A fire on New Year's Day heavily damaged the 3rd Rail Bar & Grill along Route 66 in Pacific, Mo., and will remain closed indefinitely until it is renovated, according to the Washington Missourian newspaper. Pacific Fire Chief Rick Friedmann said the fire, which was reported about 4 a.m., damaged about 45 percent of the bar. … Continue reading 3rd Rail Bar heavily damaged by fire
Author: Ron Warnick
Old gas stations being converted into trendy restaurants
Many old and abandoned gas stations in America are being converted into neighborhood restaurants, according to a story on CNN.com. And Route 66 is not immune to this trend. The report said: "Gas stations are almost always on corner sites, they have good visibility and great accessibility, so they make great locations for restaurants," said … Continue reading Old gas stations being converted into trendy restaurants
See the new home of Ike’s Chili — and its neighbors
The new site for Ike's Chili isn't open yet, but KTUL-TV in Tulsa provided a look behind the scenes at 11th Street (aka Route 66): KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather Ike's Chili, which marked its 100th year a few years ago, has been on Admiral Place -- an older alignment of Route 66 … Continue reading See the new home of Ike’s Chili — and its neighbors
Happy New Year from Seligman Sundries
The good folks at Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Ariz., wish a happy New Year to Route 66 fans in more than a dozen countries: https://youtu.be/TW-K25oky8k I wonder how many bottles of wine were consumed in making the video.
A visit to the Comet II Drive-In
Continuing KOB-TV's series on iconic New Mexico restaurants, here's a look at the Comet II Drive-In in Santa Rosa, N.M. More about the PDL chile from the City of Santa Rosa website: Puerto de Luna is also famous for "PDL Chile" a unique strain of chile that has been cultivated here for over 100 years. … Continue reading A visit to the Comet II Drive-In
A visit to Joseph’s Bar and Grill
KOB-TV in Albuquerque continued its visits to iconic restaurants in New Mexico. One of them is Joseph's Bar and Grill in Santa Rosa, N.M. A true story: I was exiting Joseph's after breakfast there, when I saw dark blue swallows flying and playing around the outside of the restaurant. I had just spent overnight at … Continue reading A visit to Joseph’s Bar and Grill
Andy Granatelli, race car owner and Route 66 Hall of Famer, dies
Andy Granatelli, who became famous as an owner of a winning Indianapolis 500 race car and as a CEO of STP motor oil, died Sunday in Santa Barbara, Calif., at age 90 of congestive heart failure, according to varying media outlets, including the New York Times. Granatelli also was inducted into the Illinois Route 66 … Continue reading Andy Granatelli, race car owner and Route 66 Hall of Famer, dies
Santa Rosa talks about “the bypass”
KOB-TV in Albuquerque, in the wake of its story about the Silver Moon Cafe, filed this report on the impact of Interstate 40 on the Route 66 town of Santa Rosa, N.M.: The report was mostly well-done, but context and other notes are in order: --- KOB makes it sound as if the I-40 bypass … Continue reading Santa Rosa talks about “the bypass”
Groups seek Route 66 Art Trail in New Mexico
Two groups may join forces to seek a state grant to help set up a Route 66 Art Trail in central New Mexico, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Officials from RETRO-Relive the Route, which aims to revitalize 25 miles of Route 66 between Tijeras and Moriarty, and the fledgling Route 66 Arts Alliance recently met with New … Continue reading Groups seek Route 66 Art Trail in New Mexico
Old Cathedral in St. Louis undergoing restoration
The Old Cathedral in St. Louis, located next to the Gateway Arch grounds, is undergoing a privately funded $10 million restoration, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The newspaper detailed what will happen to the 1834 church, also known as the Basilica of St. Louis King of France: [T]he Old Cathedral will have new windows, air-conditioning … Continue reading Old Cathedral in St. Louis undergoing restoration