Cronkite News Service in Arizona has a report about residents' efforts to save the Havasu Hotel in Seligman from the wrecking ball. It was a Harvey House for many years until it closed decades ago. Most of the story treads over familiar ground, except for this new twist: Frank Kocevar, owner of Seligman Sundries, a … Continue reading Report on the Havasu Hotel
Category: Businesses
How do we bring back the foreign visitors?
I remember David Knudson of the National Historic Route 66 Federation commenting not long ago that the number of foreign travelers on the Mother Road had taken a big decline since the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Turns out it wasn't Knudson's imagination, nor was Route 66 the only tourism casualty of 9/11. This … Continue reading How do we bring back the foreign visitors?
No bull
Straight from the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff: The fiberglass bull welded to the sign outside Crazy Bill's Saloon and Steakhouse has been stolen. According to Flagstaff police reports, the brown bull, which is about half-sized in scale, was taken between 8 p.m. on Thursday and 4 a.m. on Friday from the bar and restaurant, … Continue reading No bull
Spinning yarns about Oklahoma Joe’s
Johnny Mango at Duke City Fix shows a postcard of one of Albuquerque's first barbecue joints, Oklahoma Joe's, on Central Avenue (aka Route 66) near the University of New Mexico campus. Mango said Okie Joe's, later known as Okie's, was known for 10-cent beer nights, with the brew served in paper cups. It was a … Continue reading Spinning yarns about Oklahoma Joe’s
Bringing back Broadway
Los Angeles Downtown News Online has posted a long story about the city's attempts to revitalize the historic Broadway district, part of which is old Route 66. Many similar efforts have failed. But because the downtown area is gaining more residents, there's some urgency and hope that a Broadway revival will be for real. For … Continue reading Bringing back Broadway
Accept no substitutes
In recent weeks, it's come to our attention that a few online companies have been offering all four seasons of the original "Route 66" television series on DVD. Those are unofficial releases, because Roxbury Entertainment owns the rights to "Route 66" and is releasing the first half-season on a four-DVD set in a matter of … Continue reading Accept no substitutes
A visit to 4 Women on the Route
It was nearly a year ago when I went to 4 Women on the Route's event to show off the boom truck that was the inspiration for Mater in the movie "Cars" and fledgling Route 66 visitors center at Front and Main streets in Galena, Kan. I'd driven by the 4 Women on the Route's … Continue reading A visit to 4 Women on the Route
DIY festival
Merchants along Sixth Street, aka Route 66, in Amarillo, Texas, have long been waiting for the city to do something about revitalization. They got tired of waiting. The Route 66 Business Association and San Jacinto Christian Academy teamed up to create the first annual Historic Route 66 Fall Festival on Oct. 6, reports The Ranger, … Continue reading DIY festival
Wishing Well Motel’s razing is imminent
Lately, I'd been getting e-mails from Illinois Route 66ers, telling me there was grave activity occurring at the historic Wishing Well Motel on Route 66 in the Chicago suburb of Countryside, Ill. One observer said the motel's electrical meters and water main had been removed. Others had reported that fencing had been erected around the … Continue reading Wishing Well Motel’s razing is imminent
Officials eye reuse of abandoned gas stations
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe reports that federal EPA and state officials are looking at ways to reuse abandoned gas stations along Route 66 into productive businesses. The discussion took place in Galena, Kan. Doyle said a survey found 45 abandoned gas stations along Route 66 from St. Louis, Mo., to Baxter Springs. He said there … Continue reading Officials eye reuse of abandoned gas stations