KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City recently produced a story about Sam "Mr. Sam" Gillaspy and the story he told about a long-closed Route 66 gas station between Arcadia and Luther, Oklahoma. Gillaspy, known as a longtime host at the Round Barn in nearby Arcadia, told the TV crew a secret back room in the Depression-era gas … Continue reading Tall tales spun around long-closed gas station
Category: Gas stations
Bob Boze Bell’s garage find
Bob Boze Bell, an author, artist and owner of True West magazine, wrote on his blog he recently had found some long-lost photographs from the 1950s -- many of them on Route 66 -- in a yellowed box in his garage. He wrote: Wish I would have had them when we were doing "The 66 … Continue reading Bob Boze Bell’s garage find
Wagoner’s Station in Williams being restored, will be offered for lease
The closed Wagoner's Station on the west side of Williams, Arizona, has been purchased by two men who are restoring it to its Route 66 look before leasing it. The station at 811 W. Route 66 in Williams is being renovated by Mike Cowan and Bryant McGee, reported the Williams-Grand Canyon News. The newspaper stated: … Continue reading Wagoner’s Station in Williams being restored, will be offered for lease
Dawn Patterson of DK’s Garage in Towanda dies
Dawn Patterson of Towanda, Illinois, who turned her two-car garage next to her home into a Route 66 tourist destination called DK's Garage, died last week after a brief illness. She was 59. Catherine Stevanovich of the Illinois Route 66 Association wrote some thoughts about Patterson in an email: If Dawn's garage overhead door was … Continue reading Dawn Patterson of DK’s Garage in Towanda dies
Site of Shea’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum back up for sale
The site of the Shea's Route 66 Gas Station Museum in Springfield, Illinois, is back up for sale, but the owner still is considering acquiring a business partner to help keep its Route 66 look. Tim Landis, business editor of the Springfield State Journal-Register, reported on the change in his weekly column: Owner Randy Pickett … Continue reading Site of Shea’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum back up for sale
Underpass Cafe exterior near Phillipsburg to be restored
The exterior of the Underpass Cafe building east of Phillipsburg, Missouri, that has been closed for about 60 years will be restored by the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society. According to a post this week by Gary Sosniecki on the society's webpage: Gary McMillan, whose family has owned the property since 1969, has given permission … Continue reading Underpass Cafe exterior near Phillipsburg to be restored
Charley’s Automotive Service in Grants named to National Register
The long-closed Charley's Automotive Service building along Route 66 in Grants, New Mexico, was named to the National Register of Historic Places. The designation became effective Oct. 4, according to a recent email from the National Park Service. The station is at 1308-1310 W. Santa Fe Ave. (aka Route 66). The New Mexico Historic Preservation … Continue reading Charley’s Automotive Service in Grants named to National Register
Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public
Ryburn Place, aka Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, held its grand opening Saturday after a multi-year restoration of the historic Route 66 site. Ryburn Place is named after Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who owned the site for years and shepherded its renovations. Here is video of the site's sign reveal: And here … Continue reading Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public
Sprague Super Service station reopens Saturday as Ryburn Place
The long-in-coming restoration of the historic Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, will culminate with a grand opening Saturday, where it will be rechristened as Ryburn Place. The station will be renamed after Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who purchased the property more than a decade ago and slowly and steadily began to restore … Continue reading Sprague Super Service station reopens Saturday as Ryburn Place
Meltdown Diner opens on Route 66 in southwest Tulsa
The owners of the Meltdown Gourmet Grilled Cheese food truck in Tulsa recently opened a permanent location on a historic corner of Route 66 in southwest part of the city, called the Meltdown Diner. Jim and Sara Hardcastle sold the food truck a few months ago and began renovating a 1949 building at Southwest Boulevard … Continue reading Meltdown Diner opens on Route 66 in southwest Tulsa