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.

Cruising time

This weekend is Route 66 Days in Flagstaff, Ariz. As part of its preview, the Arizona Daily Sun has a story about John Fajardo and his impeccably preserved 1957 Ford Fairlane. The Fajardos have put more than 200,000 miles on it in 17 years, he said. "The motor in there is a 2004 Ford 302 … Continue reading Cruising time

More on Obama’s stop on Route 66

Claire Messud of Newsweek spent a week with Barack Obama's presidential campaign a few weeks ago. Here's her take of when Obama made an unscheduled stop at Bell's Restaurant on Route 66 in Lebanon, Mo.: When Obama makes a truly unannounced stop at the Bell Restaurant in Lebanon, Mo., a small town in the Ozarks, … Continue reading More on Obama’s stop on Route 66

UPDATED: Negotiations on Red Cedar Inn end — for now

NOTE: Important update below. A local museum apparently won't be coming to the closed Red Cedar Inn restaurant in Pacific, Mo., because parties couldn't come to a purchase agreement, reports the Tri-County Journal. “Negotiations with the Smith family have ceased,” Adams said. “We could not come to an agreement on terms.” City officials began talks … Continue reading UPDATED: Negotiations on Red Cedar Inn end — for now

Photos from the Route 66 Music Tour

I've received photos of Joel Clemons and The Lemons, a funk-jazz group, from their current Route 66 Music Tour. And here's a video of a song from the band's performance in Tucumcari, N.M. They're at El Morro Theatre in Gallup, N.M., on Thursday night. For more on their Route 66 tour, go here. (Photos and … Continue reading Photos from the Route 66 Music Tour

New version of “EZ 66 Guide” is out

Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan has just released a revised version of his acclaimed "EZ 66 Guide for Travelers," published by the National Historic Route 66 Federation. It's $15.95 in a handy spiral-bound form, with $4.95 priority shipping. McClanahan keyed me in about the book's revisions: Despite a change in cover color, it’s … Continue reading New version of “EZ 66 Guide” is out

Windmill blades back up on The Mill

Members of the Illinois Route 66 Association on Saturday put the recently restored windmill blades back on The Mill in Lincoln, according to the Lincoln Courier. The once-dilapidated Route 66 restaurant is in the middle of an ongoing restoration. Once finished, it will be a Route 66 visitors center. Here are some photos from Saturday, … Continue reading Windmill blades back up on The Mill

Branding of Kingman — a response

On Tuesday, I linked to a story in the Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner, in which a city councilwoman questioned whether there is enough interest in Route 66 by young parents and their children to use the Mother Road for tourism purposes. I responded that the dynamic has changed since the release of the Disney/Pixar "Cars" … Continue reading Branding of Kingman — a response

Jerry Reed, R.I.P.

Jerry Reed, the so-called "Alabama Wild Man" who found success as a recording artist, session guitarist and actor, died of emphysema on Sunday night, reports The Tennesseean in Nashville. He's best-known for "Amos Moses" and "When You're Hot, You're Hot," both of which were in the early 1970s and went to the Top 10 of … Continue reading Jerry Reed, R.I.P.