Less than a month after the Meltdown Diner in southwest Tulsa closed, it reopened again with a slightly modified name. Owner Jim Hardcastle, citing his desire to spend more time with his father and grandsons, announced he would close Meltdown Diner on May 25. The restaurant, which specialized mainly in grilled-cheese sandwiches, had been operating … Continue reading Shutdown of Meltdown Diner in Tulsa proves short-lived
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.
Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month
Bob Russell, the mayor of Pontiac, Illinois, known for greeting arriving busloads of Route 66 tourists in his city's downtown, will voluntarily step down from his position on July 31. Russell, nicknamed by some as the "Mayor of Route 66," announced his impending departure during a city council meeting this week. According to the Bloomington … Continue reading Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month
Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa
Several area officials, including Oklahoma's lieutenant governor and Tulsa's mayor, helped dedicate the enormous Route 66 Rising sculpture Tuesday at Avery Traffic Circle in Tulsa. The $682,000 sculpture, paid for with Vision 2025 sales-tax money in Tulsa County, is about 70 feet long and 30 feet tall. It sits at Mingo Road and Admiral Place, … Continue reading Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa
Matriarch of Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Visitors Center dies
Martha Jackson, a key figure in the construction of the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Visitors Center in Litchfield, Illinois, died last week after an extended illness. She was 87. Jackson had been in a nursing home in nearby Gillespie, Illinois. Her visitation and funeral will be next week. Here's the key excerpt from the … Continue reading Matriarch of Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Visitors Center dies
Renovated Hill Top Motel in Kingman may reopen about Jan. 1
The closed Hill Top Motel in Kingman, Arizona, is aiming for a reopening of about New Year's Day after months of renovations on the Route 66 landmark. Route 66 enthusiast Jim Hinckley provided an update about the Hill Top on Tuesday: Dr. Baker acquired the property and after evaluation commenced a major renovation that included … Continue reading Renovated Hill Top Motel in Kingman may reopen about Jan. 1
New owner of Afton Station wants ideas for Route 66 business there
The new owner of Afton Station in Afton, Oklahoma, wants to put a Route 66-related business there but is unsure what type. So he's appealing to the Route 66 community for ideas. Louis Cox, a retired 22-year Army veteran from nearby Ketchum, Oklahoma, purchased the former gas station for $72,000 during an auction Saturday where … Continue reading New owner of Afton Station wants ideas for Route 66 business there
“A Matter of Time” book about Route 66 coming in October
"A Matter of Time," a photo-driven book about familiar and forgotten places on Route 66, will be coming in October from the University of Oklahoma Press. The 272-page book, subtitled "Route 66 Through the Lens of Change," by German photographer Ellen Klinkel and West Texas A&M marketing professor Nick Gerlich documents 101 spots along Route … Continue reading “A Matter of Time” book about Route 66 coming in October
Nonprofit group has a plan to buy, renovate Brookshire Motel
A Tulsa-based nonprofit organization wants to buy and redevelop the closed and fire-damaged Brookshire Motel into a gift shop, sandwich shop, farmers market, offices and classrooms. The Oklahoma Family Empowerment Center Project aims "to empower individuals, strengthen families, help couples, enhance parenting skills, bring recovery to those struggling with an addiction, assist returning citizens after … Continue reading Nonprofit group has a plan to buy, renovate Brookshire Motel
Grassroots Baseball tour looking for obscure baseball sites on Route 66
The Grassroots Baseball tour this summer needs suggestions on less well-known baseball sites on or near Route 66. The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is helping the soon-to-retire Baseball Hall of Fame president, Jeff Idelson, and photographer Jean Fruth as they explore Route 66. According to the partnership: “We are looking for kids, adults, stickball … Continue reading Grassroots Baseball tour looking for obscure baseball sites on Route 66
Teenager buys historic gas station, will move it next to historic gas station in Miami
A teenage entrepreneur recently acquired a historic gas station in Miami, Oklahoma, he eventually will move to a better-known historic Route 66 gas station in Miami. Eli Chenoweth, 19, who owns and operates The Frozen Elephant snow-cone shop on Route 66 in Miami, several months ago bought the Miami Marathon Oil Service Station on Route … Continue reading Teenager buys historic gas station, will move it next to historic gas station in Miami