I asked the Missouri Department of Transportation to elaborate on its decision to tear down the historic Route 66 bridge at Route 66 State Park. Andrew Gates, a community relations officer for MoDOT, sent me an e-mail today expanding on the dire condition of the bridge and other matters. A small part of the e-mail … Continue reading Update on Route 66 State Park bridge
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.
More Rhythms
Another episode of the Greene HD Productions' "Rhythms of the Road" musical television series has been posted online. This episode includes performances at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo.
Route 66 State Park bridge to be torn down
It was reported at a regular meeting of the Route 66 Association of Missouri over the weekend that the Old Route 66 Bridge at Route 66 State Park at the former site of Times Beach, Mo., will be torn down by the state Department of Transportation because it is too dilapidated. Stephanie Howard of MoDOT … Continue reading Route 66 State Park bridge to be torn down
The story of Red Oak II
KSPR-TV in Springfield, Mo., has an entertaining account of artist Lowell Davis and his Red Oak II complex off Route 66 near Carthage, Mo. Davis basically bought the town that he grew up in, Red Oak, Mo. He moved it to his new farm, outside of Carthage. Now, the old general store, blacksmith, and a … Continue reading The story of Red Oak II
Sunset Motel sign is relit
The beautiful porcelain sign for the Sunset Motel along route 66 near Villa Ridge, Mo., saw its neon relit for the first time in about 30 years on Saturday, reported the Route 66 Association of Missouri's blog. About half the money to restore the sign came from a cost-share grant by the Route 66 Corridor … Continue reading Sunset Motel sign is relit
Wanda Jackson to work with White Stripes front man
Rockabilly queen and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Wanda Jackson will play a show Saturday at the 66 Bowl in Oklahoma City to help mark the bowling center's 50th anniversary. That's a nice little coup for the 66 Bowl, a prominent business on Route 66 on the city's west side. But an even bigger … Continue reading Wanda Jackson to work with White Stripes front man
Near the end of the road
Chicago Sun-Times reporter and longtime roadie Dave Hoekstra has filed this new story about Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, who is terminally ill with cancer and is spending his final days near his hometown of Springfield, Ill. Bob Waldmire's Last Art Show will be at the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield from 2 to 6 … Continue reading Near the end of the road
Kansas visitors center lauded
The Baxter Springs Route 66 Visitors Center in Baxter Springs, Kan., was recognized Friday by the National Park Service as "a place that matters," according to a report by the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. Kaisa Barthuli of the NPS' Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program noted that volunteers used 1,200 hours to restore the 1930 gas station … Continue reading Kansas visitors center lauded
St. Louis factory building named to National Register
The National Candy Company Factory building on the Gravois Avenue alignment of Route 66 in St. Louis was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective Nov. 5, according to an e-mail from the National Park Service. The building, at 4230 Gravois Ave., was built in 1928 when the National Candy Company was the … Continue reading St. Louis factory building named to National Register
Awesome Springfield
Jon Franklin of Digital City muses on 11 reasons why the city of Springfield, Ill., is "awesome." Hint: Route 66 plays a role in more ways than one.