Wanda Queenan, 91, longtime currator of the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma, and co-owner of the now-closed Queenan's Indian Trading Post on Route 66 on the edge of town, has died, according to her daughter. Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home in Clinton, Oklahoma, is in charge of arrangements. I'll post more information about the funeral … Continue reading Longtime Route 66 museum curator Wanda Queenan dies
Category: Businesses
“Route 66: The Road Ahead” report released
The World Monuments Fund this month released its report on the "Route 66: The Road Ahead" roundtable held in November at Anaheim, California, that involved many movers and shakers of the Route 66 community. The 67-page Acrobat document can be read in its entirety here. I commend it to your attention. Much of the report … Continue reading “Route 66: The Road Ahead” report released
Milk Bottle Building will be restored
The historic Milk Bottle Building in Oklahoma City will be restored to close to its original appearance, reported The Oklahoman newspaper. Catherine Montgomery, a preservation architect at Preservation & Design Studio who is helping with the project, told the newspaper the interior will be renovated for a new tenant. After removing a sheet of plywood … Continue reading Milk Bottle Building will be restored
A look at downtown Los Angeles
With the help of a quad-copter, filmmaker Ian Wood produced this video about the landmarks of downtown Los Angeles, which was the western end of Route 66 until the highway was extended to Santa Monica. Downtown Los Angeles from Ian Wood on Vimeo. Wood's description of the video: Above the grit and noise of the … Continue reading A look at downtown Los Angeles
A visit with Rich Henry
KC Keefer continues his "Genuine Route 66 Life" video series with an interview of Rich Henry, owner of Henry's Rabbit Ranch on a stretch of old Route 66 in Staunton, Illinois. https://youtu.be/nCSM7wyOGoU It's good to see Henry breaking in a new bunny to greet tourists. He has to do that every few years because their life … Continue reading A visit with Rich Henry
A promotional video for Kansas Route 66
Check out this well-made, three-minute video for Kansas Route 66, made for Kansas Byways. Route 66 MASTER from Gizmo Pictures on Vimeo. The segment was produced by Gizmo Pictures, a film and video production company in Topeka, Kansas. (A scene from downtown Baxter Springs, Kansas, by Aaron Sumner via Flickr)
Will Oscar Mayer buy the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle?
Several media outlets in the St. Louis area reported the Oscar Mayer brand is interested in buying the World's Largest Catsup Bottle, which went up for sale earlier this month. However, at least one metro-east news website regarded the reports with skepticism. The speculation was fueled by Oscar Mayer's famous Wienermobile making an appearance at the … Continue reading Will Oscar Mayer buy the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle?
Fran Houser puts her Sunflower Station up for sale
Fran Houser, former owner of the Route 66 landmark Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop in Adrian, Texas, has put her western-themed antiques and crafts store, Sunflower Station, up for sale so she can spend more time with family members out west. Houser started Sunflower Station two years ago after she sold the Midpoint to Dennis Purschwitz, … Continue reading Fran Houser puts her Sunflower Station up for sale
Tours offered of hard-to-access Route 66 sites in Arizona
The Petrified Forest National Park is allowing free, guided tours of hard-to-reach landmarks on a long-closed section of Route 66 on Aug. 8 and Aug. 10. The tours coincide with the Route 66 festival taking place that weekend in nearby Holbrook, Arizona. The Arizona Journal had a listing of the sites that will be included during … Continue reading Tours offered of hard-to-access Route 66 sites in Arizona
Owner of El Rancho Hotel in Gallup dies
Armand Ortega Sr., 86, savior of the historic El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, when it faced the wrecking ball during the 1980s, died Wednesday. An employee at the hotel said Ortega had been in failing health for about a year. His funeral was today at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Gallup, with burial at Sunset Cemetery. Ortega Family Enterprises, based in Santa Fe, owns … Continue reading Owner of El Rancho Hotel in Gallup dies