Former Pixar Animation chief John Lasseter, director of the Route 66-inspired "Cars" film in 2006, recently was hired as chief of Skydance Animation. Lasseter -- along with the film's vision of the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs -- is the figure most responsible for the Mother Road’s continued renaissance except perhaps Michael Wallis … Continue reading “Cars” director John Lasseter hired by Skydance Animation
Category: Businesses
How not to treat Route 66 tourists
This strange and unfortunate incident happened in Amboy, California, in November, but it surfaced earlier this week on the Historic Route 66 page on Facebook. The incident also largely was confirmed by Carlos Aceves, who was the town's manager, including at Roy's. Here's the Nov. 5 story by KCDZ, a community radio station that states … Continue reading How not to treat Route 66 tourists
Mother Road Market in Tulsa shows stunning early success
The Mother Road Market just off Route 66 in Tulsa opened a few weeks ago as an incubator for about 20 food or retail stores and an events center, and the results since then can be described as stunning. John Klein, a columnist for the Tulsa World newspaper, in a recent entry passed along these … Continue reading Mother Road Market in Tulsa shows stunning early success
City of Springfield buys both sides of Sonrise Donuts sign
The city of Springfield, Illinois, revealed itself Friday as the new owner of the historic Sonrise Donuts neon signs along Route 66 in Springfield that recently went up for auction. The even-better news is Ace Sign Co. of Springfield will restore one side of the sign at no cost, and a restoration fund was set … Continue reading City of Springfield buys both sides of Sonrise Donuts sign
Wildlife officials dismiss review of Mojave Desert water project
California wildlife officials said an environmental review by Cadiz Inc. is severely flawed and a permit to extract billions of gallons of water from under the Mojave Desert cannot be approved. The Palm Springs Desert Sun reported: The California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife says scientists for Cadiz and the Orange County-based Rancho Santa Margarita … Continue reading Wildlife officials dismiss review of Mojave Desert water project
Needles’ future is going to pot
Needles, California, which has seen better days like many Route 66 towns bypassed by the interstate decades ago, is betting on future growth with the marijuana industry. This isn't just hyperbole. Check out these facts from the story by the New York Times: The City Council in this solidly Republican community of 5,000 people has … Continue reading Needles’ future is going to pot
Albuquerque sues company over bad ART buses
Albuquerque announced Friday it was suing the BYD company over its faulty electrical buses made for the city's troubled Albuquerque Rapid Transit line. Mayor Tim Keller announced the legal action after forcing the California-based company to take back the buses. According to the Albuquerque Journal: Keller said the city reached out to BYD in an … Continue reading Albuquerque sues company over bad ART buses
The Uranus Examiner newspaper suspends publication
Louis Keen, owner of the infamous Uranus Missouri complex and publisher of The Uranus Examiner, which emerged in September after a nearby daily newspaper shut down, announced the suspension of his publication because of financial difficulties after lenders pulled their funding. In a lengthy Facebook post Friday, Keen explained what prompted him to pull the plug on … Continue reading The Uranus Examiner newspaper suspends publication
Route 66 bill probably won’t help Grants microbrewery against lawsuit
An Albuquerque television station reported Route 66 Historic Trail legislation winding its way through Congress may help a Grants, New Mexico, microbrewery in its trademark lawsuit from a European company. The microbrewery is Henry Lackey's Route 66 Junkyard Brewery at 1634 Route 66 in Grants. As previously reported, the microbrewery was sued late last year … Continue reading Route 66 bill probably won’t help Grants microbrewery against lawsuit
Bill Deck of Deck’s Drug Store in Girard dies
Wyman P. "Bill" Deck, co-owner of the historic Deck's Drug Store in downtown Girard, Illinois, died Monday at age 91 at a hospital in nearby Springfield. A Girard native, Deck was a pharmacy technician at the store and formerly was a librarian at Auburn Public Schools in nearby Auburn, Illinois, according to an obituary in … Continue reading Bill Deck of Deck’s Drug Store in Girard dies