“I Shall Be Released”

This trio, called Davis, Crosby & Cowart, perform Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" at the historic U-Drop Inn gas station on Route 66 in Shamrock, Texas. https://vimeo.com/25851967 This performance is impromptu. But the U-Drop Inn hosts free "Thursdays Under the Neon" music events in June, July and August.

Another new paint job at an old station

In recent months, volunteers in Tucumcari, N.M., have engaged in a noteworthy project of nostalgic paint jobs to abandoned gas stations along Route 66 in town. The result is a better-looking main drag without a lot of money being spent. Here's the latest abandoned gas station that was repainted. It's been given an old Phillips … Continue reading Another new paint job at an old station

An Oklahoma tornado casualty

Not long after the awful Joplin tornado, another strong twister struck Oklahoma around the El Reno area. After reading numerous media accounts of the twister, I had assumed that Route 66 landmarks had emerged relatively unscathed. I was wrong. During a eastbound trip Sunday on old Route 66, we'd discovered that an old gas station … Continue reading An Oklahoma tornado casualty

Book about Wagon Wheel Motel published

An illustrated book about the history of the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Mo., has just been published. Riva Echols, sister of the motel's owner Connie Echols, wrote "The History of a Route 66 Icon: The Wagon Wheel Motel on Route 66" (102 pages, $15.99, paperback). According to the news release about the book: Riva … Continue reading Book about Wagon Wheel Motel published

Newest gas station face-lift in Tucumcari

Here's the latest abandoned gas station along Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., that received a new coat of decorative paint. It's the gas station at the Paradise Motel on the west end of town, given a Sinclair Oil decor. The repainting was finished over the weekend. Richard Talley, owner of the Motel Safari in town, said … Continue reading Newest gas station face-lift in Tucumcari

Midpoint Cafe placed on the market

Fran Houser has put her Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, up for sale after a 20-year tenure in which she elevated it to a prime stop for travelers on Route 66. Houser said in a phone interview Friday that the asking price is $195,000. Those interested should call her home phone at 806-538-6380. The Midpoint, … Continue reading Midpoint Cafe placed on the market

Tucumcari resumes gas station face-lifts this weekend

Volunteers in Tucumcari, N.M., who dressed up two long-closed gas stations last year with attractive paint jobs will start their efforts again this weekend. The face-lift target this time is the gas station at the Paradise Motel on the city's west edge. Volunteers will paint the station so it looks like an old Gulf or … Continue reading Tucumcari resumes gas station face-lifts this weekend

Uncle Sam helps continue cleanup of abandoned gas stations

An Arizona program that cleaned up underground gasoline storage tanks at abandoned gas stations along Route 66 might have ended because of state budget cuts. But the program is continuing because of federal stimulus funds, reported the AzJournal.com based in Winslow. The report came during a meeting by the Navajo County Board of Supervisors. Arizona … Continue reading Uncle Sam helps continue cleanup of abandoned gas stations

Tulsa station lands on National Register

Cities Service Station No. 8, at 1648 Southwest Blvd. (aka Route 66) in Tulsa, was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective March 14, according to an e-mail today from the National Park Service. The circa 1940 station was nominated about six weeks ago by the Tulsa Preservation Commission and the state of … Continue reading Tulsa station lands on National Register

Blowin’ in the wind

Here's a video from Route 66 in Dwight, Ill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJilLAjG-1o It reminds me of an early scene in the Pixar-Disney movie "Cars," where a bored Guido watches the wind blow a small hinged sign at Casa Dilla Tires in the Route 66 town Radiator Springs. The person who shot the video, Frank Romeo, sports an … Continue reading Blowin’ in the wind