As I've learned from a bunch of e-mails in the past few months, Pete Pettry is a tireless booster of Route 66. The Mother Road goes through Edmond, Okla., but the town up until recently seems to have expressed little interest in playing up that historic link. If Edmond jumps on board, Pettry will be … Continue reading Man seeks to boost involvement of town to Route 66
Category: Attractions
Bottletree Man has his own blog
I didn't know this until today, but Elmer Long, aka The Bottletree Man of Oro Grande, Calif., has had a blog since November. I discovered his site when he linked to mine. You can go to his site here. It includes his explanation about how he started making sculptures out of discarded bottles. The … Continue reading Bottletree Man has his own blog
Disney film crew looks for “Cars” inspiration
Author Michael Wallis (above, left) and a camera crew from the Disney Channel were on Route 66 in Kansas and Oklahoma on Monday and Tuesday to tape a segment for the "Movie Surfers" show. They sought out the real-life inspirations to the Pixar Animation Studios crew when it was touring Route 66 and brainstorming ideas … Continue reading Disney film crew looks for “Cars” inspiration
Tulsa time
Gary Lee of the Washington Post takes a closer look at Tulsa. Not much Route 66 content here, but it's still recommended reading for travelers who are staying for a day or so and want to explore the city.
Exploring that corner in Winslow, Arizona
Unlike a lot of songs that celebrate certain regions or towns, the Route 66 city of Winslow, Ariz., does in indeed have a corner that's mentioned in The Eagles' hit single, "Take It Easy." Well, I'm standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona ... The Standin' On a Corner Park was established in 1999 -- … Continue reading Exploring that corner in Winslow, Arizona
A short guide to the Navajo Nation
Shirley Rose Higgins of the Royal Gazette in Bermuda has provided a pretty good travel guide about the Navajo Nation and its history. It includes this excerpt about the Route 66 town of Gallup, N.M.: If you approach through Gallup, New Mexico, you'll want to stop at the tourist information office in the old train … Continue reading A short guide to the Navajo Nation
“Ghost Light” short will be in “Cars” DVD
Best-selling author Michael Wallis has confirmed that a Pixar animated short based on the real-life "Spooklight" near Route 66 in Kansas will be included with the eventual "Cars" movie DVD. Wallis voices the part of the sheriff in the "Cars" full-length movie, set to be released wide on June 9. He and his character, along … Continue reading “Ghost Light” short will be in “Cars” DVD
Coliseum Ballroom in Benld is for sale
The historic Coliseum Ballroom, located on the 1926-34 alignment of Route 66 in Benld, Ill., is for sale, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The asking price: $210,000. And maybe, just maybe, the Coliseum will be returned to its original incarnation -- a live-music venue. And both of two prospective buyers would like to see … Continue reading Coliseum Ballroom in Benld is for sale
Funks Grove general store will reopen
This is great news. The Bloomington Pantagraph is reporting that the long-closed general store near the railroad tracks in the Route 66 settlement of Funks Grove, Ill., will reopen this weekend as Anna Rey's at Funks Grove Country Store. The store, which opened in 1913, had been shuttered for about 30 years. It will be … Continue reading Funks Grove general store will reopen
Trout Fishing in Miami
Route 66 got a hefty dose of music and humor Tuesday night as the Coleman Theatre Beautiful in Miami, Okla., hosted Trout Fishing in America. Trout, for the uninitiated, is a two-man folk band made up of guitarist Ezra Idlet and bass player Keith Grimwood. The pair, who look about like Mutt and Jeff (Idlet … Continue reading Trout Fishing in Miami