Nearly 35 years ago, the owner of the historic El Rey Inn on Route 66 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, instituted a profit-sharing plan for employees. According to CNN Money, owner Terrell White has put $7 million into the plan and paid out $5 million over the years. The hotel has 26 employees, with many of … Continue reading El Rey Inn’s commitment to its employees
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.
Bloomington lands a grant for new visitors center
As expected, the Illinois Office of Tourism officially pledged Wednesday to give Bloomington a $249,000 grant to help build a new visitors center downtown, according to WJBC radio. The museum will prominently feature Route 66 in its exhibits. Illinois Tourism director Jen Hoelzel said the grant coincides with the office's effort to bring more international tourists to Illinois. Hoelzel said … Continue reading Bloomington lands a grant for new visitors center
Red Oak II now offering overnight stays
Red Oak II, a vivid re-creation of a now-vanished town by folk artist Lowell Davis, recently started offering overnight stays in cabins reclaimed from a former Route 66 motel in Duquesne, Missouri, reported the Joplin Globe in a feature story about Davis and his complex near Carthage, Missouri. Also, a former mayor who resides at Red Oak II … Continue reading Red Oak II now offering overnight stays
Will Oscar Mayer buy the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle?
Several media outlets in the St. Louis area reported the Oscar Mayer brand is interested in buying the World's Largest Catsup Bottle, which went up for sale earlier this month. However, at least one metro-east news website regarded the reports with skepticism. The speculation was fueled by Oscar Mayer's famous Wienermobile making an appearance at the … Continue reading Will Oscar Mayer buy the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle?
Fran Houser puts her Sunflower Station up for sale
Fran Houser, former owner of the Route 66 landmark Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop in Adrian, Texas, has put her western-themed antiques and crafts store, Sunflower Station, up for sale so she can spend more time with family members out west. Houser started Sunflower Station two years ago after she sold the Midpoint to Dennis Purschwitz, … Continue reading Fran Houser puts her Sunflower Station up for sale
Strike up the Band-Box
Jo Ellis, a columnist for the Joplin Globe newspaper, reported about a sometimes-overlooked but cherished part of the history of Carthage, Missouri -- the rare Chicago Coin's Band-Box, also known as “Strike Up the Band," in the Pancake Hut restaurant along Route 66. The Band-Box is a coin-operated miniature, robotic big band that's been in … Continue reading Strike up the Band-Box
Did Springfield, Missouri, miss the boat in promoting Route 66?
A few days ago, the Springfield News-Leader published a long, soul-searching piece titled "Selling 66" that asks the question: Has Springfield, Missouri, done a good job promoting Route 66? If you have to ask, you know the answer. Springfield has realized its error and is trying new things to bring tourists, including the future Birthplace of … Continue reading Did Springfield, Missouri, miss the boat in promoting Route 66?
Video summarizes “Route 66: The Road Ahead” conference
A few days ago, the World Monuments Fund uploaded this eight-minute video that summarizes the "Route 66: The Road Ahead" conference that took place in November at a hotel near Disney's Cars Land in California. You'll probably see a few familiar faces from Route 66, including Dawn Welch at the Rock Cafe, Kevin Mueller at … Continue reading Video summarizes “Route 66: The Road Ahead” conference
A visit to Enchanted Trails RV Park
KC Keefer with his ongoing "Genuine Route 66 Life" video series interviews Vickie Ashcraft at the Enchanted Trails RV Park west of Albuquerque. The interview also serves as a brief tour of a couple of the vintage travel trailers that Ashcraft rents out to overnight guests. If you'd like to stay in one, go here. … Continue reading A visit to Enchanted Trails RV Park
Tours offered of hard-to-access Route 66 sites in Arizona
The Petrified Forest National Park is allowing free, guided tours of hard-to-reach landmarks on a long-closed section of Route 66 on Aug. 8 and Aug. 10. The tours coincide with the Route 66 festival taking place that weekend in nearby Holbrook, Arizona. The Arizona Journal had a listing of the sites that will be included during … Continue reading Tours offered of hard-to-access Route 66 sites in Arizona