Route 66 Crossroads organization to focus on upcoming centennial

Route 66 Crossroads, a new nonprofit organization based in Kingman, Arizona, will focus on the highway's 2026 centennial among its goals to boost tourism and economic opportunities for communities along the Mother Road. Route 66 Crossroads, a federally recognized nonprofit that formed March 1, stated in a news release last week: The organization will be … Continue reading Route 66 Crossroads organization to focus on upcoming centennial

Superbloom going now along Route 66 in Arizona, California

If you're able to do so, it probably would be a good idea to travel Route 66 in western Arizona and the desert of Southern California now. The Kingman Visitor Center in Kingman, Arizona, this week posted on Facebook, including the above image, spectacular photos of wildflowers along Oatman Road (aka Route 66) west of … Continue reading Superbloom going now along Route 66 in Arizona, California

Long-closed Bono’s Deli in Fontana reopens as Bono’s Italian Restaurant

The long-closed Bono's Deli, a fixture along Route 66 in Fontana, California, for decades, recently reopened as Bono's Italian Restaurant. And, yes, the Bono's Historic Orange still is there. Lynne Miller of the California Historic Route 66 Association wrote this on the route66 yahoogroup: It was always a dream of property owner Joe Bono to … Continue reading Long-closed Bono’s Deli in Fontana reopens as Bono’s Italian Restaurant

Route 66 Experience Hub unveiled in downtown Bloomington

Local officials on Monday unveiled a 9-foot-tall Route 66 Experience Hub at Main and Jefferson streets in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, in an effort to boost tourism there. The interactive kiosk is designed to help point out to visitors Route 66 attractions in the city and region, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph: The hub — the 14th experience … Continue reading Route 66 Experience Hub unveiled in downtown Bloomington

New street lighting in Victorville will include Route 66 design

The city of Victorville, California, eventually will install new street lights along the Old Town area that will include old-fashioned, Route 66-influenced designs. The Victorville Daily Press reports a study by the IDS Group, a consulting firm, will focus on two types of lighting that use energy-efficient and long-lasting LED technology. Although the preliminary study … Continue reading New street lighting in Victorville will include Route 66 design

Route 66 Navigation creators working on a Route 66 Passport

The folks who created the Route 66 Navigation app for smartphones are working on a Route 66 Passport project with two Mother Road enthusiasts. Touch Media, which developed the app, stated in a news release: The “Route 66 Passport” with illustrations by artist Joyce Cole will provide Route 66 travelers with a fun, informative and … Continue reading Route 66 Navigation creators working on a Route 66 Passport

Launching Pad Drive-In likely will be fully open by April

The wait for the once-closed Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, to become a full-service restaurant again won't be much longer. When I asked the new owners, Tully Garrett and Holly Barker, by text when the Route 66 restaurant next to the famed Gemini Giant statue would be fully open, they replied: "Sometime in March no later … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In likely will be fully open by April

Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on Route 66 to celebrate Muffler Man addition May 11

Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on Route 66 in Tulsa will hold a celebration for the addition of its new Muffler Man fiberglass statue starting at 10 a.m. May 11 with music, food and area celebrities. Joel Baker, known for the American Giants documentary series on YouTube, and his team will install the 20-foot-tall Muffler Man, … Continue reading Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on Route 66 to celebrate Muffler Man addition May 11

Tulsa Route 66 group advocates repairing, reopening 11th Street Bridge

While a lot of talk percolated about it in recent years, the Tulsa Route 66 Commission recently made it official -- it wants to reopen the historic but long-closed 11th Street Bridge, at least to pedestrian traffic. Several reasons exist for the group to become bigger bridge advocates. Next year, the city is scheduled to … Continue reading Tulsa Route 66 group advocates repairing, reopening 11th Street Bridge

Joshua Tree National Park may need centuries to recover from damage

A former National Park Service superintendent said it may take centuries for Joshua Tree National Park in California to recover from damage that occurred during the government shutdown. Curt Sauer, former chief of Joshua Tree, spoke during a rally by fans of the park Jan. 26, reported The Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs: Park … Continue reading Joshua Tree National Park may need centuries to recover from damage