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.

Huge crowds expected for buried-car excavation

Organizers of the unearthing of a buried 1957 Plymouth Belvidere expect at least 50,000 visitors during the event on June 15, reported the Tulsa World. One fellow from Norway is shipping his '57 Belvidere from Norway is driving Route 66 to the time capsule's unsealing. About 1,000 tickets for the car's "unveiling" on the evening … Continue reading Huge crowds expected for buried-car excavation

So strange, it’s cool

It's Hungarian rappers with an Elvis impersonator, singing a new song, "Route 66," on the Mother Road in Newberry Springs, Calif. I have no idea what they're rapping/singing, but it's funky and sounds good. So strange, it's cool. The rap group is Ganxsta Zolee & Kartel, with guest star Nagy Edmond singing in the jumpsuit. … Continue reading So strange, it’s cool

Yet another travel story about Albuquerque

Beverly Beyette of the Chicago Tribune writes about Albuquerque as a travel destination. I swear, this is the third or fourth story in the past year about the larger, less-sexy sister city to Santa Fe suddenly becoming a belle of the ball. I'm not knocking it. After all, Albuquerque was once seen as a rather … Continue reading Yet another travel story about Albuquerque

Last of the Breed

Chicago Sun-Times columnist and Route 66 roadie Dave Hoekstra was in Prescott Valley, Ariz., for the first show of the Last of the Breed tour, the lucky dog. In case you haven't heard, the Last of the Breed tour features country-music legends Ray Price, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson with Western swing band Asleep at … Continue reading Last of the Breed

Wigwam Motel makes “Quirky sleeps” list

Gary A. Warner, travel editor of the Orange County Register, gives out his personal list of "the funniest, funkiest and most wonderfully strangest places I've visited." Not surprisingly, the Wigwam Motels made the list, with kudos to the one on Route 66 in Rialto, Calif.: Wampum required: Wigwam Motels.There are three surviving Wigwam motels. The … Continue reading Wigwam Motel makes “Quirky sleeps” list

The summit of La Bajada Hill

Even though video can never quite do it justice, this 360-degree clip from the summit of La Bajada Hill gives you an inkling of what this primitive alignment of Route 66 is like. For a more Route 66-oriented viewpoint, go here. The road on La Bajada was Route 66 from 1926 to 1932. It contains … Continue reading The summit of La Bajada Hill

Route 66 development encounters opposition

The Arbors at Route 66 is a planned mixed-use development along Foothill Boulevard (Route 66) and Grove Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. But the project is encountering resistance from residents, mostly because of traffic concerns, reports the Ontario (Calif.) Daily Bulletin. The proposal is for 23 single-family homes, 75 townhomes and more than 12,600 square … Continue reading Route 66 development encounters opposition

Pig Hip ponderings

Springfield (Ill.) Journal-Register columnist Dave Bakke took a look at the surviving momentoes salvaged from the fire that destroyed the Pig Hip Museum on Route 66 in Broadwell, Ill. It's a terrific read, including the description of longtime proprieter Ernie Edwards poking at the body of a dead squirrel that's believed to have caused the … Continue reading Pig Hip ponderings

Corvette cruise lessons

Greg and Susan Wageman used to cruise down our nation's two-lane highways, including Route 66, in his blue Corvette. Greg did the driving; Susan did the navigating. Greg had always meant to teach his wife how to drive a stick-shift. But he didn't get the chance. He died unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism at age … Continue reading Corvette cruise lessons