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.

Route 66 gains byway grants in New Mexico

A number of Route 66 projects in New Mexico received grants from the National Scenic Byways program, said Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) in a recent news release. The grants include: $62,400 – Tourist and Interpretive Information Center in the Ilfeld Warehouse along the Route 66 National Scenic Byway in Santa Rosa. $52,500 – Interpretive Information … Continue reading Route 66 gains byway grants in New Mexico

Paint the town red — and other colors

The Walldogs, a group of more than 150 mural painters, is going to paint murals on 17 buildings in Pontiac, Ill., as part of Murals on Main Street and the city's Heritage Days on June 25-28, reports the Pontiac Daily Leader. Seventeen locations for murals have been identified by the planning group, and 17 themes … Continue reading Paint the town red — and other colors

New murals in Kingman

Jim Hinckley sent me these photos of the new murals, painted by Sandy Rusinko, that are on the Mohave Museum of History and Arts in Kingman, Ariz. The mural walls face Route 66.

Sidewalk highway

Here's a little video I spliced together of the 9-foot-wide "Sidewalk Highway" of Route 66 near Afton, Okla. There's a similar such segment near Miami, Okla. The narrow highway was built in 1922, a few years before it was designated as U.S. 66. Reputedly, there was not enough money to build a full-sized highway, so … Continue reading Sidewalk highway

Tulsa art deco film airs tonight

If you live in or are traveling northeastern Oklahoma on Tuesday night, you may want to tune into KTUL-TV on Channel 8. That's when the station premieres Jack Frank's latest Tulsa historical film, "Tulsa Deco." Frank has produced two other acclaimed films about Tulsa's past, with much of the material coming from home movies or … Continue reading Tulsa art deco film airs tonight

Off-road kicks off Route 66

Jim Brightly of 4 Wheel Drive & Sport Utility Magazine wrote a detailed report about Homecourt Trail, a punishing off-roading site near Kingman, Ariz., that's just off the Mother Road. Homecourt Trail, named for its discoverer, is well-known to the Jeepers of Kingman. It's rated as a 3+ to 4 and many of the Kingman … Continue reading Off-road kicks off Route 66

Palm Springs Follies’ latest season gains rave reviews

"Get Your Kicks!" the new, Route 66-themed season of the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies of Palm Springs, Calif., received an enthusiastic review from the WeHo News of West Hollywood, Calif. There was not one lull in this fast paced, fabulous Vegas type show. The choreography by Joan Palethorpe with tap numbers by Carri Burbank Glen … Continue reading Palm Springs Follies’ latest season gains rave reviews

Green Lantern Cafe co-owner dies

I'm not familiar with this apparently long-gone restaurant on Route 66, but I'm posting it for those who may have recalled it. Nevert Scorse, co-owner of the Green Lantern Cafe on Route 66 in Holbrook, Ariz., died on Nov. 23 at age 93, reported the Holbrook Tribune-News. She and her husband, Gilbert Henry Scorse, ran … Continue reading Green Lantern Cafe co-owner dies

A memorable spot

The Route 66 town of Gardner, Ill., dedicated its new memory gazebo in its downtown business district on Saturday, reports the Joliet Herald News. Part of the structure contained paving bricks engraved with the names of people that residents new -- some living and some dead. As the program got underway, master of ceremonies Don … Continue reading A memorable spot