It's not out of the woods yet, but the long-moribund Route 66 town of Galena, Kan., is looking more prosperous these days. The Joplin Globe newspaper, based in nearby Joplin, Mo., published a long story about the town's comeback. The whole thing is worth reading, but I'll highlight what has happened in Galena in recent … Continue reading Galena’s remarkable comeback story
Category: Attractions
Bono’s restaurant plans to reopen after moving building
In a story by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin about Joe Bono greeting Route 66 tourists at his long-closed Bono's Italian restaurant in Fontana, Calif., was this little nugget: Looking over architect's drawings, Bono said the restaurant, whose front windows are just a few feet shy of the now-four-lane Foothill Boulevard, will be moved south … Continue reading Bono’s restaurant plans to reopen after moving building
Fire destroys downtown building in Carthage
A massive fire gutted the popular Sassy Spoon restaurant in downtown Carthage, Mo., on Saturday and extensively damaged a business next door. Firefighters were called to the scene earlier in the day and seemed to have the blaze under control. However, the fire flared up again. The upper floor, which contained apartments, collapsed, as did … Continue reading Fire destroys downtown building in Carthage
Park near Standin’ On a Corner awaits grant
The Route 66 Plaza park, behind the Standin' on a Corner Park in Winslow, Ariz., is awaiting $488,000 from the Arizona Department of Transportation’s National Scenic Grant Fund to finish the project, reported the Arizona Journal. When the funds are available, a performance stage, lighting, street furniture, including benches. and signage will complete that city park. … Continue reading Park near Standin’ On a Corner awaits grant
Students provide ideas for Route 66 in Albuquerque
University of New Mexico students provided some ideas to the City of Albuquerque on how to dress up its stretch of Route 66, reported KOB-TV. Students came up with renderings and designs to help the city rehabilitate parts of Central Ave. Some ideas include creating walkways over I-25, adding more parks and open-air markets along … Continue reading Students provide ideas for Route 66 in Albuquerque
Where is Tulsa’s Route 66 museum?
A letter to the editor featured Sunday in the Tulsa World encapsulates the frustrations many Tulsans feel about the Route 66 part of the Vision 2025 sales-tax program. You can read the letter by Scott Swearingen here. A few key parts: On almost any day, I see visitors to Tulsa stopping to admire the Cyrus … Continue reading Where is Tulsa’s Route 66 museum?
A competitor to the Hollywood sign?
Those who have traveled an old alignment of Route 66 recently along northeast Los Angeles may have gazed up into one of the hills overlooking the city and found an unfamiliar -- yet familiar -- sight. It's a massive "Glassellland" sign halfway up a hill above the Glassell ParkRecreation Center. According to a report in … Continue reading A competitor to the Hollywood sign?
The story behind Albuquerque’s big aluminum yucca
A huge aluminum yucca sculpture, appropriately titled "Aluminum Yucca," in the east mountains of Albuquerque along Interstate 40 and old Route 66 recently marked its 10th year of existence, reported the Albuquerque Journal. The 22-foot-tall artwork stands out no matter when you see it. Its shape and polished metal amid the mountain rocks capture eyes … Continue reading The story behind Albuquerque’s big aluminum yucca
A happy ending at Cadillac Ranch
We've seen a lot of bad and even unsavory news about Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas, in recent months -- mainly because of the many legal troubles of the art installation's longtime proprietor, Stanley Marsh 3. But this video reminds us that Cadillac Ranch remains a roadside attraction of levity ... and even poignancy. The … Continue reading A happy ending at Cadillac Ranch
Local artist painting mural on McDonald’s Museum
Cartoonist Phil Yeh is painting an elaborate mural on the McDonald's Museum in San Bernardino, Calif., reported the San Bernardino County Sun. Yeh, who created a comic book about Route 66 several years ago, started the mural last year but was slowed by a stroke. Due to partial paralysis, he painted left-handed until he recovered … Continue reading Local artist painting mural on McDonald’s Museum