The Joplin (Mo.) Globe published a story about four women who are refurbishing a former gas station on Route 66 in nearby Galena, Kan., into a tourism center. On Thursday, a family from Texas with a 1995 Mustang Cobra decked out to resemble Lightning McQueen from the 2006 animated movie "Cars" stopped by to visit … Continue reading Lightning meets Mater
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.
‘I am being discriminated against’
Charlie Elliott wants to hold biker rallies off Route 66 near Depew, Okla., but Creek County won't let him because Elliott's property is not zoned properly for such events. Elliott tells the Sapulpa Daily Herald that "I am being discriminated against." Elliott formed a Route 66 Biker Church and has held toy rallies for charity. … Continue reading ‘I am being discriminated against’
Back to the beginning for El Vado
After a court ruling struck down the city landmark designation for El Vado Motel in Albuquerque, the matter is back before the Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission on July 11 on whether to make the historic Route 66 motel a city landmark to protect it from redevelopment. A judge ruled that the commission didn't adequately … Continue reading Back to the beginning for El Vado
Route 66 stencils being painted on road in New Mexico
To identify Route 66, the New Mexico Department of Transportation is painting Route 66 stencils directly on the road's shoulder in the western part of the state, reports the Gallup Independent. Delane Barros, spokeswoman for the state highway department, District 6, said 30 of the logos will be stenciled in using white paint this summer … Continue reading Route 66 stencils being painted on road in New Mexico
The sad state of Twin Arrows
The Route 66 truck stop known as Twin Arrows outside of Flagstaff, Ariz., is abandoned and has been deteriorating for years. One of the two giant arrows stuck into the ground has shed its plywood tail. Garbage is littered all over the site. The Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff reports that because the Valentine diner … Continue reading The sad state of Twin Arrows
Too much rain
A travel advisory for roadies planning on driving through Oklahoma: an abundance of rainy weather is causing flooding in eastern Oklahoma County, which is part of the Oklahoma City metro area. According to KOCO-TV: This large square area and many of the roads within it, including Route 66, are currently affected by high water. The … Continue reading Too much rain
Illinois sees rise in tourism revenues
The state of Illinois broke records for tourism revenue during 2006, reports the Pontiac Daily Leader. Livingston County saw an 8.8 percent increase. The reason? "I think part of the increase in numbers for our county are related to the Route 66 phenomena," Ellie Alexander, Pontiac's tourism director, said about the Illinois figures. "The cooperation … Continue reading Illinois sees rise in tourism revenues
Preservation in action
Emily, who is in charge of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association's preservation committee, supervised the preservation project during the past weekend's National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla. The mission: To pretty up the long-closed Ray's Motel in Clinton over a three-day period. More than two dozen volunteers showed up. Emily has more details and … Continue reading Preservation in action
Clinton, ya done good
I'm not going to say that the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla., was the best ever. I've been interested in the Mother Road only since about 2000, and a number of national Route 66 festivals were held before that. But I've attended each national roadie gathering since 2002, and I enjoyed this past … Continue reading Clinton, ya done good
Motel gets a lift from tourism
This story by the Edwardsville (Ill.) Journal is a case study about how the surge of Route 66 tourism, beginning in the 1990s, has probably helped keep alive many old motels. The motel in question is the Apple Valley Motel in nearby Mitchell, Ill., which dates to the 1940s or '50s and has just 17 … Continue reading Motel gets a lift from tourism