An engineering firm estimated it would cost at least $2.5 million to rehabilitate the closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri. Sparks Engineering of San Antonio issued a 16-page structural evaluation of the historic Route 66 bridge, which has been closed since December 2014. The Missouri Department of Transportation has stated it would tear down … Continue reading Gasconade River Bridge rehab costs estimated at $2.5 million
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.
Cartoonist to publish graphic novel about Route 66 journey
Award-winning cartoonist Shing Yin Khor in August will publish a 160-page graphic memoir about her experiences during a journey on Route 66. The main title is "The American Dream?" with the subtitle "A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito." Khor grew up in Malaysia and held different … Continue reading Cartoonist to publish graphic novel about Route 66 journey
Living Kitchen Farm gets attention from Oklahoma’s tourism magazine
Thanks to a new story in Oklahoma's official tourism publication, a bunch of folks are learning what a growing number of people in the northeastern part of the state already knew -- Living Kitchen Farm & Dairy not only is one of the best places to eat in the Sooner State, but all of Route … Continue reading Living Kitchen Farm gets attention from Oklahoma’s tourism magazine
Station 66 owner opens Vega Motel residence as Airbnb
The owner of the acclaimed Station 66 Airbnb site in Vega, Texas, opened the residence of the Vega Motel in town to overnight travelers, as well. The Facebook page for the closed Route 66 motel made the announcement Thursday, calling it The Lucky Horseshoe @ Vega Motel. Here's the listing on the Airbnb site itself: … Continue reading Station 66 owner opens Vega Motel residence as Airbnb
Formosa Cafe officially reopens June 28 after two years of renovations
The historic and celebrity-laden Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood, California, officially will reopen June 28 after two years and $2.4 million worth of renovations. The Hollywood Reporter reports the revamp will "make it look almost exactly the same" from before its closing. More from the exclusive report, which included a sneak peek of the interior: … Continue reading Formosa Cafe officially reopens June 28 after two years of renovations
Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee
The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act bill advanced Wednesday out of the U.S. Senate's Committee on Environment and Public Works and will head to the full Senate floor. The bill, introduced as S1014 by Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on April 3, was given a letter of support by the Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee
New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena
A new, huge and vintage-style Coca-Cola mural, complete with a Route 66 shield, recently was painted onto a prominent building in downtown Galena, Kansas, where two Route 66 alignments meet. The century-old building sits at Kansas Route 66 (the newer alignment) and Main Street (aka old Route 66). A local television station recently reported about … Continue reading New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena
Restored Camp Joy cabin dedicated at Lebanon Park
The last surviving cabin of Camp Joy was dedicated Saturday at Boswell Park in Lebanon, Missouri, during the Lebanon Route 66 Festival. Volunteers spent four months restoring the cabin, which once stood in the long-gone Camp Joy complex along a fledgling Route 66 in Lebanon. The Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society website posted some details … Continue reading Restored Camp Joy cabin dedicated at Lebanon Park
Markley Shovel, a predecessor to Big Brutus, is dedicated
A century-old coal-mining shovel that served as a much-smaller predecessor of the Big Brutus shovel was dedicated Saturday at the Big Brutus Visitors Center in West Mineral, Kansas. According to an Associated Press article, Perry Markley designed and built by hand the smaller shovel in the early 1900s using junkyard parts. The machine was one … Continue reading Markley Shovel, a predecessor to Big Brutus, is dedicated
Storm-damaged Mutts restaurant operator seeks a second chance
The operator of Mutts in Oklahoma City is seeking a second chance -- much like the second chance he's given his employees -- after a storm damaged the restaurant a few weeks ago. The Oklahoman newspaper reports Mutts owner Omar Molina has been busy cleaning the property at 1400 NW 23rd St. (aka Route 66) … Continue reading Storm-damaged Mutts restaurant operator seeks a second chance