Over the years, I've amassed on my iPod more than 200 songs for road trips. These are songs are mostly about driving, along with tunes about the towns and places along the Mother Road. This list, along with an excellent one compiled by the Federal Highway Administration, should give you music download ideas for your … Continue reading The ultimate Route 66 music playlist
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.
Illinois-only store opens in Carlinville
A store that specializes only in Illinois-made products operates in a former post office building on the historic downtown square of Carlinville, Ill., according to the Arlington Heights Daily Herald. Carlinville -- and its square -- had an alignment of Route 66 from 1926 to 1932. It's called Market on the Square, run by a … Continue reading Illinois-only store opens in Carlinville
Pontiac tourism up 30% this year
Businesses and chambers of commerce along Route 66, take note -- data collected at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Ill., indicate that tourism there has risen nearly 30 percent in 2011, compared to the same period a year ago. According to a news release today from Ellie Alexander, director … Continue reading Pontiac tourism up 30% this year
“I Shall Be Released”
This trio, called Davis, Crosby & Cowart, perform Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" at the historic U-Drop Inn gas station on Route 66 in Shamrock, Texas. https://vimeo.com/25851967 This performance is impromptu. But the U-Drop Inn hosts free "Thursdays Under the Neon" music events in June, July and August.
Another new paint job at an old station
In recent months, volunteers in Tucumcari, N.M., have engaged in a noteworthy project of nostalgic paint jobs to abandoned gas stations along Route 66 in town. The result is a better-looking main drag without a lot of money being spent. Here's the latest abandoned gas station that was repainted. It's been given an old Phillips … Continue reading Another new paint job at an old station
New photo-op in Albuquerque
If you love the glow of neon, you'll find a new attraction among the many you'll find along Central Avenue (aka Route 66) in Albuquerque. A re-created sign was installed on the side of the KiMo Theatre during a ceremony on June 3. Because the theater was originally opened in 1927, the street during the … Continue reading New photo-op in Albuquerque
A virtual view of Cars Land
Disney has created this video that gives you a virtual preview of the Cars Land amusement park that's being built at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif.: https://youtu.be/Pt_9rujHJBo Cars Land is a re-creation of the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs from the "Cars" movies, although much of that town is inspired by real-life Route … Continue reading A virtual view of Cars Land
Hello from Palo Alto
Here's a version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" with Paul Jacobs on a vintage mandolin and Derek See on guitar and vocals. They're playing at a guitar store in Palo Alto, Calif. https://youtu.be/iLhDtW2ZOac
Count on this as a signage trend
City officials in Carthage, Mo., want to ensure that Route 66 travelers don't get lost while driving the Mother Road through town. According to the Carthage Press: To help drivers stay on course, Short said the city is painting Route 66 logos on the pavement of Garrison and Oak Streets. “A couple of them are … Continue reading Count on this as a signage trend
Chevrolet uses Route 66 for inspiration in video contest
Chevrolet wants a video to air during next year's Super Bowl. It's asking budding filmmakers to submit their ideas for that ad, and it wants Route 66 as the key inspiration: You can view the main film for the campaign here. Here are the rules for submitting the ad: Round one Write a script for … Continue reading Chevrolet uses Route 66 for inspiration in video contest