When a suspicious fire in 2010 burned down the historic Riviera Roadhouse restaurant in Gardner, Illinois, the arsonist also unsuccessfully targeted the nearby Streetcar Diner that night. That little-known fact was revealed in more than 200 pages of documents and dozens of photographs obtained through an open-records request for Illinois Fire Marshal's Office reports from the … Continue reading Streetcar Diner also was target of Riviera Roadhouse fire
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.
Shea’s Route 66 Museum returning as Route 66-themed auto-repair shop
Shea's Route 66 Museum in Springfield, Illinois, which closed and its contents auctioned after the death of its longtime owner in 2013, will reopen this summer as a Route 66-themed auto-repair business. Local classic-car aficionados Randy Pickett and Jake Niewold plan to convert the vacant building to an auto-repair and maintenance shop with a Route 66 … Continue reading Shea’s Route 66 Museum returning as Route 66-themed auto-repair shop
A symbol of stupidity
A woman fell into the Arkansas River in Tulsa and was rescued Tuesday after she looked for "satanic symbols" that allegedly were on the underside of the historic 11th Street Bridge. Several Tulsa media outlets posted the story, but KJRH-TV reported the woman's bizarre reasoning for climbing the bridge. She lost her footing about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday … Continue reading A symbol of stupidity
Joplin announces “Fiddlers on the Route” music festival
Joplin, Missouri, will host a two-day "Fiddlers on the Route" music festival -- including the Nashville-based The Road Crew -- on June 30 and July 1 in the city's Landreth Park amphitheater. The Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau and Connect2Culture announced the event. Music begins both nights at 5 p.m., and the event is free. … Continue reading Joplin announces “Fiddlers on the Route” music festival
City of Springfield to promote car cruising on Kearney Street
In a historic reversal, the city council of Springfield, Missouri, earlier this week voted unanimously to promote car cruising along Kearney Street -- a prominent Route 66 alignment -- on certain Friday nights this summer. The city now will encourage motorists to cruise on Kearney Street from 6 to 10 p.m. the second Friday of each … Continue reading City of Springfield to promote car cruising on Kearney Street
Congressman takes road trip to promote Route 66 legislation
Illinois congressman Rodney Davis on Tuesday toured Route 66 in Illinois to drum up support for his bills for a Route 66 centennial commission and a National Historic Trail for the Mother Road. Davis and state Rep. Avery Bourne, who introduced state legislation on Route 66's centennial in 2026, made stops along Route 66. According to … Continue reading Congressman takes road trip to promote Route 66 legislation
Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign comes down — temporarily
The famous and historic neon sign for Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, Illinois, recently was taken down. But don't panic -- it will be gone only a few weeks so it can be fixed and renovated so it looks new again. WBBM-TV reports that owner Patrick Rhea said he didn't look forward to his … Continue reading Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign comes down — temporarily
The Tropics building in Lincoln torn down
Residents of Lincoln, Illinois, saw the end of an era Saturday when the long-closed building for The Tropics restaurant was torn down. The razing of the building had been planned for months to make way for a McDonald's restaurant. However, the Lincoln Courier reports that the demolition crew let Tami Goodrich, daughter of longtime The … Continue reading The Tropics building in Lincoln torn down
Contents of Granny’s Closet restaurant in Flagstaff to be auctioned
Almost all the memorabilia and contents inside the closed Granny's Closet restaurant and bar in Flagstaff, Arizona, will be auctioned April 28. Flagstaff Auctions will begin the auction at 10 a.m. that day for the Route 66 landmark at 218 S. Milton Road, reported the Arizona Daily Sun. However, the old tractor and lumberjack statue near the … Continue reading Contents of Granny’s Closet restaurant in Flagstaff to be auctioned
Old Station in Williamsville has a new owner
The Old Station on old Route 66 in Williamsville, Illinois, changed hands a few months ago, and the new caretaker plans to keep much of the building's old look. Keith A. Sculle wrote in The 66 News, published by the Illinois Route 66 Association, that Jason L. Hayward bought The Old Station at 117 N. … Continue reading Old Station in Williamsville has a new owner