The historic El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, is offering homeless respiratory patients a place to self-isolate while being tested for the coronavirus. The program is under the auspices of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services, Gallup Indian Medical Center and the Community Outreach and Patient Empowerment nonprofit organization. Those patients will be housed … Continue reading El Rancho Hotel in Gallup offers rooms for respiratory patients during pandemic
A recent Facebook post by the Daggett Historical Society in Daggett, California, sent me down a rabbit hole regarding the weirdly shaped house called Ski Lodge Roof House, Ski Slope Lodge or Russian House along Route 66 in town. The historical society posted last month on Facebook: Last night's DHS meeting was on what is … Continue reading More about the Ski Lodge Roof House in Daggett
Grand Canyon National Park closed indefinitely Wednesday after a resident there tested positive for coronavirus as part of a pandemic that has infected more than 216,000 people in the U.S. as of that evening. The national park in northern Arizona was under pressure for days from local and federal health officials to close. It gave … Continue reading Grand Canyon closes after resident tests positive for coronavirus
A Route 66 roadside park soon will be installed behind the Baxter Springs 66 Welcome Center in Baxter Springs, Kansas. According to an op-ed by resident Duane Lyon in the Cherokee County News-Advocate: This includes a mural wall, LongHorn Statue plaza, a green space, sitting areas at the sitting wall, focal point sitting area and … Continue reading Route 66 roadside park coming behind welcome center in Baxter Springs
The San Bernardino County board of supervisors approved a plan that would allow the redevelopment of the long-abandoned Lake Dolores waterpark north of Newberry Springs, California. The Victor Valley News reported: According to a newsletter from Robert Lovingood’s office, “the Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a general plan amendment and conditional use permit to establish … Continue reading County OKs redevelopment plan for Lake Dolores waterpark in Newberry Springs
The City of Albuquerque will spend $500,000 to publicize its stretch of Route 66 and its troubled Albuquerque Rapid Transit system. The city has issued a request for proposals that will be due April 28. It stated: The City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department is seeking a qualified marketing firm to develop and implement a … Continue reading Albuquerque will spend $500,000 to publicize its Route 66 corridor, ART
Here's a version of "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" that I haven't heard before now. It's Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra and Chorus during "Philco Radio Time" on Oct. 30, 1946. https://youtu.be/dMiHd_y1uf8 Crosby earlier that year recorded a version of Bobby Troup's song with the Andrew Sisters, which reached No. … Continue reading An alternate version of “Route 66” by Bing Crosby
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, a St. Louis landmark since the 1930s, announced it would close temporarily starting today, citing the health concerns of employees and customers from the coronavirus pandemic. The company stated in a Facebook post it would continue to offer its frozen custard as usual in St. Louis-area grocery stores. Ted Drewes had … Continue reading Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis will temporarily close today
Citing problems caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the owners of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, announced Thursday they would close the Route 66 icon for at least 2 1/2 weeks. Co-owners Kevin and Nancy Mueller announced in a Facebook post on Thursday they would close the motel starting today, then reassess … Continue reading Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari closes until at least April 12
The Monterey Motel in Albuquerque, next door to the redeveloped and equally historic El Vado Motel, is undergoing renovations that will take it back to its original look. Above is a vintage postcard of the motel, back when it was called the Monterey Court. The Albuquerque Journal had some details about the work being done: … Continue reading More details emerge about restoration of Monterey Motel in Albuquerque
