Dan Rice, owner of 66-to-Cali on the Santa Monica Pier, tries to answer that question in a brief manner. https://youtu.be/idl9hN5teXA Because Route 66 boasts such a rich and multifaceted history, it's very difficult to answer that question succinctly. But he's trying, and I suspect the Mother Road gains more tourists because of his tireless efforts.
Category: Businesses
Old gas station converted into art gallery
A former Sinclair gas station that was built in 1923 in Cuba, Mo., has been converted into the Spirals Gallery & Studio, according to a story in the Cuba Free Press. Merry Brewer Cloer and her husband Adam renovated the "ramshackle" Don's Sinclair Station at 502 E. Washington Blvd. (aka Route 66). Spirals opened in … Continue reading Old gas station converted into art gallery
A tour of the Campbell Hotel
Recently, the owners of the Campbell Hotel along Route 66 in Tulsa offered me and Emily (aka Redforkhippie) a tour of the historic building. Last week, we took them up on their offer. We had toured the hotel in May during the Tulsa's annual Designer Showcase. However, that was when the hotel was dolled up … Continue reading A tour of the Campbell Hotel
Tucumcari’s newest repainting effort … and more
This past weekend, volunteers in Tucumcari, N.M., started their latest repainting effort on an abandoned gas station in town. The station, shown above, will be the seventh gas station in Tucumcari that's been repainted in a nostalgic color scheme on the Route 66 corridor. This station will be repainted to resemble a Magnolia station; area … Continue reading Tucumcari’s newest repainting effort … and more
The poop on Bill Freiday
Jim Hinckley pointed me to this recent obituary in the Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner of Burnell "Bill" Freiday, who died on Oct. 12 at age 95. The obit convincingly shows that Freiday lived a colorful life, with vocations that included these: [P]ig farmer, squab farmer, wood cutter, movie theater operator, tractor parts inspector, tractor test … Continue reading The poop on Bill Freiday
Lights on at the Luna Cafe
A vintage neon sign -- plus architectural neon -- of the historic Luna Cafe on Route 66 in Mitchell, Ill., were relighted Saturday night during a ceremony attended by about 200 people. Jim Thole of the Route 66 Association of Missouri's Neon Preservation Committee reported that the neon was turned on at 6:44 p.m. Saturday, with … Continue reading Lights on at the Luna Cafe
Roller rink reopens in Sapulpa
When we last checked with the closed Starlite Skate Rink on old Route 66 near Sapulpa, Okla., about 18 months ago, it was being converted into a church. Now the Sapulpa Daily Herald says the roller-skating facility is going back to its old ways. It's been rechristened as the Route 66 Roller Dome, and its … Continue reading Roller rink reopens in Sapulpa
Help Avilla save its post office
A few weeks ago, longtime roadie Tonya Pike and her father Tommy Pike, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, attended a public hearing about the possible closure of the post office in Avilla, Mo. This weekend, she has issued a report ... and a plea: As many of you are aware, the United … Continue reading Help Avilla save its post office
Bolin Ford adds new with the old
Completion remains weeks away, but the rebuilding of Bolin Ford Inc. in Bristow, Okla., is far enough along that I decided to take a tour of the facilities on Saturday before an open house in early December. A fire heavily damaged Bolin Ford in December 2008. The owners could have rebuilt in a mundane way. … Continue reading Bolin Ford adds new with the old
Relighting date of Luna Cafe sign announced
The official relighting ceremony of a refurbished Luna Cafe neon sign in Mitchell, Ill., will be about 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 22, according to organizers. That time is approximate, depending on how cloudy it is at dusk. According to data from sunrisesunset.com, sunset in nearby Granite City on that date is 6:14 p.m. So plan accordingly. From … Continue reading Relighting date of Luna Cafe sign announced