With less than a week before the Tri-State Route 66 Festival, this story from the Joplin Globe about a local lodging association expressing deep dissatisfaction about the Joplin Visitors and Convention Bureau sparked my interest. The lodging group is so irked by a precipitous drop in motel revenue that it is considering a campaign to … Continue reading Lodging group criticizes Joplin tourism bureau
Category: Attractions
Sleep in a motel room way underground
Grand Canyon Caverns, on Route 66 between Seligman and Peach Springs, Ariz., boasts a number of gimmicks and attractions to draw in tourists. But the latest one may be the strangest -- and among the most enticing -- one yet. A few weeks ago, Grand Canyon Caverns unveiled its Cavern Suite, 220 feet below ground. … Continue reading Sleep in a motel room way underground
Big covered wagon wins roadside attraction poll
Here's an interesting tidbit in this story from the Peoria Journal-Star about the The World's Largest Covered Wagon, just off Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill.: Reader's Digest readers named it the Best Roadside Attraction in America in 2010. The venerable magazine recently ran its annual Best of America survey, which focuses on what it calls … Continue reading Big covered wagon wins roadside attraction poll
A look at the Arizona Route 66 passport
On Thursday, I received in the mail from Sharlene Fouser the new Arizona Route 66 passport that is being distributed at tourism offices and businesses along the Mother Road in the state. Here's what it looks like, outside and inside: The passport contains only 20 pages, but includes a short history of the road, trivia, … Continue reading A look at the Arizona Route 66 passport
Webb City works on visitors center
Here's the work being done on the interior of the future Route 66 Visitors Center in downtown Webb City, Mo., that's going in an old gas station on Route 66. The building is on Main and Broadway. The old gas station also will be home to the city's chamber of commerce. (Photos courtesy of Ron … Continue reading Webb City works on visitors center
Can’t see the bottles for the trees
Here's a good video that shows the Bottletree Forest, made by Elmer Long, along Route 66 in Oro Grande, Calif. The clip shows how wonderfully weird the whole place is. Long's blog is here, although it's updated only sporadically.
Arizona Route 66 passport locations
A few days ago, it was reported that a new Route 66 passport would be made available for travelers across Arizona. The passports won't be available until May 27, but Route 66 advocate Sharlene Fouser gave me a list of where you can pick them up at that time: Ash Fork Visitor Center, 901 W. … Continue reading Arizona Route 66 passport locations
Mojave national park proposal hits potential snag
A proposal to create a Mojave Trails National Monument along the Route 66 corridor in the Southern California desert hit a snag because of a provision about the placement of solar-energy plants on public land, reported the Press-Enterprise. Sen. Diane Feinstein's bill was formally introduced to the U.S. Senate this week. She wants to amend … Continue reading Mojave national park proposal hits potential snag
Route 66 will be featured on “Today” show
Route 66 in New Mexico will be featured during a segment on NBC-TV's "Today" show on Saturday, according to the New Mexico Business Weekly. According to the newspaper: Anchor Amy Robach made stops at the Turquoise Museum, Old Town, the 66 Diner, Nob Hill and El Pinto restaurant and took a ride with the ABQ Trolley Co. … Continue reading Route 66 will be featured on “Today” show
Williams will provide a Route 66 passport
The Main Street organization of Williams, Ariz., will provide special Route 66 passports for Mother Road travelers next week, according to the Williams-Grand Canyon News. Route 66 communities from throughout the state are featured in the special promotional tool, said Kim Kadletz of the Williams Main Street Association. [...] "The passports will be at each … Continue reading Williams will provide a Route 66 passport