Fran Eickhoff plaque being moved to Missouri Hick Bar-B-Q

A plaque commemorating longtime Route 66 business owner Fran Eickhoff is being moved from Fanning 66 Outpost to the Missouri Hick Bar-B-Q restaurant in Cuba, Missouri, after the former closed. The plaque will be re-dedicated by the Route 66 Association of Missouri at 11 a.m. Saturday at the restaurant 913 E. Washington St. (aka Route 66; … Continue reading Fran Eickhoff plaque being moved to Missouri Hick Bar-B-Q

Flying C Ranch manager may revive Milagro gas station

The closed Milagro gas station west of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, may be resurrected by the manager of the nearby Flying C Ranch travel center. Last week's print edition of The Communicator newspaper in Santa Rosa reported Frank Tavenner, manager of the Flying C off Interstate 40 about 10 miles west of the Milagro station, is … Continue reading Flying C Ranch manager may revive Milagro gas station

Couple buys historic bank building in Carterville

A local couple recently bought a historic but deteriorated bank building in downtown Carterville, Missouri, and plan to eventually turn it into a residential and retail center. Brock and Courtney Powell of Carterville purchased the former First National Bank building at 301 Main St. (aka Route 66) about two months ago, reported the Joplin Globe. Brock Powell … Continue reading Couple buys historic bank building in Carterville

Tow Tater, aka Tow Mater, has a competitor in Missouri Mater

A lot of Route 66 folks know of Tow Tater, the 1951 International boom truck on Route 66 in Galena, Kansas, that served as the direct inspiration to the Tow Mater character in the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film "Cars." But barely 15 miles east in Carterville, Missouri, also on Route 66, sits another rusty tow truck that … Continue reading Tow Tater, aka Tow Mater, has a competitor in Missouri Mater

Singer’s new music video is a postcard from Tucumcari

Albuquerque native and pop-country singer Alex Stern released a music video for her song "Runaways" a few days ago. The video shot by Randy Shaffer practically is a love letter to the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, New Mexico. It features the Blue Swallow Motel, the Odeon Theatre, Watson's Ranch and Farm Supply and Tucumcari … Continue reading Singer’s new music video is a postcard from Tucumcari

Ground broken for Cardinal Route 66 Memorial Park

Area officials broke ground Friday for Cardinal Route 66 Memorial Park in Webb City, Missouri, on a triangular piece of land on the town's east side. Actual construction will begin in a few days. Completion of the park is scheduled for March 1. According to a report from the scene by KSNF-TV: "It's going to … Continue reading Ground broken for Cardinal Route 66 Memorial Park

Several vintage signs soon will be restored in Kingman

The Route 66 Association of Kingman has begun the restoration of several historic neon signs and created new signs for businesses in Kingman, Arizona. According to a recent news release from the association: Through a partnership with Legacy Signs, they have provided new signage for various organizations and businesses such as the non-profit Luv of … Continue reading Several vintage signs soon will be restored in Kingman

Two Oklahoma properties added to National Register

Two areas of Route 66 in Oklahoma recently were named to the National Register of Historic Places, according to an email Thursday from the National Park Service. First, the register recognized the Downtown Claremore Historic District that includes a couple of blocks of Lynn Riggs Boulevard (aka Route 66) and the historic Will Rogers Hotel … Continue reading Two Oklahoma properties added to National Register

Speakers lineup announced for Miles of Possibility Conference

The Route 66 Miles of Possibility conference recently announced its speakers for the Oct. 20-23 event at the McLean County Museum of History/Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center and the Ensenberger Building in downtown Bloomington, Illinois. Last year's Miles of Possibility in Edwardsville, Illinois, contained a slew of speakers, and this lineup looks no less abundant. Cory … Continue reading Speakers lineup announced for Miles of Possibility Conference

Book review: “Portrait of Route 66”

"Portrait of Route 66" provides many colorful or obscure images from the massive Curt Teich Postcard Archive, and it offers a look at the Mother Road from the mid-1920s to the early 1950s. But one of the most enjoyable parts of "Portrait of Route 66" (280 pages, cloth, illustrated, University of Oklahoma Press) turns out to be … Continue reading Book review: “Portrait of Route 66”