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
Category: Businesses
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
Admiral Twin Drive-In to host 918 Flea Market
One Route 66 landmark's loss is another's gain. The Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa will host the 918 Flea Market starting April 14 after it operated for several weekends at the Rose Bowl Event Center in town. The Admiral Twin will continue to show movies at night after hosting the flea market during the day … Continue reading Admiral Twin Drive-In to host 918 Flea Market
Former Midpoint Cafe owner running for mayor of Adrian
Fran Houser, former longtime owner of the landmark Midpoint Cafe and current owner of the nearby Sunflower Station in Adrian, Texas, is running for mayor in the tiny Texas Panhandle town. Houser filed for candidacy two weeks ago, but her campaign got a boost Thursday with a semi-viral video from a local woman on Facebook. … Continue reading Former Midpoint Cafe owner running for mayor of Adrian
What to do about less foreign tourism?
Route 66 author Jim Hinckley observed that foreign tourism to the United States -- a key driver to the Mother Road economy -- began to decline in the past a year and a half. Hinckley said the downward trend began about 20 months ago. It's not just anecdotal evidence, either. The U.S. Department of Commerce … Continue reading What to do about less foreign tourism?
Old book provides a look back at Quay County, New Mexico
In the last few days, I've perused a book titled "Quay County, New Mexico, 1903-1985." It contains hundreds of stories and photos from the region, including the Route 66 towns of Endee, Bard, San Jon, Tucumcari, Polomas and Montoya. The book, edited by Mary Lynn Moncus and Marian Farmer Knapp, contains nearly 800 pages of … Continue reading Old book provides a look back at Quay County, New Mexico