“Free to a good home”: Man offers his Route 66-decorated car

Here's something you don't see every day: A Chicagoland Route 66 enthusiast is offering for free his 2001 PT Cruiser with a Route 66-inspired wrap he designed for anyone who can give it "a good home." Artist Brian Gregory wrote to Route 66 News in an email: I’ve driven this car almost to death and … Continue reading “Free to a good home”: Man offers his Route 66-decorated car

New mural added to Yukon’s Best Flour mill in Yukon

A Costa Rican immigrant raised in Yukon, Oklahoma, recently completed a terrific-looking mural on the side of one of the buildings at the city's landmark Yukon's Best Flour mill elevator. Channel 9 in nearby Oklahoma City produced a video about the mural and its creator, Carlos Barboza. Here is more from the report: Barboza researched … Continue reading New mural added to Yukon’s Best Flour mill in Yukon

Book review: “The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66”

Shin Yin Khor's graphic memoir "The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66" turns out to be an unusual travelogue. Not only is it created by a comic artist, but it comes from the perspective of a young American from the so-called Left Coast who was born in another country. Subtitled "Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler … Continue reading Book review: “The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66”

Arsonist torches one of the cars at Cadillac Ranch

An apparent arsonist early Sunday set fire to one of the classic cars that make up the landmark Cadillac Ranch on Amarillo's west side. KAMR-TV in Amarillo reported the first fire call came in at 2:12 a.m. The fire was extinguished, and no arrests have been made. The administrator at the Cadillac Ranch page on … Continue reading Arsonist torches one of the cars at Cadillac Ranch

Bottle Tree Ranch reopens full-time after the death of its creator

The landmark Bottle Tree Ranch along Route 66 near Oro Grande, California, reopened Saturday after being closed following the death of its creator, Elmer Long, in July. Delvin Harbour, a longtime Route 66 enthusiast in California, posted this on Facebook on Saturday: Long, 72, died June 22 after a bout with lung cancer. The Bottle … Continue reading Bottle Tree Ranch reopens full-time after the death of its creator

Former Black Officers Club, a mural at Fort Leonard Wood are restored

A building that served as the Black Officers' Club at Fort Leonard Wood in mid-Missouri recently was restored and renamed after Staff Sgt. Samuel Countee, who painted the building’s mural during the mid-1940s. From left, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's Katharine Kerr; Sammie Whiting Ellis, Staff. Sgt. Countee's niece; and Robert G. Stanton stand in … Continue reading Former Black Officers Club, a mural at Fort Leonard Wood are restored

Arizona Route 66 association gives $10,000 to finish the restoration of Standin’ on a Corner wall

The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona recently gave a $10,000 check to the Standin' on a Corner Foundation to finish a long-gestating restoration of the wall at that famed park in Winslow, Arizona. From left are Tommy Butler, a member of the Standin' on the Corner Foundation; Nikki Seegers, director of the Historic Route … Continue reading Arizona Route 66 association gives $10,000 to finish the restoration of Standin’ on a Corner wall

Making a miniature version of Sun ‘n Sand Motel sign in Santa Rosa

Chris Raley of Fresno, California, is an apparent aficionado of old-time neon signs, so he makes miniature versions of them. Here's a speeded-up time-lapse video that shows how he built a second larger (but still miniature) version of the Sun 'n Sand Motel sign that still stands along Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, … Continue reading Making a miniature version of Sun ‘n Sand Motel sign in Santa Rosa

Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies

Elmer Long, the eccentric creator of the beloved Bottle Tree Ranch on Route 66 near Oro Grande, California, died June 22 after a bout with lung cancer. He was 72. Kelly Donovan, an administrator of Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch page on Facebook, announced Long's death during a post on the page Friday afternoon. No obituary … Continue reading Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies

Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa

Several area officials, including Oklahoma's lieutenant governor and Tulsa's mayor, helped dedicate the enormous Route 66 Rising sculpture Tuesday at Avery Traffic Circle in Tulsa. The $682,000 sculpture, paid for with Vision 2025 sales-tax money in Tulsa County, is about 70 feet long and 30 feet tall. It sits at Mingo Road and Admiral Place, … Continue reading Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa