Oklahoma Tourism, film company making road-trip films, including Route 66

Earlier this month, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department and Broken Arrow-based Retrospec Films announced they would launch a year-long series of road-trip films, including Route 66. On Wednesday, they uploaded a film that featured the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Pops in Arcadia and Living Kitchen in Depew -- all along Route 66. https://youtu.be/ZcCXbbMYBAE The … Continue reading Oklahoma Tourism, film company making road-trip films, including Route 66

Needles seeks to add California Welcome Center in town

The Needles Chamber of Commerce recently lobbied Visit California to add a California Welcome Center in the city. The Needles Desert Star reported: According to the Visit California website, each of the California Welcome Centers is staffed with personal travel concierges, knowledgeable experts who are ready to provide information that will enhance and enrich a … Continue reading Needles seeks to add California Welcome Center in town

Grand Canyon Deer Farm near Williams marks 50th year this week

The Grand Canyon Deer Farm animal sanctuary off old Route 66 near Williams, Arizona, celebrates its 50th year this week -- on Thursday, to be exact. Russell Hamilton founded the Deer Farm on Aug. 15, 1969, but Randy and Pat George are the longest-tenured owners, having run it since 1987, according to an article in … Continue reading Grand Canyon Deer Farm near Williams marks 50th year this week

Arizona Route 66 association gives $10,000 to finish the restoration of Standin’ on a Corner wall

The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona recently gave a $10,000 check to the Standin' on a Corner Foundation to finish a long-gestating restoration of the wall at that famed park in Winslow, Arizona. From left are Tommy Butler, a member of the Standin' on the Corner Foundation; Nikki Seegers, director of the Historic Route … Continue reading Arizona Route 66 association gives $10,000 to finish the restoration of Standin’ on a Corner wall

New Muffler Man named Frecs erected on old Route 66 in Galena

A new Muffler Man -- a 19-foot-tall miner named Frecs -- recently was erected on old Route 66 in Galena, Kansas. The Muffler Man isn't 100 percent done. He still needs touch-ups after a weld broke on his supporting frame, and his boots needed to be finished. Regardless, it stands just west of the historic … Continue reading New Muffler Man named Frecs erected on old Route 66 in Galena

Luther man wants to turn labyrinth of Route 66 bricks into tourist attraction

A man from Luther, Oklahoma, who built a labyrinth made of thousands of abandoned bricks from old Route 66 wants to eventually turn the site into a tourist attraction, including as a wedding venue. Brent Byrd, who owns a barber shop in nearby Arcadia, Oklahoma, learned about a year ago about the orphaned bricks from … Continue reading Luther man wants to turn labyrinth of Route 66 bricks into tourist attraction

Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies

Elmer Long, the eccentric creator of the beloved Bottle Tree Ranch on Route 66 near Oro Grande, California, died June 22 after a bout with lung cancer. He was 72. Kelly Donovan, an administrator of Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch page on Facebook, announced Long's death during a post on the page Friday afternoon. No obituary … Continue reading Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies

Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month

Bob Russell, the mayor of Pontiac, Illinois, known for greeting arriving busloads of Route 66 tourists in his city's downtown, will voluntarily step down from his position on July 31. Russell, nicknamed by some as the "Mayor of Route 66," announced his impending departure during a city council meeting this week. According to the Bloomington … Continue reading Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month

Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa

Several area officials, including Oklahoma's lieutenant governor and Tulsa's mayor, helped dedicate the enormous Route 66 Rising sculpture Tuesday at Avery Traffic Circle in Tulsa. The $682,000 sculpture, paid for with Vision 2025 sales-tax money in Tulsa County, is about 70 feet long and 30 feet tall. It sits at Mingo Road and Admiral Place, … Continue reading Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa

Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee

The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act bill advanced Wednesday out of the U.S. Senate's Committee on Environment and Public Works and will head to the full Senate floor. The bill, introduced as S1014 by Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on April 3, was given a letter of support by the Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee