From an op-ed piece by Rachel Dry in the Washington Post: Seventy years after John Steinbeck published his best-selling tale of the Joad family's journey from Oklahoma to California along Route 66, "The Grapes of Wrath," required reading that never really went out of style, is suddenly in high demand. At the National Endowment for … Continue reading Sign of the times
Category: Businesses
Business is booming
Not content with owning the world's largest rocking chair, the Fanning 66 Outpost and General Store on Route 66 in Fanning, Mo., has added at least one more unusual attraction to its arsenal. Jim Viehman, a reporter for KSDK-TV in St. Louis, interviewed store owners Dan and Carolyn Sanazaro a few days ago about the … Continue reading Business is booming
End of an era in Afton
The Miami (Okla.) News Record has a story about the imminent closing of Bassett's Grocery on Route 66 in nearby Afton, Okla. After 89 years, Tommy Bassett says it’s time to close the doors. "With the population being half of what it used to be and being no jobs to support the town, the business … Continue reading End of an era in Afton
It’s maple sirup time
Funks Grove Maple Sirup (yes, the spelling is correct) in the Route 66 hamlet of Funks Grove, Ill., has begun harvesting maple sap from its ancient stand of trees, reports the Kankakee Daily Journal. Late February and early March are the times in which the sap rises in the trees. Production began in 1824 when … Continue reading It’s maple sirup time
Frankoma Pottery marks 75th year
Frankoma Pottery, which sits on Route 66 near Sapulpa, Okla., is marking its 75th anniversary with a bunch of new products, according to a news release from the company. Among the new things on Frankoma's plate: It purchased the assets of Paschal Tile Studios of Tulsa and will add decorative tile to its product line. … Continue reading Frankoma Pottery marks 75th year
No recession here
Intrepid Travel, a small-group guided-tours company, is seeing increased sales in North America and is going to boost the number of vans it uses to operate these trips, according to a news release. Intrepid is projecting a 25 per cent increase in sales to North America this year. [...] "People are making the most of … Continue reading No recession here
A thorny situation in Seligman
Here's a thorny situation in the Route 66 town of Seligman, Ariz. According to the Arizona Republic, Cemex wants to build a big cement plant on the outskirts of town, thus creating jobs and boosting Seligman's tax base. But folks also are concerned that the plant will be a big-time polluter, fouling the air of … Continue reading A thorny situation in Seligman
Paul Harvey, R.I.P.
Paul Harvey, a legend in radio for more than 50 years, died at age 90 Saturday at a hospital near Phoenix. Rather than recount Harvey's unique delivery and his many accomplishments in broadcasting, it should be known that the Tulsa native also left his own unique stamp on Route 66 at least twice. First, Harvey … Continue reading Paul Harvey, R.I.P.
Route 66 association re-formed in Kingman
MohaveBusiness.com has details about the newly formed Kingman Route 66 Association, based in Kingman, Ariz. And it's interesting what the association's president has to say: One of our primary goals is to create attractions for people instead of just being a stopover,” association president Tim McDonnell said. “Our motel occupancy is off the chart, but … Continue reading Route 66 association re-formed in Kingman
New Mexico lodging-tax proposal is killed
The Tourism Association of New Mexico reports that a bill in the state legislature that would have imposed a 10 percent tax on all lodging establishments, including RV parks, was tabled in committee on Wednesday night, essentially killing the measure. The bill, SB 595, was tabled by a 4-3 vote in the state senate's Corporations … Continue reading New Mexico lodging-tax proposal is killed