The Gallup Independent has the photo above with the following information: Star Light: Hinckley Signs employees Danny Ellis, Gilbert Mexican, Dan Rudisill and Tamend Brown dismantle the star-shaped sphere after removing it from the top of the Downtown Plaza sign Monday in Gallup. The old sign, which is motorized and lit with neon lights, is … Continue reading Gallup rotosphere will be restored
Category: Businesses
Appeal on Horn Oil Co. decision
I received an e-mail from Steve Murrow of the Albuquerque Downtown Neighborhoods Association. The group is planning to appeal the decision by the city Environmental Planning Commission to raze part of the historic Horn Oil Co. property to make way for a multi-use development. The appeal hasn't been filed yet, but the group has 14 … Continue reading Appeal on Horn Oil Co. decision
Rose Bowl in Tulsa up for sale on eBay
Less than a month after it was purchased, the Rose Bowl on Route 66 in Tulsa is up for sale again -- this time on eBay. Starting bid is $499,000, with a "Buy It Now" price of $599,000. Owner Sam Baker also is selling the original wooden alleys for $3,500 apiece, according to the site. … Continue reading Rose Bowl in Tulsa up for sale on eBay
A real character of the road dies
I hadn't heard of Riley B. Thompson, who died at age 82 on Saturday. But I'm sure some of the old-timers of Route 66 in Southern California have. Check out the obituary in the Daily Press. After serving in the Marine Corps, Thompson moved to the High Desert in 1950 and worked providing vehicles and … Continue reading A real character of the road dies
New tavern coming to Tulsa’s Blue Dome District
I walked by this construction site the other day when we had lunch at the Blue Dome Cafe, formerly the Route 66 Diner. It turns out it will be a new branch of Dirty's Tavern, a popular watering hole in Stillwater. The new one, in the Blue Dome District of Tulsa along an old stretch … Continue reading New tavern coming to Tulsa’s Blue Dome District
Lauterbach Tire Man beheaded
No, al-Qaida insurgents from Iraq aren't responsible. The lopping off of the Lauterbach Tire Man's noggin on the 1926-34 alignment of Route 66 in Springfield, Ill., was caused by last week's severe thunderstorms. As you can see, the head was eventually found. Lauterbach Tire and Car Wash Service is at 1569 Wabash Ave. in Springfield. … Continue reading Lauterbach Tire Man beheaded
Old building on Route 66 finds new life
The 80-year-old Front Door building on Route 66 in Strafford, Mo., which once was cited by Ripley's Believe It or Not as having two fronts, is now being used as an after-school hangout for latchkey teens, according to the Springfield News-Leader. The Front Door Student Center is a project led by Alter Student Ministries and … Continue reading Old building on Route 66 finds new life
Ace Jackalope reaches the end of Route 66
Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog meets the end of the trail on his Route 66 trek at Santa Monica, Calif., including the Santa Monica Pier. Again, many nice photos are taken, including of the pier's attractions. And I'm not sure how I missed this, but here's another Ace Jackalope entry from his adventures in … Continue reading Ace Jackalope reaches the end of Route 66
In defense of neon signs
Several towns along Route 66 have restrictive zoning codes against neon signs -- rules that seem nonconducive to the Mother Road experience. One of the reasons some municipalities restrict the use of neon signs is traffic safety. Apparently there is concern that the vivid light of neon lighting will distract motorists and cause accidents. I … Continue reading In defense of neon signs
Historic building in Arizona being restored
The historic Beck Furniture Building in the Route 66 town of Holbrook, Ariz., is being restored to be a restaurant and gift shop, according to the Holbrook Tribune-News. The couple fixing up the building hope to have it open by late May.