Bob Lundy, a Route 66er, sent me a copy of a Rialto (Calif.) Record article about the San Bernardino County Tourism group and its efforts to promote Route 66. The article dealt with the third annual Taste of Route 66 tour. One of the tour's aspects was to promote signs the group created, which "combine … Continue reading More 66 signs in Southern California
Category: Businesses
Art in an unexpected place
What's great about Route 66 is you sometimes find the unexpected. On Monday, I found it in downtown Commerce, Okla. (population 2,500), talking to a man who creates portraits of rock 'n' roll stars and other artwork. He exhibits and sells these pieces all over the United States. Bill Foss' studio is right on Route … Continue reading Art in an unexpected place
Fighting unemployment with tourism
Officials in Macoupin County, Ill., fighting high joblessness because of the closing of several coal mines, are taking a different tack on trying to address the problem. The Springfield Journal-Register reports that the county will create a Macoupin County Tourism Commission. Efforts will include Route 66-related projects and the creation of a Web site listing … Continue reading Fighting unemployment with tourism
Newest casino on Route 66 opens
The Fire Rock Casino, on Route 66 east of Gallup, N.M., and owned by the Navajo Nation, opened to the public on Wednesday, reports the Gallup Independent. Shortly before the 4 p.m. grand opening, a crowd of thousands was lined up, three and four deep, all the way around one side of the 65,000-square-foot building. … Continue reading Newest casino on Route 66 opens
Another stocking-stuffer
In case you didn't get to the National Preservation Conference in Tulsa last month, you now can buy over the Internet the Route 66 T-shirts recently created by the folks at Vintage Roadside, which specializes in putting retro graphics from defunct roadside businesses onto apparel. Here's the story about this T-shirt: Route 66, also known … Continue reading Another stocking-stuffer
“Chevy on a stick” faces iffy future
A 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Aire has sat on a pole at 2412 Clear Lake Ave. in Springfield, Ill., for 17 years. Locals call it the "Chevy on a stick," and Route 66ers are fond of seeing that landmark during excursions through town. Now that the car dealership that it presided over has moved, the "Chevy on … Continue reading “Chevy on a stick” faces iffy future
Ghost in the machine
The Williams (Ariz.) News reports that something tripped the surveillance video at Twisters '50s Soda Fountain and Route 66 Place during the wee hours of Oct. 16, when the business was closed. It wasn't a burglar or a short in the camera system itself, as there was something visible on the film, a floating white … Continue reading Ghost in the machine
Historic Tulsa building to be converted into hotel
Tulsa Business Journal reports that the historic Max Campbell Building on 11th Street (aka Route 66) in Tulsa has been purchased and will be converted into a hotel, events center and retail space. Group M. Investments Inc. purchased the historic building, which sits at 11th and Columbia, near the University of Tulsa. The site contains … Continue reading Historic Tulsa building to be converted into hotel
Illinois Hall of Fame taking nominations
Here's a news brief from the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph: The Route 66 Association of Illinois will take nominations for its Hall of Fame from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28. Nominations must include qualities, deeds and history on Route 66. To qualify, nominees must have made significant contributions to the character or history of the Illinois … Continue reading Illinois Hall of Fame taking nominations
Architecture firm honored for Route 66 espresso stand
AIA Seattle formed a team to recognize up-and-coming and innovative architectural firms in the region. Twelve were selected, and one has a link to Route 66, according to the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. And one of the 12 was: Chadbourne + Doss Architects used two cargo containers to create a delightful espresso stand called … Continue reading Architecture firm honored for Route 66 espresso stand