Touch Media, creator of the Route 66 Navigation app and publisher of the Mother Road Route 66 Passport, announced this week it is planning a Route 66 Centennial Passport in time for the highway's 100th birthday in 2026. According to a news release from the company: As planned it will be sold separately from the … Continue reading Route 66 Navigation app’s creator is planning a Route 66 Centennial Passport
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.
Pancake Hut in Carthage to mark homecoming of restored Chicago Band Box
The Pancake Hut restaurant in Carthage, Missouri, will hold a homecoming celebration on Friday of its recently restored Chicago Band Box animated music box. According to the Joplin Globe, the restaurant at 301 S. Garrison Ave. (aka Route 66) will hold the celebration from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. that day. The Pancake Hut is next … Continue reading Pancake Hut in Carthage to mark homecoming of restored Chicago Band Box
Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis to reopen later this month as Fleur STL brunch restaurant
The Eat-Rite Diner near downtown St. Louis will reopen sometime in October for the first time in two years, rechristened as Fleur STL. Tim Eagan purchased the property shortly after it closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and had to do a lot of remodeling of the nearly century-old spot. Eagan also told KMOV-TV in St. … Continue reading Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis to reopen later this month as Fleur STL brunch restaurant
Owner puts historic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba up for sale
Connie Echols, owner of the historic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, announced in a news release today that she is putting the Route 66 landmark on the market. Echols, who renovated the property extensively after buying it in 2009, stated is selling the motel and plans to retire. "As authentic Route 66 motels are … Continue reading Owner puts historic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba up for sale
Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield will host another Mobil 1 Guinness record attempt on Oct. 15
The Skyview Drive-In theater in Litchfield, Illinois, will host another Guinness World Record attempt on Oct. 15 as part of Mobil 1's "Keep Route 66 Kickin'" tour. According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the Route 66 theater co-owned by Mindy Patrovich will see whether it can host the most dogs ever at a drive-in. She said … Continue reading Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield will host another Mobil 1 Guinness record attempt on Oct. 15
Caretaker creating new additions to Elmer Long’s Bottle Tree Ranch
Not only is someone looking after Elmer Long's Bottle Tree Ranch near Oro Grande, California, but he is adding to it three years after the creator's death. According to ABC10 in Los Angeles, Brian McKinsey now serves as caretaker of the Route 66 landmark. The story contains this encouraging excerpt: McKinsey says it’s not uncommon … Continue reading Caretaker creating new additions to Elmer Long’s Bottle Tree Ranch
15-foot pollinator sculpture debuts along Route 66 in Carlinville
A three-piece, 15-foot-tall pollinator sculpture recently was installed along Route 66 in Carlinville, Illinois. The steel sculpture of flowers and a bee stands at the Carlinville Plaza on the city's north side. Make Carlinville Beautiful coordinated the creation and donation of materials for the project. According to an article in the Alton Telegraph, the sculpture … Continue reading 15-foot pollinator sculpture debuts along Route 66 in Carlinville
How an incident at Oklahoma Joe’s led to an early civil-rights movement in Albuquerque
A recently posted massive photo archive on the Vintage St. Louis & Route 66 page on Facebook revealed an episode at an Albuquerque restaurant that led to the city imposing an anti-discrimination ordinance years before the U.S. civil-rights movement began in the mid-1950s. One post contained an old postcard of Oklahoma Joe's Genuine Pit Bar-B-Que … Continue reading How an incident at Oklahoma Joe’s led to an early civil-rights movement in Albuquerque
Cherokee Nation Welcome Center opens near Vinita
The Cherokee Nation earlier this week opened its Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center on Route 66 in Vinita, Oklahoma. Mitchell is known as one of the Cherokee Nation's pre-eminent pottery artists. She began her ground-breaking experiments with clay from an area less than a mile from the future home of the welcome center. More … Continue reading Cherokee Nation Welcome Center opens near Vinita
Original Clifton’s building in downtown Los Angeles sold for $8.6 million
A local real estate investment firm recently purchased the original Clifton's Cafeteria building in downtown Los Angeles for $8.6 million. CoStar News reports the Robhana Group made the deal with previous owner Andrew Meieran, who bought the property for $3.6 million in 2011 and conducted millions more in renovations. Meieran said Clifton's signed a long-term … Continue reading Original Clifton’s building in downtown Los Angeles sold for $8.6 million