Amarillo Globe-News Jon Mark Beilue writes about the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo. The point emerges amid all the color reported from the scene: Cadillac Ranch may have been a mere curiosity when it was first erected in 1974, but it now is a full-blown American icon. Amarillo residents may be irritated or even embarrassed by … Continue reading Cadillac Ranch: From oddity to icon
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.
Welcome to the Aztec Motel — if you’re a weekly
The Daily Lobo, which is the University of New Mexico's independent student newspaper, has published a well-done article about the historic Aztec Motel on Central Avenue (Route 66) in Albuquerque. The place was down in the dumps until the early 1990s, when Mohamed Natha purchased and fixed up the building. (He's yet another Asian-American who's … Continue reading Welcome to the Aztec Motel — if you’re a weekly
Keep AAA on speed dial
The Daily Herald in Everett, Wash., reports that John Morrison and Loren Hole will set out on a 5,500-mile road trip in a 1968 Triumph TR4A. The trek will include the entire length of Route 66. The only question is whether the car is up to the task. It's been rebuilt twice. Friends have placed … Continue reading Keep AAA on speed dial
Irish bikers roar into Tulsa
About 90 Irish citizens on Harley Davidsons cruised into Tulsa on Wednesday, stopped at Route 66 Harley Davidson and ate at the 5 and Diner next door, reports KOTV. The Route 66 Challenge is a fundraiser for the Temple Street University Children's Hospital in Dublin. A few members of the group found the 92-degree heat … Continue reading Irish bikers roar into Tulsa
Inspiration for Mater is found
Rod Harsh, proprietor of Route 66 TV Online and chairman of the Route 66 Committee of Jasper County, Mo., had been diligently looking for the tow-truck inspiration of the character Tow Mater, voiced memorably by Larry the Cable Guy, in the hit animated movie, "Cars." He found it. The good news is the truck (second … Continue reading Inspiration for Mater is found
Route 66 maps through St. Louis updated
Route 66 researcher Stefan Joppich has updated his maps of Route 66 alignments through the St. Louis region. You can view them here. That doesn't sound like much, but the Gateway City has more alignments of 66 than any city I can think of, including Chicago or Los Angeles. Just being able to document all … Continue reading Route 66 maps through St. Louis updated
Route 66 named one of Top 10 drives
Luxury Link, an online travel company, has named its World's Best Drives. Route 66 in Arizona made the top 10, at No. 7. The only other American roads to make the cut were the Pacific Coast Highway in California and the Hana Highway in Hawaii. Luxury Link said: These days, you can do more than … Continue reading Route 66 named one of Top 10 drives
Route 66 blog roundup 10/3
Okiedokie wonders whether the two segments of Route 66 in Oklahoma that were placed on the National Register of Historic Places are driveable. They are. The 1926 Pryor Creek Bridge is just east of Chelsea on East First Street, a south turnoff from the current Oklahoma 66. A map to Tank Farm Loop, near Kellyville, … Continue reading Route 66 blog roundup 10/3
Meet Bob
Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire is painting a mural at the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac. For a report and a photo of his ongoing work, check out this report from the Bloomington Pantagraph.
Budville sold, is set to reopen soon
Budville Trading Post, a historic Route 66 business in Cubero, N.M., was sold several months ago and is set to reopen in a matter of weeks. Budville's new owners are John "Andrew" Peterson and his fiancee, Monica Gutierrez, who bought it in May. The score will become a general store again, with artwork sold on … Continue reading Budville sold, is set to reopen soon