Family acquires 120-year-old Parks general store

A family has taken over ownership of the more than century-old general store along Route 66 in Parks, Arizona. Rechristened as The Old Route 66 Parks Store, the circa-1906 establishment at 12963 Old Route 66 was previously known as the Parks in the Pines Store & Deli. KTVK/KPHO in Phoenix reports that Paul and Veronica … Continue reading Family acquires 120-year-old Parks general store

Niangua Service Station moved to Route 66 Plaza in Marshfield

The century-old and long-closed Niangua Service Station that once stood along Route 66 was recently moved a few miles west to the forthcoming Route 66 Plaza in Marshfield, Missouri. The Mail newspaper in Marshfield reports the gas station, believed to be a former Phillips 66 business, was placed on its new, permanent site off a … Continue reading Niangua Service Station moved to Route 66 Plaza in Marshfield

Road Runner’s Retreat neon sign glows again for the first time in a half-century

The neon sign for the long-closed Road Runner's Retreat truck stop near Chambless, California, glowed again Saturday night for the first time in about 50 years. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route Association, was one of the people with his camera at the relighting ceremony: Here's a reel that shows the sign's animation of … Continue reading Road Runner’s Retreat neon sign glows again for the first time in a half-century

Owners of Threatt Filling Station request zoning change for planned 160-acre complex

The ownership of the historic Threatt Filling Station in Luther, Oklahoma, has filed for a specific use permit from the city for a 160-acre complex. According to The Luther Register newspaper, Threatt Legacy LLC wants to rezone the tract on Route 66 and Pottawatomie Road for a mixed-use development that would include a museum, campground, … Continue reading Owners of Threatt Filling Station request zoning change for planned 160-acre complex

RV park owner in Vega aims to restore a former Gulf station as museum or visitor center

The owner of an RV park in Vega, Texas, has launched an online fundraiser to restore a 1950s Gulf station along Route 66 and convert it into a museum or visitors center. James Gorman, who operates the Walnut RV Park in Vega, has started a GoFundMe campaign for the station, with a goal of $1,500. … Continue reading RV park owner in Vega aims to restore a former Gulf station as museum or visitor center

“Bozo” Cordova, founder of the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, dies

James "Bozo" Cordova, founder of the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and a longtime mechanic in that city, died on Saturday. He was 77. According to his obituary, Cordova, as a youth, began working at various gas stations along Route 66 in Santa Rosa. After graduating from high school, he attended … Continue reading “Bozo” Cordova, founder of the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, dies

Hudson Service Station in Miami designated to National Register of Historic Places

The 90-year-old Hudson Service Station in Miami, Oklahoma, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The station at 218 S. Main St. (aka Route 66) landed the designation on Aug. 18, according to an email from the National Park Service. The Oklahoma Historical Society also announced it. According to Sooner State News: Built … Continue reading Hudson Service Station in Miami designated to National Register of Historic Places

Rich’s Famous Burgers moving into Weir on 66 site in Cuba

Rich's Famous Burgers recently announced on social media that it would soon move into the closed Weir on 66 restaurant site in Cuba, Missouri. Weir on 66, housed in a former Phillips 66 cottage-style gas station built along Route 66 in 1932, closed for good in early July after four years there. In a follow-up … Continue reading Rich’s Famous Burgers moving into Weir on 66 site in Cuba

Route 66 centennial monument dedicated at Threatt Filling Station

A Route 66 centennial monument was dedicated Friday at the historic Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma. Members of the surviving Threatt family, which have worked for the past several years to preserve the structure, attended the event. According to the Luther Register News, Edward Threatt Sr., who manages the station, announced … Continue reading Route 66 centennial monument dedicated at Threatt Filling Station

Sprague’s Super Service station in Normal receives $150,000 grant

The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau won a $150,000 state tourism grant for further restorations to Sprague’s Super Service in Normal, Illinois, before Route 66's centennial next year. According to WGLT radio, the money comes from the Route 66 Grant Program, which aims to preserve and educate travelers along the state's Route 66 corridor. The funds … Continue reading Sprague’s Super Service station in Normal receives $150,000 grant