are working to set up a U.S. bicycle route along Route 66 in their states, and Missouri may have it in place by summer. The Joplin Globe reported: The U.S. Bicycle Route System is the national cycling route network that’s serviced by state and local governments. Its goal is to connect bicycle … Continue reading U.S. bicycle route on Route 66 in Missouri may be ready by summer

Launching Pad Drive-In may partially reopen in May

The couple that recently purchased the long-closed Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, said they likely would partly reopen the Route 66 restaurant in May, with a full reopening sometime in 2019. The restaurant is most famous for its  one-of-a-kind 30-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue. Holly Barker and Tully Garrett, who bought the Launching Pad … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In may partially reopen in May

A brief chat with Michael Wallis

The folks at #Unscripted recently posted this interview of author Michael Wallis that covers quite a bit of ground in just eight minutes. The interview was conducted in the lobby of the historic Campbell Hotel in Tulsa, along Route 66. In the video, Wallis explains: What motivated him to write his eventual best-selling "Route 66: … Continue reading A brief chat with Michael Wallis