The Decades of Wheels complex in downtown Baxter Springs, Kansas, will be "95 percent" finished by its opening weekend Oct. 12-14. Decades of Wheels will contain a classic-car museum, restaurant, bed-and-breakfast and children's fun house. A story in the Joplin Globe about the progress of the $3 million project brought forth previously unreported details about … Continue reading More details emerge about Decades of Wheels complex in Baxter Springs
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.
Restoration of old Santa Fe locomotive hits milestone
For the first time in more than a half-century, the boilers were fired up on the Santa Fe 2926 steam locomotive in Albuquerque -- a major milestone for a group of railroad buffs that have worked to restore the train for about 15 years. The Albuquerque Journal was there Wednesday when the New Mexico Steam Locomotive … Continue reading Restoration of old Santa Fe locomotive hits milestone
Vinita wins $25,000 to help enhance its downtown
The city of Vinita, Oklahoma, received a $25,000 AARP Community Challenge Grant to help improve its downtown, including the Route 66 corridor. KSNF-TV reports about 1,600 towns applied for the grant, and only 129 won it. Here's what Vinita will do with the money: The Vinita Route 66 Breezeway Project will make the downtown area more … Continue reading Vinita wins $25,000 to help enhance its downtown
Historic Dew Chilli Parlor site in Springfield is closing
The historic Dew Chilli Parlor site a short distance from Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois, closed Friday because of traffic and parking issues. Two other Dew Chili sites -- including one on old Route 66 -- remain open in the city. The site at 1216 S. Fifth St. had operated there since 1954. Other Dew … Continue reading Historic Dew Chilli Parlor site in Springfield is closing
Gasconade River Bridge Guardians issue progress report
The Route 66 Gasconade River Bridge Guardians this week issued a report on its activities to preserve the closed historic bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri. The group met in St. Louis on Sunday. Here is a summary of the meeting, as described on a post on Facebook on Thursday: -- The group's fundraising efforts have generated … Continue reading Gasconade River Bridge Guardians issue progress report
Albuquerque gets long-awaited $75 million grant for ART
The troubled Albuquerque Rapid Transit project will receive a $75 million grant from the federal government -- more than a year after it was initially announced by the city. Mayor Tim Keller said Tuesday the money will come in two installments in the coming weeks from the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Program, reported the Albuquerque … Continue reading Albuquerque gets long-awaited $75 million grant for ART
Lexington Hotel in Gallup goes up for sale
The historic Lexington Hotel in downtown Gallup, New Mexico, has been put up for sale by the nonprofit organization that owns it. According to a story by the Associated Press, CARE 66, which owns the building, said it no longer has the money to keep it. CARE 66 Executive Director Sanjay Choudhrie says the organization … Continue reading Lexington Hotel in Gallup goes up for sale
66,000 signatures sought for Route 66 National Historic Trail petition
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and the National Trust for Historic Preservation this week announced a goal of 66,000 signatures for a petition supporting the designation of Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. The groups stated in a news released they want to meet that goal by Nov. 11, which is the widely … Continue reading 66,000 signatures sought for Route 66 National Historic Trail petition
Rare photos of Cyrus Avery unveiled
The Historical Society of Missouri’s Springfield Research Center recently acquired rare photos of Cyrus Avery, known as the Father of Route 66, as a boy and a young man. Avery, born in 1871, was known as a booster of Tulsa and Oklahoma in general. But the Pennsylvania native moved to Missouri at age 10 and … Continue reading Rare photos of Cyrus Avery unveiled
Director from Spain films new documentary about Route 66’s living icons
A director from Spain praised for her work in short films and digital media has shot a full-length documentary about the living icons of Route 66 and hopes to see the movie in theaters by 2019. Ana Ramon Rubio directed "Almost Ghosts," which is designed to "remember those who were forgotten when the U.S. Government finished … Continue reading Director from Spain films new documentary about Route 66’s living icons