Vince Scott bought the Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., a few years ago with the sole purpose of quickly selling it again to Walgreens for a quick buck. However, Route 66 preservationists protested the impending deal, and Walgreens moved to greener pastures. Scott still has the motel, and admits the 1930s landmark could be a … Continue reading The perils of fast money and Route 66
Author: Ron Warnick
I'm the editor and publisher of Route 66 News, a clearinghouse of events, information, and entertainment pertaining to historic U.S. 66, the Mother Road.
National Route 66 organization proposed
The formation of a new, national Route 66 organization was proposed during the Route 66 Summit on Thursday at the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla. The organization would be similar to the old U.S. Highway 66 Association, which operated from 1927 to 1976, and the current-day Lincoln Highway Association, which has a paid … Continue reading National Route 66 organization proposed
Fire up the plane, crank the jukebox
I got this e-mail today from Ramona Kiewert, co-owner of the Bent Door in Adrian, Texas, on how progress has been with th old Route 66 business: The Music is playing and the Plane's flying at The Bent Door. Progress has been good this summer so far; the office area has now been painted as … Continue reading Fire up the plane, crank the jukebox
Stay for the view
The White Dog Hill restaurant east of Clinton, Okla., is distributing a flier for attendees at the National Route 66 Festival in town. The top of the leaflet says: Come for the food ... Stay for the view. It is truth in advertising. The White Dog Hill, formerly the Clinton Country Club decades ago, is … Continue reading Stay for the view
Presentations from the festival
I gave a couple of presentations during the workshops Thursday at the Route 66 Festival in Clinton. For those who missed them -- or those who just want a closer look -- they are online here: Media relations (writing press releases, being interviewed, interacting with reporters) Powerpoint version of the media relations presentation (downloadable) Route … Continue reading Presentations from the festival
Remaining drive-ins are thriving
Although there are just 400 drive-in movie theaters left in the country after a peak of about 4,000 five decades ago, the remaining ones are mostly thriving, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Among the survivors cited in the article are the Route 66 Drive-In in Springfield, Ill.; the Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield, Ill.; and the … Continue reading Remaining drive-ins are thriving
Sunrise Motel torn down
We've known about this for a couple of weeks, but today we nailed down the details why: The Sunrise Motel at 805 N. Service Road in Sullivan, Mo., has been razed to make way for an improved overpass over Interstate 44. I'm not aware whether the Sunrise was ever on old Route 66 itself, but … Continue reading Sunrise Motel torn down
Show some pride
Daily Oklahoman writer Steve Lackmeyer traveled Route 66 in Oklahoma, and he thinks, if anything, that the Mother Road isn't getting enough attention in the state. Go read it. Lackmeyer also has a blog about his Route 66 trip. Here also is a slide show of Route 66 in Miami, Okla., and Afton, Okla. The … Continue reading Show some pride
Clinton-bound
I'll be at the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla., which runs from Thursday through Sunday. Photos and news from the event will be forthcoming, as long as the wireless connection and the computer equipment holds out. According to the latest news release from the festival, many motels in western Oklahoma are sold out … Continue reading Clinton-bound
Memorial commemorates ordnance disaster
The Pontiac (Ill.) Daily Leader reports that a statue was dedicated earlier this month commemorating the 52 people who died in an explosion in 1942 at an ordnance plant just off Route 66 in Elwood. The statue, of a man in work clothes, wearing a hard hat and carrying a lunchbox, is next to the … Continue reading Memorial commemorates ordnance disaster