Albuquerque board approves ‘condotel’ plan for De Anza

The Albuquerque Development Commission on Thursday approved an $8.2 million plan to convert the long-closed De Anza Motor Lodge into a condominium and hotel hybrid, according to Albuquerque Business First. It won out over four other proposals, including a $12.4 million plan by an investing group to turn De Anza into a boutique motel that … Continue reading Albuquerque board approves ‘condotel’ plan for De Anza

Route 66 by bicycle

Andre Slabbert of the Cayman Islands last fall completed a 2,351-mile trip on Route 66 by bicycle in a bit less than month. That feat is remarkable enough, but he did it just three months after damaging ligaments in his knee during a training accident. The Route 66 ride raised money for the Nelson Mandela's Children's … Continue reading Route 66 by bicycle

The Mill is launching an online campaign to finish restoration

The nonprofit Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County has launched an IndieGogo campaign to finish the restoration work on The Mill landmark along Route 66 in Lincoln, Illinois. The group wants to raise $93,000 to build a new restroom building with septic lines, rewire and insulate the building, restore wall panels and install an … Continue reading The Mill is launching an online campaign to finish restoration

Kingman will create annual Route 66 festival

Inspired by last year's International Route 66 Festival, residents and the city of Kingman, Arizona, are planning on a big Route 66 event each year, reported the Daily Miner newspaper. The festival will be called Best of the West on Route 66, and it will combine popular car shows and the annual Andy Devine Days … Continue reading Kingman will create annual Route 66 festival

Hundreds turn out for Gary Turner memorial

Hundreds of people gathered Sunday afternoon for a celebration of life for Gary Turner, the owner of the Gay Parita Sinclair station west of Halltown, Missouri. The KY3 television station out of nearby Springfield, Missouri, had a short video from the event. Alas, I cannot embed it, so you'll have to go straight to the … Continue reading Hundreds turn out for Gary Turner memorial

300 attend Gasconade Bridge rally

Multiple reports Saturday indicated about 300 people attended a rally urging the preservation and reopening of the historic Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri. The Lebanon Daily Record newspaper, KLOR-TV and KTTS radio covered the event. However, the best report probably was the one by KY3 in Springfield, Missouri. It covered a lot of issues … Continue reading 300 attend Gasconade Bridge rally

A closer look at the U-Drop Inn

The ABC-TV affiliate in Amarillo gave two minutes of air time about the historic U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas. The Route 66 landmark, lovingly restored in 2004, serves as an office for the town's chamber of commerce and as a welcome center for tourists. https://youtu.be/GDuoWrVecTU One thing I didn't know was the U-Drop Inn is … Continue reading A closer look at the U-Drop Inn

Lebanon may rename Elm Street to Route 66

Lebanon, Missouri, may rename Elm Street to Route 66 within its city limits, reported the Lebanon Daily Record. The mayor, Lyle Anderson, said when that change occurs isn't certain, only that it is coming: “It’s not clear yet what we are going to do, but I have at least committed to putting banners up and … Continue reading Lebanon may rename Elm Street to Route 66

Galena will sell bricks for downtown revitalization phase

Galena, Kansas, soon will begin to brick-selling campaign for the second phase of a downtown revitalization program along its stretch of Route 66. According to the Joplin Globe: According to City Council member Ashley Qualls, the approximate cost to complete Phase 2, targeted for Main Street from Fourth Street to Front Street, is $340,000. The … Continue reading Galena will sell bricks for downtown revitalization phase

University developing mobile archive of Missouri’s Route 66 motels

Missouri State University is developing Project MO Tell, a mobile archive that shows and explores all the Route 66 motels in the Show Me State. The university is one of the repositories for Route 66's archives. Two university researchers, Thomas Peters and David Richards, recently received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation … Continue reading University developing mobile archive of Missouri’s Route 66 motels