Candacy Taylor, author of a forthcoming book about the Negro Motorist Green Book published from the 1930s to the '60s, will be the keynote speaker during the fifth annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference in Normal, Illinois, on Oct. 17-20. Taylor soon will publish "Overground Railroad: The Green Book and theRoots of Black Travel … Continue reading “Negro Motorist Green Book” expert to speak at Miles of Possibility conference
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.
A closer look at Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla
The Phelps County Focus newspaper recently published a nice profile of the owners of the Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri. The Totem Pole proclaims itself the longest-running Route 66 business in Missouri. It dates to 1933, when the business was further east, closer to the ghost town of Arlington, Missouri, although one of … Continue reading A closer look at Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla
Old barn converted into vinyl record store found in Route 66 side trip
Here's a little side trip from Route 66 in southwest Missouri that's probably worth taking: a barn that's been converted into a shop for new and used vinyl records. The place is called Vintage Vinyl Purveyor, on the northeast side of Joplin. It's also close to the fellow Route 66 towns of Carterville and Carthage. … Continue reading Old barn converted into vinyl record store found in Route 66 side trip
Bottle Tree Ranch reopens full-time after the death of its creator
The landmark Bottle Tree Ranch along Route 66 near Oro Grande, California, reopened Saturday after being closed following the death of its creator, Elmer Long, in July. Delvin Harbour, a longtime Route 66 enthusiast in California, posted this on Facebook on Saturday: Long, 72, died June 22 after a bout with lung cancer. The Bottle … Continue reading Bottle Tree Ranch reopens full-time after the death of its creator
Owners of Painted Desert Trading Post close access until mid-October
The owners of the long-closed Painted Desert Trading Post in eastern Arizona temporarily have closed access to the historic Route 66 site because the locks and chain the entrance gates recently were removed. Jim Ross, one of the members of the Route 66 Co-op that purchased the property last year, wrote Friday on Facebook: I … Continue reading Owners of Painted Desert Trading Post close access until mid-October
Club Cafe signs removed from Santa Rosa
The two remaining neon signs for the long-closed Club Cafe in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, were removed Friday, according to several folks on social media who snapped photos of the dismantling. Daniel Chavez wrote on Facebook on Friday afternoon: So long Club Café neon signs. I’m sure you were a welcoming sight for many travelers … Continue reading Club Cafe signs removed from Santa Rosa
More details emerge about upcoming “Hairy Bikers Route 66” episodes
Broadcast magazine, based in the United Kingdom, and the BBC gave more details about next month's "Hairy Bikers Route 66" miniseries that will air on BBC2. According to the BBC, the first episode will be broadcast at 8 p.m. Sept. 12 on BBC2. The Hairy Bikers are Si King and Dave Myers, who've been on … Continue reading More details emerge about upcoming “Hairy Bikers Route 66” episodes
A closer look at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill and Museum in Springfield
WSEC-TV, a PBS affiliate in Springfield, Illinois, recently posted a video tour of Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill and Museum in Springfield and talked with its enthusiastic owner, Ron Metzger. As you'll see from the 27-minute video, Metzger has collected all sorts of memorabilia from defunct Route 66 landmarks such as Shea's Gas Station Museum, … Continue reading A closer look at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill and Museum in Springfield
More screenings announced for “Almost Ghosts” Route 66 documentary
The filmmakers of the "Almost Ghosts" documentary have announced more screenings of the film at several historic theaters on or near Route 66. A screen-capture image of Angel Delgadillo in the "Almost Ghosts" film. The Flagstaff screening will feature one of the film's subjects, Angel "Angel of Route 66" Delgadillo, speaking before the movie. At … Continue reading More screenings announced for “Almost Ghosts” Route 66 documentary
Bystanders help Italian tourists finish their Route 66 journey
Two Italian tourists whose rental car was destroyed in an accident were able to finish their Route 66 trip with the help of several bystanders at the crash scene. Sara Gostoli and Joana Molon of Bolognese, Italy, were on the final leg of exploring Route 66 and the surrounding area. They had pulled off the … Continue reading Bystanders help Italian tourists finish their Route 66 journey