James Leonard Swinney Jr., the former owner of the long-gone Elms Motel on Route 66 in Miami, Okla., and son of the founder of the closed Swinney's Hardware on Route 66 in Tulsa, died at age 98 on Dec. 28 in Albuquerque, according to an obituary in the Grand Lake News in Oklahoma. Swinney owned … Continue reading Former owner of the Elms Motel of Miami dies
Category: Businesses
An old Chevy can break down here
If you're ever driving a mid-1950s Chevrolet on Route 66, there are far worse places to break down than in Stroud, Okla. KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City reports about Route 66 Restoration Supplies, a shop that specializes in parts for 1955, 1956 and 1957 Chevys. To see the report, just hit the KFOR link. As … Continue reading An old Chevy can break down here
See the new home of Ike’s Chili — and its neighbors
The new site for Ike's Chili isn't open yet, but KTUL-TV in Tulsa provided a look behind the scenes at 11th Street (aka Route 66): KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather Ike's Chili, which marked its 100th year a few years ago, has been on Admiral Place -- an older alignment of Route 66 … Continue reading See the new home of Ike’s Chili — and its neighbors
Merry Christmas from Seligman Sundries
The good folks at Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Ariz., put together this video Christmas card for everyone. https://youtu.be/YhVXTRQw2Yo Frank and Lynne Kocevar are on break, but will return to making coffees around mid-March.
Albuquerque gets grant for LED neon lighting
The City of Albuquerque received a grant from a state utility company to set up LED neon street lighting along a two-block stretch of downtown Central Avenue (aka Route 66), according to an announcement Wednesday from New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and a report from KRQE-TV. A grant also will be used to "establish a … Continue reading Albuquerque gets grant for LED neon lighting
Pops store coming to Tulsa airport
If you're traveling by air to Tulsa or have a changeover at Tulsa International Airport, you'll soon have access to a taste of Route 66 while you're there. Pops, a convenience store and restaurant based on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla., will open at the airport its third location. It will be inside the former … Continue reading Pops store coming to Tulsa airport
Earthquake strikes near Arcadia, Okla.
https://youtu.be/hcV1MS1mUHM The Route 66 town of Arcadia, Okla., experienced a 4.5-magnitude earthquake shortly after noon Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Oklahoma Geological Survey recorded the quake as a 4.8-magnitude. The agency also reported several aftershocks in the 3.0-magnitude and up range. Surveillance video above from a store in nearby Edmond shows the … Continue reading Earthquake strikes near Arcadia, Okla.
The true story about the ruins at Plano, Mo.
The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader did a public service Wednesday, namely clearing up fact from fiction about the much-photographed limestone ruins at the ghost town of Plano, Mo., on Route 66. Among the wild claims -- no doubt fueled by the ruins' gothic appearance -- were the building once served as a casket factory or a … Continue reading The true story about the ruins at Plano, Mo.
Albuquerque OKs redevelopment plan centered around El Vado Motel
The Albuquerque City Council on Monday approved a redevelopment plan centered around the long-closed El Vado Motel and Casa Grande restaurant, reported Albuquerque Business First. The move called for the area of Central Avenue (aka Route 66) west of downtown to the Rio Grande declared as "blighted." However, that isn't necessarily a bad thing for what … Continue reading Albuquerque OKs redevelopment plan centered around El Vado Motel
Dinosaur moves to Grand Canyon Caverns
A 40-foot-long dinosaur statue evicted from a Southern California neighborhood because of zoning issues has landed in its new home at Grand Canyon Caverns near Peach Springs, Ariz. Longtime roadie Jim Conkle sent me these photos of the life-size apatosaurus that Grand Canyon Caverns recently installed on its grounds. A formal ceremony to dedicate the dinosaur will … Continue reading Dinosaur moves to Grand Canyon Caverns