Route 66-themed shop opening soon in Tulsa

An esteemed veteran of Tulsa's independent retail scene will open a shop along the city's Route 66 main corridor and focus on Mother Road-type items. Mary Beth Babcock, best known for establishing the Dwelling Spaces shop in downtown Tulsa, is scheduled to open her Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on Route 66 in a former gas … Continue reading Route 66-themed shop opening soon in Tulsa

ART construction ends, but issues remain

New Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller proclaimed Thursday that major construction along Central Avenue  for the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project was finished, and businesses along that Route 66 corridor could breathe a sigh of relief. However, major issues remain along the troubled nine-mile bus system, with no quick resolution in sight. The Albuquerque Journal reported: During … Continue reading ART construction ends, but issues remain

Several Route 66 cities receive brownfield grants

Several large Route 66 cities will receive brownfield grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "to assess, clean up and redevelop underutilized properties while protecting public health and the environment." According to a news release from the agency, 144 cities will receive a total of $54.3 million. Here are the Route 66 communities that will receive … Continue reading Several Route 66 cities receive brownfield grants

Donations sought for possible cost-share preservation grants

Roamin' Rich Dinkela this week launched a campaign to raise matching donation dollars for possible cost-share grants from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to help rehabilitate or stabilize the Painted Desert Trading Post in Arizona and the Gasconade River Bridge in Missouri, plus also offering money or elbow grease to preserve what's left of … Continue reading Donations sought for possible cost-share preservation grants

Water project may endanger Bonanza Springs in Mojave Desert

For years, Cadiz Inc. has sought to pump tens of billions of gallons of underground water from the Mojave Desert and pipe it to thirsty Southern Californians. Given the desert's arid landscape, people may shrug and say "So what?" to that piece of news. But experts now have told The Desert Sun in Palm Springs … Continue reading Water project may endanger Bonanza Springs in Mojave Desert

Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop

The Route 66 Chamber of Commerce recently announced it seeks to move into the historic Dale's Ole 66 Barbershop in Joplin, Missouri. The main building also will host an art gallery. The chamber stated on its GoFundMe campaign and on a separate website that Dale's would would be restored so the chamber could use it … Continue reading Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop

Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post

A new group that calls itself the Route 66 Co-op has purchased the long-abandoned ruins of the Painted Desert Trading Post and its accompanying 94 acres in eastern Arizona to preserve it, according to a news release Sunday afternoon. "Roamin'" Rich Dinkela, one of the co-op's members, stated in the release: It was brought to … Continue reading Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post

Windstorm flattens Route 66 mural in Lexington

An apparent windstorm knocked down a Route 66 mural in Lexington, Illinois, that was created by a local teenager barely six months ago. Karen Wingo, owner of the Thrift Avenue store along Route 66 in downtown Lexington, told the Pontiac Daily Leader she discovered the damage over Easter weekend. Wingo was first alerted to the … Continue reading Windstorm flattens Route 66 mural in Lexington

El Vado Motel inches closer to reopening

The historic El Vado Motel in Albuquerque is moving closer to reopening -- probably sometime in May -- after a lengthy redevelopment on the long-closed Route 66 property. While in Albuquerque earlier this week, we dropped by to check on progress on the property, which is being converted into a boutique motel with food pods, … Continue reading El Vado Motel inches closer to reopening

Missouri Preservation to honor construction firm for its work in downtown Joplin

This week, Neal Group Construction will be honored by Missouri Preservation for its work in helping preserve dozens of buildings in downtown Joplin. According to the Joplin Globe, the company will receive the McReynolds Award for "significant achievement in the field of historic preservation" at Missouri Preservation's Statewide Preservation Honor Awards on Thursday. Among the buildings Neal … Continue reading Missouri Preservation to honor construction firm for its work in downtown Joplin