Santa Monica Close-up contains photos from the final day of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America's Historic Route 66 Tour. About 100 participants started, and about 20 dropped out because of mechanical or medical reasons. Maya Reynolds tells the story of how Jackson Browne's "Take It Easy," which immortalizes a certain corner in Winslow, Ariz., came … Continue reading Route 66 blog roundup 9/30
Category: Attractions
Not just standin’ around
Despite a fire nearly destroying the Standin' on a Corner mural in Winslow, Ariz., the Route 66 town will continue to have its Standin' on a Corner festival today and Saturday, reports the East Valley Tribune. The gala and mural are inspired by the Eagles' hit song, "Take It Easy," which contains these famed lyrics … Continue reading Not just standin’ around
Popping up
Nearly five months after its groundbreaking ceremony, Pops -- an unusual gas station that will lure tourists with a 66-foot-tall soda bottle lit with LEDs out front, a collection of 12,000 soda bottles inside, and an elaborate, futuristic canopy cantilevered over the gas pumps -- is beginning to rise from the red Oklahoma dirt in … Continue reading Popping up
$1 million for Joplin-area tourism
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe reports that city budget plans include $1 million in spending to promote area tourism. Included is $63,000 for entryway beautification, which includes Route 66. Next year, the bureau is looking to construct a sign at the southwest corner of North Florida Avenue and Zora Street that has a Route 66 theme … Continue reading $1 million for Joplin-area tourism
Grand Canyon Railway sold
The Grand Canyon Railway, which starts in the Route 66 town of Williams, Ariz., and takes tourists to the canyon's South Rim, has been sold to a Colorado firm that runs concessions in the canyon, reports the Phoenix Business Journal. Xanterra Parks and Resorts hopes to formally close the deal by next month. Max and … Continue reading Grand Canyon Railway sold
Scenic Byways grants awarded
The New Mexico Tourism Department has given out $473,000 in grants through the Federal Highway Administration's Scenic Byways program for the fiscal year. Here are the grants that affect Route 66, according to Travel Daily News: Historic Route 66 Bike and Pedestrian Path Construction in Gallup ($50,000): This joint-use path along the Route 66 Scenic … Continue reading Scenic Byways grants awarded
Roadside kitsch updates
One of the best (and funniest) Web sites is Roadside America. Inspired and created by the same people who wrote the classic 1992 book of the same name, it's a huge Web site about kitschy roadside attractions and is updated regularly. Roadside America filed recent field reports about two stops on Route 66. One is … Continue reading Roadside kitsch updates
Sinclair dinosaur returns to gas station
In 1963, a Sinclair gas station opened on old Route 66 on 200 E. Baltimore in Wilmington, Ill., featuring the brand's green brontosaurus that overlooked the station and highway. Gary Geiss bought the station in 2001 and sought to put a dinosaur back on the building (there's no word on what happened to the old … Continue reading Sinclair dinosaur returns to gas station
Building boom near Route 66 Casino
The Pueblo of Laguna is set to break ground today on a new 150-room hotel next to the burgeoning Route 66 Casino west of Albuquerque, reports the Albuquerque Tribune. That includes the Isleta Pueblo that broke ground last month on a 201-room hotel. And a few months ago, Sandia Pueblo started construction on a 228-room … Continue reading Building boom near Route 66 Casino
Albuquerque streetcar plan discussed
John at the Big Albuquerque-like Things blog attended an informational meeting about plans of using streetcars on the Duke City's streets, including Central Avenue (aka Route 66). John did a good job providing an overview of the project, including pictures from the presentation. He thinks tourists (like me) will use the streetcars to go to … Continue reading Albuquerque streetcar plan discussed