Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public

Ryburn Place, aka Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, held its grand opening Saturday after a multi-year restoration of the historic Route 66 site. Ryburn Place is named after Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who owned the site for years and shepherded its renovations. Here is video of the site's sign reveal: And here … Continue reading Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public

Tulsa’s Route 66 sees upsurge in redevelopment

  I'd suspected this had happened, and it's been confirmed -- more than 28 properties along 11th Street, aka Route 66, in Tulsa have been redeveloped in the past decade. The Tulsa World newspaper over the weekend had the data: From Harvard Avenue to the Inner Dispersal Loop, 28 properties along 11th Street (also known … Continue reading Tulsa’s Route 66 sees upsurge in redevelopment

Tulsa may encourage neon signs along Route 66

The city of Tulsa is working to set up a Route 66 neon-sign overlay district that would encourage the use and preservation of such signs. The Frontier news site, based in Tulsa, had the details: The city’s idea, patterned after a similar one in Albuquerque, N.M., is simple: make it easier to put up a neon sign … Continue reading Tulsa may encourage neon signs along Route 66

Logo to promote Route 66 in Tulsa gets trademarked

A nonprofit group that aims to promote Route 66 in Tulsa recently had its logo earn trademark status from the U.S. government. Russ Roach, president of Route 66 Development Group Inc., last year applied for the trademark, which contains a U.S. highway shield and the wording "the Heart of," a horizontal line, then the wording … Continue reading Logo to promote Route 66 in Tulsa gets trademarked

Fire ravages Country Classic Cars near Staunton

A huge blaze Tuesday night destroyed at least one building and dozens of old vehicles at Country Classic Cars near old Route 66 near Staunton, Illinois. The Macoupin County Sheriff's Office told KSDK-TV in St. Louis that 11 fire departments were battling the blaze, which apparently started shortly before sundown. No injuries were reported. Country … Continue reading Fire ravages Country Classic Cars near Staunton

Santa Rosa revitalization plan would reduce Route 66 from four lanes to two

Traffic lanes on much of Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, would be reduced from four lanes to two as one aspect of a revitalization plan proposed by a consultant. Planning consultant Sarah Ijadi presented the ideas for the Downtown Santa Rosa Revitalization Plan in the city-county government complex in Santa Rosa, according to … Continue reading Santa Rosa revitalization plan would reduce Route 66 from four lanes to two

Hearing delayed to rezone Classen Circle in Oklahoma City

A controversial rezoning request that would have led to the demolition of historic Classen Circle and its businesses in Oklahoma City has been delayed at least a month. The Braum's restaurant chain, which requested the rezoning so it could put one of its stores there, agreed to move a planning commission hearing from Aug. 24 … Continue reading Hearing delayed to rezone Classen Circle in Oklahoma City

Class of 2017 for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame announced

The Route 66 Association of Illinois announced last month its three newest inductees to the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame. The association inducts "people and places along Route 66 whose blend of hardy individualism and grassroots community spirit gave the road such special character." The 2017 inductees were announced at a ceremony in Lincoln, … Continue reading Class of 2017 for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame announced

Mother Road Market planned in Tulsa

The Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation on Wednesday announced it will develop a $5.5 million Mother Road Market as an entrepreneurial food hall and community space just off Route 66 in Tulsa. The Mother Road Market will redevelop the 1939 Scrivner-Stevens Grocery as spaces for budding graduates of the Kitchen 66 food incubator. KTUL-TV gave more details about the … Continue reading Mother Road Market planned in Tulsa

The man behind many Route 66 neon sign restorations

KSDK-TV in St. Louis recently produced a story about neon signs along Route 66 in Missouri -- especially signs restored by the Route 66 Association of Missouri's Neon Heritage Preservation Committee. The fellow behind many of these restorations is David Hutson of Neon Time in St. Charles, Missouri. Hutson said: “When people tour Route 66, … Continue reading The man behind many Route 66 neon sign restorations