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.

The Green Parrot Tavern comes down

The historic Green Parrot tavern, on old Route 66 in Galena, Kan., was torn down after collapsing underground mines severely compromised the integrity of the structure. KSN/KODE in nearby Joplin, Mo., has a report, including video of the demolition. The good news is that cleanup crews are sorting through the wreckage by hand and seek … Continue reading The Green Parrot Tavern comes down

Aussie reporter checks out Oklahoma’s 66

Washington correspondent Michael Rowland of the Australian Broadcasting Corp. took time off from the Beltway and checked out old Route 66 and some Harley riders on it in northeastern Oklahoma. You can view the eight-minute video here in both Windows Media Player and RealPlayer in both broadband and dialup speeds. It's a well-done, well-edited segment. … Continue reading Aussie reporter checks out Oklahoma’s 66

Preventing a motel vanishing act

The Arizona Republic published a good article Friday about slowly vanishing motels along Route 66. The article quotes Emily Priddy of Route66Motels.com and cites the ongoing preservation efforts at Earl's Motor Court and La Posada, both in Winslow, as beacons of hope for Mother Road travelers who love vintage lodgings. I found it especially fascinating … Continue reading Preventing a motel vanishing act

Young shutterbug shows a good eye

A short story in the Kansas City Star tells about 16-year-old Max Mikulecky, whose photography earned him an article in Shutterbug magazine. Max said he’s inspired by things like “rusty cars, old barns … stuff that’s shown wear.” He uses both digital and film cameras. At his Web page, viewers can see Max’s photos of … Continue reading Young shutterbug shows a good eye

An evening at Boot Hill Saloon and Grill

The exterior of the Boot Hill Saloon & Grill, at the intersection of U.S. 385 and old Route 66 in Vega, Texas, looks like something from the 1880s Old West. But don't expect it to be a rough-and-tumble joint where fistfights between cowboys outnumber the bottles of red-eye whiskey. Sure, Boot Hill contains a lounge … Continue reading An evening at Boot Hill Saloon and Grill

Chery Cory’s road journal is online

Web guru and fellow roadie Guy Randall had been working on this, and I'm excited to see it's done. What I'm talking about is Chery Cory's Route 66 journals from 1992 until her untimely death in 2001. She and her husband Earl traveled Route 66 in an RV, and Cheryl wrote about her experiences. She … Continue reading Chery Cory’s road journal is online

Springfield festival sets records

It sounds like the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Ill., experienced an extremely successful weekend. From the Springfield Journal-Register: A total of 1,169 vehicles were registered for the event, which ran Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, breaking last year’s record of 900. “It was a huge jump, especially in a year when … Continue reading Springfield festival sets records

Glancy Motel undergoing renovations

While driving last week through the Route 66 town of Clinton, Okla., we saw something that gladdened our hearts. The Glancy Motel at 217 Gary Blvd., was undergoing extensive renovations after years of slow decline. The owner of the 1950s motel wasn't there, but building permits for remodeling, electrical and plumbing work were taped to … Continue reading Glancy Motel undergoing renovations

Arizona launches asbestos removal plan for Route 66 properties

Asbestos removal remains a daunting problem for many of those who want to fix up aging buildings on the Mother Road. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has stepped in and decided to help Route 66 communities deal with the problem, reports the Arizona Capital Times. Many older buildings and structures along the Route 66 … Continue reading Arizona launches asbestos removal plan for Route 66 properties