Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on Route 66 opens Airbnb behind the property

The owner of the Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on Route 66 shop in Tulsa has opened an Airbnb in a century-old house directly behind the property. It's called Buck's Cosmic Crash Pad on Route 66. The 1917 three-bedroom house goes for $137 a night. A description from the listing: Experience a one of a kind … Continue reading Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on Route 66 opens Airbnb behind the property

Elaborate development planned for Two Guns site in Arizona

Artist's rendering of the proposed cliffside motel at Two Guns, Arizona. A developer plans an elaborate transformation of the Two Guns, Arizona, site that includes a luxury campground and even a cliffside motel along Diablo Canyon. John D. Gunderman made his plans public through an extensive website for his 2 Guns Luxury Resort. He said … Continue reading Elaborate development planned for Two Guns site in Arizona

Central Camera in Chicago to reopen in a storefront next door in September

Central Camera, a mainstay on Route 66 in downtown Chicago for over a century that burned during unrest in late May over the George Floyd police-brutality case, will reopen in September in a temporary store as the original is rebuilt. Block Club Chicago had the story Tuesday: The store at 228 S. Wabash Ave. will … Continue reading Central Camera in Chicago to reopen in a storefront next door in September

Two microbreweries open along Route 66 despite coronavirus disruptions

This past month, two microbreweries have opened along Route 66 despite the economic turmoil and disruptions created by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic -- a sign of hope if there ever was one. Wally Kennedy, a writer at the Joplin Globe, noted that ray of sunshine amid the clouds during a recent column: So when something … Continue reading Two microbreweries open along Route 66 despite coronavirus disruptions

Webb City home, Kingshighway district in St. Louis added to National Register

An 1891 house in Webb City, Missouri, and a commercial district on Kingshighway Boulevard in St. Louis each were added to the National Register of Historic Places last week. Both are on or very near historic Route 66. The Elijah Thomas Webb home at 4 S. Liberty St. in Webb City (map here) is owned … Continue reading Webb City home, Kingshighway district in St. Louis added to National Register

Buck Atom fiberglass giant in Tulsa gets its own face mask

Leave it to Mary Beth Babcock to find some high-profile levity during a worldwide pandemic. Babcock last week added a large bandanna mask to her 21-foot-tall Buck Atom fiberglass statue at her Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66 shop in Tulsa in response to the city imposing a mask mandate amid a rise in coronavirus … Continue reading Buck Atom fiberglass giant in Tulsa gets its own face mask

Illinois gives $450,000 in grants for Springfield’s Route 66 corridor

The Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission last week landed two state grants totaling $450,000 to redevelop the Peoria Road/Ninth Street corridor and a plan to promote Route 66 in the county. The State Journal-Register in Springfield reported: For Sangamon County, this translates into $250,000 for a study of the Peoria Road/Ninth Street Corridor between Cook … Continue reading Illinois gives $450,000 in grants for Springfield’s Route 66 corridor

Museum rescues House of Spirits sign from Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles

The Museum of Neon Art last week rescued the iconic House of Spirits signs that stood in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles after a major fire closed the business. The museum, based in nearby Glendale, California, also accepted the donations of the liquor store's storybook house with the crooked chimney, white picket fence … Continue reading Museum rescues House of Spirits sign from Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles

City of Albuquerque to provide aid to businesses affected by COVID-19, riots

Albuquerque's mayor this week vowed to provide assistance to downtown businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic and riots during police brutality protests. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the city has contracted with minority-owned Glass on Wheels to replace an estimated $200,000 in windows that were broken during the protests. There is no timeline when the … Continue reading City of Albuquerque to provide aid to businesses affected by COVID-19, riots

Arizona imposes new restrictions because of COVID-19

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered the shutdown of bars, movie theaters, gyms and water parks Monday for at least 30 days because of a surge of coronavirus cases in that state. “Our expectation is that our numbers next week will be worse,” Ducey said, according to the Associated Press. Arizona health officials reported 3,858 more … Continue reading Arizona imposes new restrictions because of COVID-19