The Pulaski County (Mo.) Board received an engineering proposal to rehabilitate the 1923 Devil's Elbow Bridge on the Route 66 hamlet of Devil's Elbow, reported the Waynesville Daily Guide. It sounds like the county is feeling a sense of urgency for the project: “The rate deterioration is increasing, and this is the time to do … Continue reading Rehab proposal presented for Devils Elbow Bridge
Category: Attractions
A hike up Tucumcari Mountain
Tucumcari Mountain, near Tucumcari, N.M., has long been one of the Mother Road's most-recognized natural landmarks. It was first mentioned in journals in the 1700s, and can be seen for miles from Route 66 and Interstate 40. For the weary traveler looking forward to a night's sleep in Tucumcari, the sight of the mountain has … Continue reading A hike up Tucumcari Mountain
Longtime roadie has a petroliana collection
Johnnie Meier, a longtime champion of Route 66 and other historic roads, has created a roadside tribute to old-time gas stations in Embudo, N.M., on Highway 68 north of Santa Fe. From the Albuquerque Journal (via the Las Cruces Sun-News): ... [T]hree 1940s-era gas pumps stand as sentinels at a filling station.On the porch is … Continue reading Longtime roadie has a petroliana collection
A gay old time in Gay Parita
KY3-TV in Springfield, Mo., did a feature about Gary Turner and his re-creation of the Gay Parita gas station on Route 66 in nearby Paris Springs. Those who've visited Turner and his station will find many of the details familiar. But a couple of interesting details stand out: In the past year and a half, … Continue reading A gay old time in Gay Parita
History of the Yellowhorse empire
New American Media has an exceptional story about the history of the Yellowhorse Indian trading posts along the Arizona-New Mexico border on Route 66. It's a story of bootlegging, bamboozlement and good old-fashioned gimmickry to make a buck. And those stores are still going strong.
Giants of the roadside
Jill Schensul, a travel columnist for NorthJersey.com, pays tribute to the oversized icons of the American highway, including the so-called Muffler Men. In the lengthy story, Schensul gives prominent mention to the Gemini Giant at the Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Ill., and the World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Ill. The Golden Driller of … Continue reading Giants of the roadside
The nighttime glow of Gay Parita
Gary Turner's faithful reproduction of the former Gay Parita gas station on old Route 66 in Paris Springs, Mo., recently had architectural neon lighting added. The lighting was installed free by Vernon Boyce, owner of Missouri Neon Co. of nearby Springfield, Mo. The company has been around since the 1940s and has installed neon lighting … Continue reading The nighttime glow of Gay Parita
Animal Paradise’s future plans
Animal Paradise, a drive-through exotic animal park off Route 66 near Strafford, Mo., was taken over by a corporation earlier this year. KSPR-TV in Springfield, Mo., talked to the park's operators about future plans: “Black bears will be the next thing to come in,” said owner Jim Meikle. Exotic Animal Paradise is also planning to … Continue reading Animal Paradise’s future plans
Marshfield wins spot on revitalization initiative
The Route 66 town of Marshfield was one of 10 communites that was selected to the Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri initiative, or DREAM, reported the Marshfield Mail. ... Gov. Matt Blunt states the purpose of the DREAM Initiative is to give small and mid-sized communities additional tools for economic development. [...] The … Continue reading Marshfield wins spot on revitalization initiative
Notes from the road
The Gallup (N.M.) Independent has an article about Route 66 sights in town before members of the Society for Commercial Archeology come check them out today. The article laments about how little is left of Route 66 sites in Gallup. But you can say that about a lot of towns -- many Route 66 businesses … Continue reading Notes from the road