The Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., reopened to the public for the first time Friday morning since being heavily damaged by a fire nearly a year ago. A couple of contractors need to finish work on the historic Route 66 restaurant, and owner Dawn Welch and her crew could offer only a very limited menu, … Continue reading Rock Cafe reopens to the public
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.
Return to the road
In 1999, Chicago-based writer Tim Steil and photographer Jim Luning embarked on a trip together down Route 66 to collect material that produced an excellent book, "Route 66." Steil also wrote an online journal during the trip, which I recommend you read. Steil and Luning are returning to the Mother Road next month, on the … Continue reading Return to the road
Route 66 Welcome Center
Here are some attractions at the new Route 66 Welcome Center off Interstate 44 near Conway, Mo. It was even better-conceived than I anticipated, especially the neon welcome sign that looks a lot like the Munger Moss Motel's in nearby Lebanon, Mo. The Missouri Department of Transportation is proud of it, and deserves to be.
Rooting them out
KFSM-TV in the Fort Smith-Fayetteville area of Arkansas went to a couple of stores that supplied rare sodas in its region in an effort to choose the best root beer. One of the root beers that was among the best was Route 66 Beer. Reporter Charles Perry described it as "a big, aggressive root beer … Continue reading Rooting them out
Rock Cafe prepares for reopening
KOTV in Tulsa has a very good article about the impending reopening Friday of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., after a devastating fire a year ago. The particularly newsworthy parts in the story are about owner Dawn Welch, near the end: Welch has written a cookbook, "Dollars to Donuts" and is due out November … Continue reading Rock Cafe prepares for reopening
Packing up the plantation
I'd forgotten about this, but Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers closed their "Pack Up the Plantation -- Live" video from 1985 with a performance of Bobby Troup's "Route 66."
Novel takes place on Route 66
Jane Sutton wrote a book, "The Ride," part of which takes place on the Mother Road. Hot Indie News has this description: Barbie Anderson approached that fateful Thursday much as she had the other 8,395 days of her marriage. However, on that morning, one phone call begins a sequence of events that turns her mundane … Continue reading Novel takes place on Route 66
Details released about Oklahoma Pop museum
A news conference on Tuesday revealed all of the details about a proposed Oklahoma Pop museum in Tulsa, devoted to the history of the state's music and its popular culture. You can read more about it here. It was mentioned a few days ago that Route 66 would be part of the museum. Bob Blackburn, … Continue reading Details released about Oklahoma Pop museum
Airport Motel being cited by city
Kip Welborn, a roadie who lives in St. Louis, reports that the nearby City of Hazelwood has been citing the historic Airport Motel for allowing semi-tractor trailers to park on its lot. The Airport Inn is located just off Lindbergh Boulevard, aka Route 66, near Interstate 270. Welborn wrote about the citations against the motel: … Continue reading Airport Motel being cited by city
More on the Palms Grill reopening
The Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph has more about the reopening of the long-closed, historic Palms Grill on Route 66 in Atlanta, Ill. Palm trees were first placed in the cafe by Atlanta resident Robert Adams, who opened the eatery in August 1934. Adams was inspired by palms he saw in California. Customers also get a taste … Continue reading More on the Palms Grill reopening