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.

Pow Wow Inn damaged by fire

Longtime correspondent Mark Potter reported on the Route 66 yahoogroup a few days ago that a portion of the historic Pow Wow Inn at 801 W. Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., was damaged by fire. Potter said the fire "destroyed five rooms" in the complex and that the motel was closed temporarily. The fire started … Continue reading Pow Wow Inn damaged by fire

Tour of Missouri bicycle event will include Route 66

The 2008 Tour of Missouri cycling event on Sept. 8-14 will include stretches of Route 66, including the towns of Rolla, Lebanon, Springfield, St. James and St. Louis as host cities. It appears that Stage 4, which goes 105 miles from Lebanon to Rolla, makes use of the Mother Road extensively. Here's the news release … Continue reading Tour of Missouri bicycle event will include Route 66

Route 66 motels make Oklahoma’s most-endangered list

For the second straight year, Preservation Oklahoma named Route 66 motels on its list of the 15 Most Endangered Historic Places, reports the Daily Oklahoman. The list is just a sample of thousands of landmarks across the state in desperate need of attention and protection, Preservation Oklahoma spokesman Mark Beutler said in a prepared statement. … Continue reading Route 66 motels make Oklahoma’s most-endangered list

Lawsuit to force demolition of El Vado is dismissed

A few weeks ago, Richard L. Gonzales filed a lawsuit to force City of Albuquerque and its Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission to issue a demolition permit for the historic El Vado Motel. Gonzales wants to raze the historic Route 66 motel so he can build luxury townhouses there, but he has been thwarted at … Continue reading Lawsuit to force demolition of El Vado is dismissed

Planning begins for Carthage Route 66 museum

Brad Belk of the Joplin Museum Complex is planning the creation of what will be the Jasper County Route 66 Transportation Museum, which will be on the first floor of the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, Mo., reports the Carthage Press. “The consulting contract was approved and we’ll be in the preliminary design phase until … Continue reading Planning begins for Carthage Route 66 museum

Tucumcari artists open B&B

Tucumcari, N.M., artists Doug and Sharon Quarles, best-known for their murals around the Route 66 town, have opened a bed-and-breakfast in a historic home at 307 E. High St. near downtown, according to the Quay County Sun. The Quarleses' original art gallery was in the downtown Sands-Dorsey Building, but it burned down last year. They … Continue reading Tucumcari artists open B&B

A visit to Meteor City

A videographer checks out Meteor City in Arizona, which features what purportedly is the world's longest map of Route 66. There's another long map of 66 in Winslow, Ariz. The Meteor City map was painted originally by Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, but it was repainted some years later. You can see Waldmire's version here.

Preservationists don’t want children’s museum in Grant Park

The Chicago Children's Museum is thinking of moving from Navy Pier to a site at Grant Park, which is across the street from the fabled beginning of Route 66. However, according to the Chicago Tribune, Preservation Chicago wants the museum to find someplace else: "It's completely unnecessary to put the museum in a park that … Continue reading Preservationists don’t want children’s museum in Grant Park

Book review: “San Bernardino”

The sprawl in the Los Angeles metro area is so extensive that one is tempted to describe San Bernardino, Calif., as simply one of its many suburbs. It may surprise some that San Bernardino was founded in 1810 and was incorporated just three years after the City of Angels. With more than 200,000 people, San … Continue reading Book review: “San Bernardino”