Obscure 1961 movie offers glimpses of Cedar Hill Grocery east of Tucumcari

An obscure drama from 1961 offers a rare glimpse of the Cedar Hill Grocery and gas station that operated along Route 66 east of Tucumcari, New Mexico. That includes the long-gone neon sign that was on the canopy (seen above). The movie also shows the interior of the business. According to a Wikipedia summary of … Continue reading Obscure 1961 movie offers glimpses of Cedar Hill Grocery east of Tucumcari

O’Brien Tire & Auto Care in Granite City is celebrating its 118th year this Friday

O'Brien Tire & Auto Care in Granite City, Illinois, will be serving complimentary food and drinks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 15 to mark its 118th year in business. That's not a typo. Yes, the shop at O'Brien Tire at 3924 Nameoki Road (aka Route 66) has been around for nearly 120 years. … Continue reading O’Brien Tire & Auto Care in Granite City is celebrating its 118th year this Friday

Quest to revive 4 Tucumcari businesses earns award from New Mexico Route 66 Association

Robert Moore Jr. and his brother William Cooke have been busy acquiring and cleaning up four long-abandoned businesses along Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Though reopening at least three of those businesses is a long way off, those efforts earned the annual Route 66 Heritage Award from the New Mexico Route 66 Association. The … Continue reading Quest to revive 4 Tucumcari businesses earns award from New Mexico Route 66 Association

City of El Reno to purchase former Route 66 gas station, will make improvements at plaza

The City of El Reno, Oklahoma, is under contract to buy a former gas station at Sunset Drive (aka Route 66) and Choctaw Avenue for $150,000 and is seeking a state Route 66 grant to improve that corner in time for the highway's centennial in 2026. The city also plans to upgrade its Mother Road … Continue reading City of El Reno to purchase former Route 66 gas station, will make improvements at plaza

Cool Springs Camp is marking the 20th year of its resurrection

Cool Springs Camp between Kingman and Oatman, Arizona, this year is marking the 20th anniversary of its improbable resurrection and reopening. "Improbable" is warranted because the old Route 66 gas station was abandoned for years, then literally blown up in a scene in the 1991 Jean Claude Van Damme movie "Universal Soldier." Here's the scene … Continue reading Cool Springs Camp is marking the 20th year of its resurrection

Distinctive muffler shop building in Holbrook torn down to make way for a dollar store

A distinctive but long-closed building that once housed a muffler shop in Holbrook, Arizona, was torn down in recent days. Local reports indicate the site will be used for a Dollar General store: It stood next to the landmark Wigwam Motel. As usual, the Route 66 Times website had information about the site at West … Continue reading Distinctive muffler shop building in Holbrook torn down to make way for a dollar store

John Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs undergoing extensive repairs, thanks to Route 66 grant

The historic John Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs, Arizona, is undergoing extensive repairs after a 2021 windstorm, thanks in part to a $45,000 grant from the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. According to a recent newsletter from the association, it awarded the grant to the Hualapai Tribe, which owns the station, to assist … Continue reading John Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs undergoing extensive repairs, thanks to Route 66 grant

First Buc-ee’s store along Route 66 corridor opens in Springfield, Missouri

The first Buc-ee's mega-convenience store along the Route 66 corridor opened Monday on the northeast side of Springfield, Missouri. The Springfield Buc-ee's sits just north of Interstate 44 and Old Route 66, off Exit 84. Here's a report from OzarksFirst.com on the opening day: Here's a video report from opening day: https://youtu.be/Bxw3dprUsN8?si=ZRvkhgJHF4AY8h1x When we call … Continue reading First Buc-ee’s store along Route 66 corridor opens in Springfield, Missouri

OU team to develop a living-museum experience at Threatt Filling Station near Luther

A University of Oklahoma team recently received funding from the nonprofit Oklahoma Humanities organization to develop a Route 66 Placemaking Communities Retreat that includes a living-museum experience at Threatt Filling Station near Luther, Oklahoma. The team also wants to develop a Route 66-themed design experience in Hydro, Oklahoma. The efforts are being done before Route … Continue reading OU team to develop a living-museum experience at Threatt Filling Station near Luther

Boots Court motel in Carthage opens its visitors’ center

The historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, recently opened to the public its Boots Court Motel Visitors Center, housed in a former Sinclair gas station adjacent to the Route 66 property. The motel opened the facility during Maple Leaf Festival weekend, which is Carthage's biggest event. More about it: A grand opening for the … Continue reading Boots Court motel in Carthage opens its visitors’ center