Missouri motor tour runs in September

This hasn't yet been posted on the Route 66 Association of Missouri's Web site, but I received a mailer that announces the association's 19th annual motor tour will be Sept. 5-7. The tour starts with registration at the Comfort Inn in Collinsville, Ill., on Friday. Saturday includes dinner at Zeno's Motel and Steakhouse in Rolla, … Continue reading Missouri motor tour runs in September

Navajo tribe building casino along Route 66

The Navajo Nation is set to construct its first casino along Route 66 near Church Rock, N.M., near Gallup, and hopes to have it open by July, reports the Navajo Times. Here are more details about the casino: The Navajo Nation's first casino will feature 400 slot machines, seven stations for table games and 14 … Continue reading Navajo tribe building casino along Route 66

Corporation acquires Animal Paradise

Animal Paradise Family Fun Park on old Route 66 near Strafford, Mo., has been purchased by Great American Family Parks Inc., according to a news release today. Animal Paradise is a longtime drive-through zoo that had seen troubled times lately. Revenues fell enough at the former Exotic Animal Paradise that the owner auctioned off many … Continue reading Corporation acquires Animal Paradise

Glendora could lose Route 66 funding

The Pasadena (Calif.) Star-News reports that the nearby Route 66 town of Glendora could lose $2 million to $3 million a year in redevelopment funds from Los Angeles County, including money earmarked for Route 66. A judge ruled that Glendora's redevelopment areas, including the Mother Road, were insufficiently blighted to receive the funds. The city … Continue reading Glendora could lose Route 66 funding

Buy a candy bar, help preserve Cuba’s murals

A new business, Route 66 Fudge Shop in Cuba, Mo., has just introduced a new line of candy bars that will help maintain that town's picturesque murals. A signature line of Route 66 candy bars (see above) sell for $2 apiece and come in 12 flavors: Rocky Road, Viva Cuba Mural City Bar, Cruisin' Nut … Continue reading Buy a candy bar, help preserve Cuba’s murals

Vickery Station restoration is commemorated

In the time before a ceremony Thursday morning involving the restored Vickery Phillips 66 Station in downtown Tulsa, at least one question was perhaps inadvertantly answered. How many people can be crammed into a cottage-style station? Answer: at least 20. That's impressive, in that the Vickery Station's main building measures only 13 feet by 20 … Continue reading Vickery Station restoration is commemorated

Honest Abe gets his kicks on the yellow brick road

The Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph has a brief item about an intriguing, if odd, new business coming downtown: Chris and Rose Hotz already own the Davis Rose Inn Bed & Breakfast on Jefferson Street. Now the couple wants to open a book and gift store that emphasizes all things Bloomington, Chris Hotz said. For example, Abe … Continue reading Honest Abe gets his kicks on the yellow brick road

Fire destroys historic Albuquerque saloon

The Golden West Saloon, which was built on Albuquerque's Central Avenue in 1929, was destroyed by fire Thursday, reports the Albuquerque Journal. The fire also damaged the historic El Rey Theater next door, but the owner is optimistic it will reopen next weekend. The owner made a appeal to the community to revive the saloon, … Continue reading Fire destroys historic Albuquerque saloon

Victorville has a plan … sort of

This story in the Victorville (Calif.) Daily Press tells about the city's continuing purchases of Old Town properties in an effort to revitalize the neighborhood. However ... Nothing has yet been put to paper as to what the purchased properties will become. Metzler said they will be eliminating the existing plan for Old Town’s revitalization … Continue reading Victorville has a plan … sort of

Flagstaff bringing back parking meters

The Flagstaff City Council voted 5-2 this week to reintroduce parking meters to 400 spaces in the downtown area, which includes Route 66, reports the Arizona Daily Sun. I'm not necessarily against parking meters, especially if they stop those who squat on spaces for hours or even days at a time. But there's reason to … Continue reading Flagstaff bringing back parking meters