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.

El Vado Motel situation clarified

Last week, I heard through the grapevine that some sort of appeal to demolish El Vado Motel in Albuquerque was being considered. I subsequently contacted the city, requesting more information. Today, I received an e-mail from Ed Boles of the City of Albuquerque, who helpfully clarified some things about the situation. The owner of El … Continue reading El Vado Motel situation clarified

A mother of a marathon

Driving Route 66 west of Tulsa was an eerie experience Saturday night. Every so often, on the side of the road, you'd encounter a lone figure wearing a reflective vest, extra layers to ward off near-freezing temperatures and often a head flashlight to help see through the darkness. Here's one that I saw trudging along … Continue reading A mother of a marathon

Happy ending for soldiers

After the Veterans Day list of U.S. soldiers from Route 66 towns who died in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's nice to have a story about soldiers with happy endings. In Gallup, N.M., members of the National Guard's 1116th Transportation Company were welcomed home with a parade on Route 66. No soldiers were killed or injured … Continue reading Happy ending for soldiers

Meet Mater’s inspiration

It's been the victim of neglect. The odometer reads 99,372 miles, and there's no telling whether they're original. Rust covers the entire body, where it nearly obscures the letters "Tannou" and "Joplin, Mo" on the door. The seats desperately need to be re-upholstered. And it gets its fuel from a storage tank that resembles a … Continue reading Meet Mater’s inspiration

Run, run, run and run some more

The Edmond (Okla.) Sun has a story about participants in the Mother Road 100 -- a 100-mile ultramarathon on Route 66 from Arcadia to Sapulpa that started Saturday morning. The story has nice pictures, too. If you live in eastern Oklahoma, you can still see them until late Sunday morning. They'll still be running ... … Continue reading Run, run, run and run some more

Route 66 Corridor Program gets some ink

The Associated Press did a story about the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and its advisory council, which met in Oklahoma City last week. Of particular (and deserving) focus is John Dunning, who is slowly renovating Owl Court in Oklahoma City into a small motel for Mother Road travelers. Dunning also is owner of the … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Program gets some ink

Happy birthday, Route 66

You're 80 years old today. You've taken a few hits, but you're looking pretty spry these days. Here's a rundown. UPDATE: American Heritage also has just posted a pretty good rundown.

A tribute to fallen soldiers from Route 66 towns

On this Veterans Day, we thought we'd pay homage to soldiers from Route 66 towns who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Route 66 is often described as the "world's longest small town." So when one of its own dies, we feel the loss more. I can attest that small towns are more appreciative of their … Continue reading A tribute to fallen soldiers from Route 66 towns

Volunteers needed

Here's a message from Redforkhippiechick about Saturday's Mother Road 100 ultramarathon in Oklahoma: The Mother Road 100 organizers need volunteers to man an aid station at the Citgo in Kellyville from 5:45 p.m. Saturday to 8:45 a.m. Sunday. The most critical hours are 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., but volunteers are needed for the entire … Continue reading Volunteers needed