Do not adjust your computer screen. No, the Blue Whale has not died, so you're not seeing a ghost. And the Blue Whale hasn't turned pale because he saw a giant harpoon. But the Route 66 landmark in Catoosa, Okla., is undergoing an extensive repair and repaint job by Bill Haynes Co. of nearby Tulsa. … Continue reading Pale Blue Whale
Category: Attractions
Mural painter keeps getting work in Needles
Back in April, the Needles Desert Star reported about Dan Louden, who's been painting murals and brightening the Route 66 town of Needles, Calif. Today, the Los Angeles Times caught up with him. Since the initial report, Louden and his girlfriend Vicky Bowden have painted a few more walls in town. A slideshow of his … Continue reading Mural painter keeps getting work in Needles
Requiem for The Coliseum
A story today by Jason Nevel in the Springfield State Journal-Register all but confirms what we've suspected -- that the historic Coliseum Ballroom in Benld, Ill., won't be rebuilt after a fire destroyed it a month ago. The story instead serves as a sort of requiem for the former music venue, which opened in 1924 … Continue reading Requiem for The Coliseum
Show-Me Missouri magazine creates a tourism app
Show-Me Missouri, a travel magazine, this week released a Show-Me Missouri travel app for Apple iPhones, iTouches and iPads. According to the Apple app store, the application contains more than 200 entries and 1,000 photographs. It costs $2.99, and updates are free. The app is compatible with iOS systems of 3.0 and up. And the … Continue reading Show-Me Missouri magazine creates a tourism app
Take a walk on the Arroyo Seco side
Most Route 66ers know about the historic Arroyo Seco Parkway in the Los Angeles area, which served as an alignment of Route 66 for many years. However, did you know the Arroyo Seco has a walking trail? The Los Angeles Times has the details: This is a lovely country-in-the-city walk, flat and undemanding, offering rare … Continue reading Take a walk on the Arroyo Seco side
Disney expo gives more details on Cars Land
Disney officials at the D23 Expo on Friday provided more details about the Cars Land area being built at Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. Cars Land, inspired by the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Spring in the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film "Cars," is scheduled to open to the public in … Continue reading Disney expo gives more details on Cars Land
Filmmakers plan Muffler Men documentary
A film crew in the San Francisco Bay area, in association with RoadsideAmerica.com, is raising money for a movie about Muffler Men -- the giant fiberglass figures. The crew is trying to raise $30,000 in donations by Sept. 1 through a Kickstarter project so it can start shooting the documentary this fall. As of Thursday evening, … Continue reading Filmmakers plan Muffler Men documentary
Progress report for Rancho’s Foothill project
The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin today posted what essentially is a progress report on the Route 66 / Foothill Boulevard project in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., including a new overpass over the road. The project includes a new Baker Avenue Bridge to replace an 81-year-old bridge over Foothill that was removed. The new bridge for the … Continue reading Progress report for Rancho’s Foothill project
Burro attack!
A few days ago, I responded with skepticism that Oatman, Ariz., would be "devastated" (as one local put it) if its post office were shut down. Here's one of the big reasons Oatman will continue to be a popular stop for Route 66ers and other tourists: https://youtu.be/Ceab6sC1tvA It's oddball experiences like that -- and the … Continue reading Burro attack!
Coliseum Ballroom in Benld destroyed by fire
The historic Coliseum Ballroom, located on an older alignment of Route 66 in Benld, Ill., was destroyed by fire Saturday night, according to several media outlets in the St. Louis area. The fire started about 9:15 a.m. According to KSDK-TV in St. Louis, 16 fire departments responded to battling the blaze. The station reports that … Continue reading Coliseum Ballroom in Benld destroyed by fire