The owner and advocates for the long-closed Road Runner's Retreat restaurant near Chambless, California, have launched an online fundraiser to repaint its neon sign. Those who donate $35 or more to the effort through GoFundMe.com will receive a T-shirt and a reproduction bumper sticker from the 1960s when the restaurant still was in operation along … Continue reading Fundraising campaign launched to repaint Road Runner’s Retreat neon sign near Chambless
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.
Archdiocese to mortgage iconic church in downtown Sante Fe to pay abuse settlements
The iconic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, will be mortgaged by the local archdiocese to help it pay off settlements to priests' sexual abuse victims. Archbishop John C. Wester laid out the plan in a letter to parishes earlier this month, reported the Albuquerque Journal. The Cathedral … Continue reading Archdiocese to mortgage iconic church in downtown Sante Fe to pay abuse settlements
Swadley’s Bar-B-Q countersuit allegedly implicates Oklahoma governor, Pinnell
Swadley's Bar-B-Q last week filed a countersuit, alleging the governor and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who leads the state's tourism department, knew of the arrangement where the restaurant chain spent millions of dollars in inflated reimbursement invoices to upgrade services at several state parks. The Oklahoman newspaper reported some details about the countersuit: Among the claims … Continue reading Swadley’s Bar-B-Q countersuit allegedly implicates Oklahoma governor, Pinnell
Virtual open house on options for Bird Creek Bridge near Catoosa runs through June 27
A virtual open house to explore options for the historic Bird Creek Bridge on northbound Route 66 near Catoosa, Oklahoma, runs through June 27, and the state Department of Transportation wants your input. Replacement of the 1956 bridge is being considered about a decade after the 1936 southbound bridge was replaced. That area, just north … Continue reading Virtual open house on options for Bird Creek Bridge near Catoosa runs through June 27
Route 66 Association of Missouri’s Motor Tour includes an exclusive tour of Red Cedar Inn
The Route 66 Association of Missouri's annual Motor Tour in September will include an exclusive tour of the Red Cedar Inn building in Pacific, Missouri, that's being converted into a Route 66 visitors center, museum and genealogy site. "They are almost finished and we are going to be the first people to see the completed … Continue reading Route 66 Association of Missouri’s Motor Tour includes an exclusive tour of Red Cedar Inn
More details about Oklahoma Tourism’s big ad buy in NYC’s Times Square
Oklahoma Tourism last week provided more details about the advertising, including for Route 66, which it recently purchased for the gigantic video screens at Times Square in New York City. The department stated this in a news release: Visitors near Father Duffy Square, a heavily trafficked pedestrian plaza, will be able to look up and … Continue reading More details about Oklahoma Tourism’s big ad buy in NYC’s Times Square
Doc’s Just Off 66 in Girard, formerly Doc’s Soda Fountain, opens to the public
Doc's Just Off 66, formerly Doc's Soda Fountain in downtown Girard, Illinois, opened to the public a few days ago after an ownership change, extensive remodeling and forming new menus. The owners held a "super" soft opening on Saturday, then posted their menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and soda-fountain treats on Facebook shortly after … Continue reading Doc’s Just Off 66 in Girard, formerly Doc’s Soda Fountain, opens to the public
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum to host Hall of Fame induction, Jerry McClahanan photo show
Next month, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton not only will host its biennial Hall of Fame induction, but a show of Jerry McClanahan's early photos of the Mother Road. More details in a news release from the museum and the Oklahoma Historical Society, which runs it, about the two events on July 9: … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Museum to host Hall of Fame induction, Jerry McClahanan photo show
New Mexico Route 66 Association receives grant to produce neon-repair video
The New Mexico Route 66 Association announced Friday it had received a cost-share grant to produce an instructional video titled titled "Do-It-Yourself Neon Sign Servicing and Repair." The association received $7,500 from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to produce the $1,500 video. The association gave more details in a news release: The association is … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association receives grant to produce neon-repair video
Tulsa artist makes striking new poster featuring Will Rogers, Route 66
Longtime Tulsa residents know of William Franklin and his artistic talents. But his latest creation that's offered for sale at his Decopolis gift store is particularly notable, especially to Route 66 fans. Franklin stated in a recent Facebook post: Every once in a while ya get lucky and come up with an idea that is … Continue reading Tulsa artist makes striking new poster featuring Will Rogers, Route 66