The answer: Yes. It sits on an obscure and short-lived alignment of Route 66 from the 1920s. More on this later. While recently reporting the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, likely will begin building a bigger complex soon, I wrote this bit: Although the Big Texan no longer sits on Route 66, it began on Amarillo Boulevard … Continue reading Is the Big Texan Steak Ranch on Route 66?
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.
“Boomtown” documentary wins an Emmy
The Tulsa history film "Boomtown: An American Journey" won a regional Emmy Award on Saturday night in the historical documentary group in the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. "Boomtown" was the first movie made by Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions. Here's a photo of executive producers Andy Kinslow and Russ Kirkpatrick right after … Continue reading “Boomtown” documentary wins an Emmy
Route 66 businesses worry about effect of bridge projects
Detours for upcoming replacement of two bridges in Carthage, Missouri, has Route 66 businesses fretting that tourists will bypass their town. The Missouri Department of Transportation will start to replace two bridges on Highway 96 (aka Route 66) on the northeast side of town next spring. The projects won't be finished until fall 2017. The official detour when the … Continue reading Route 66 businesses worry about effect of bridge projects
Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites
A Minnesota-based artist recently launched Explore and Preserve, an apparel and gift website that aims to give part of its profits to endangered Route 66 sites, including the Meramec River Bridge in Missouri. The historic Meramec River Bridge near Eureka, Missouri, requires more than a half-million dollars by the end of the year or the Missouri Department of Transportation tears … Continue reading Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites
La Paloma marks 50th anniversary
La Paloma restaurant along Route 66 in La Verne, California, is marking its 50th year this week. But according to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, the Mexican restaurant's roots go back even further, to the 1920s: That’s when the property was an orange grove. Farmhands would pull up to the grove manager’s home for breakfast … Continue reading La Paloma marks 50th anniversary
Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party Saturday
On Saturday, Chicago will host a 90th-birthday party for Route 66 near the eastern terminus of the Mother Road. According to Time Out Chicago, the Illinois Office of Tourism will throw up a pop-up birthday party for Route 66 on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Chicago, near Michigan Avenue, where the historic highway begins. The nearby Bow Truss coffee shop … Continue reading Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party Saturday
Pokemon Go can boost Route 66 businesses
You may have noticed a bunch of young people walking along the sidewalk, watching the screens of their smartphones intently. It's likely they were playing an augmented reality game, Pokemon Go, that Apple and Android recently released to their smartphone systems. It's caught on like wildfire. The Orlando Business Journal provided this nutshell description of the game: … Continue reading Pokemon Go can boost Route 66 businesses
Gay Parita memorial garden nearly finished
Barbara Turner's memorial garden for her late parents is nearly finished several months after she took over the Gay Parita gas-station site west of Halltown, Missouri. Barbara Turner announced her intentions to build the garden that would contain her parents' cremains shortly after taking over the property in April. During the early 2000s, Gary Turner … Continue reading Gay Parita memorial garden nearly finished
Man skateboarding Route 66 for foundation
Australian celebrity athlete Damien Rider seeks to skateboard the 2,300 miles of Route 66 to raise money for his Rider Foundation that combats child abuse and post-traumatic stress syndrome. He began his journey with a skateboarding partner June 27 in Chicago and likely will be in Oklahoma soon. A survivor of child abuse and PTSD himself, Rider set … Continue reading Man skateboarding Route 66 for foundation
Figures at Barstow mural vandalized
Wooden cutouts placed in front of one of the newest murals along Route 66 in Barstow, California, were vandalized last week. According to the Desert Dispatch newspaper: The mural is painted on the eastside portion of the Barstow Office Supply building owned by Fred and Sandy Baca, located at 613 E. Main St. It features … Continue reading Figures at Barstow mural vandalized