That didn't take long. Just a few months after the Wagon Wheel Motel building in Cuba, Mo., changed owners, the motel's long-closed restaurant building has been renovated and converted into a gift shop. According to the Viva Cuba blog: The opening followed months of restoration, where windows and doors were put back to their original … Continue reading Wagon Wheel Motel’s restaurant reopens as gift shop
Category: Businesses
Webb City seeks to play of Route 66 heritage
The Route 66 town of Webb City, Mo., has some ideas on how to revitalize its downtown, and Chuck Surface, economic development director, says playing up its Route 66 roots is one of them, reports the Joplin Globe. One vision, Surface said, is to turn the city’s east entrance at Broadway and Daugherty streets into … Continue reading Webb City seeks to play of Route 66 heritage
Notes from the road
The Tulsa World reported that longtime Route 66 business McElroy Tire, at 1545 E. 11th St., will close at year's end. It had been there since the early 1930s, but company President Kent McElroy said the firm had been squeezed financially by national tire chains and discount stores. McElroy Tire is notable for its big … Continue reading Notes from the road
Holbrook to mull opposition to bypass
I suspected that a proposed highway bypass in the Route 66 town of Holbrook, Ariz., would eventually encounter some opposition. It looks like the opposition is happening. According to the Tribune-News, the Holbrook City Council is considering a resolution to oppose a plan to route traffic from Highways 77 and 377 away from Holbrook and … Continue reading Holbrook to mull opposition to bypass
A dream in the desert
The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, Calif., posted quite an article about Gus Lizalde, who purchased the Route 66 hamlet of Chambless, Calif., years ago and hopes to eventually businesses in that spot. He described his vision for a multimillion-dollar makeover. "It's going to be a full-blown restoration to the way it was built," Lizalde said. "I … Continue reading A dream in the desert
Riding at Route 66
A couple of weeks ago while cruising the East 11th Street portion of Route 66 in rural Tulsa, we noticed a bunch of saddled horses on the old Brashear's "Rent a Horse to Ride" property. Seconds later, we spotted new signs on the fence around the property, advertising Route 66 Riding Stables and "Rent a … Continue reading Riding at Route 66
Pevely Dairy plant named to National Register
The old Pevely Dairy Plant, on the more-obscure Chouteau Avenue alignment of Route 66 in St. Louis, was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective Nov. 18, according to an e-mail from the National Park Service. Pevely Dairy, especially its ice cream, was a St. Louis institution for more than a century. But … Continue reading Pevely Dairy plant named to National Register
Notes from the road
I'm playing a bit of catch-up, ever since I left town this past weekend to see Bob Waldmire's Last Art Show. Here are a few things of interest to roadies ... -- The Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa this year was a doozy, with more than 7,000 runners participating, along with 60 classic cars and … Continue reading Notes from the road
St. Louis factory building named to National Register
The National Candy Company Factory building on the Gravois Avenue alignment of Route 66 in St. Louis was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective Nov. 5, according to an e-mail from the National Park Service. The building, at 4230 Gravois Ave., was built in 1928 when the National Candy Company was the … Continue reading St. Louis factory building named to National Register
“End of Trail” sign to be unveiled at Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier, the symbolic western terminus of Route 66, will be unveiling an "End of Trail" sign at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to Jim Conkle of the Route 66 Alliance. Across from the sign will the the 66 to Cali kiosk run by Dan Rice, who sells American-made apparel with a Route 66 theme. … Continue reading “End of Trail” sign to be unveiled at Santa Monica Pier