A few weeks ago, while geocaching near Route 66 in Riverton, Kan., we found out about the strange story of May D. Knotts. According to a geocaching site, May D. Knotts was said to have been hanged from an old oak tree in 1904 after it was discovered that she was a witch. Knotts, who … Continue reading Notes from the road
Category: Gas stations
Found: the Texola monument
A few days ago, Corkey Mayberry of Park Hills, Mo., wondered what happened to a Texas-shaped monument that greeted Route 66 travelers in the border town of Texola, Okla. Mayberry and his wife had their picture taken at the monument in 1955. On a Route 66 trip a few weeks ago, Mayberry tried to find … Continue reading Found: the Texola monument
CNG GTO update
The Daily Oklahoman filed a story today about Mark McConville and his 1966 GTO that's been outfitted to run on compressed natural gas. McConville's Drive to Inspire on Route 66 began last weekend from Santa Monica, Calif., in an effort to boost CNG as an alternative to gasoline and the infrastructure it will need. That's … Continue reading CNG GTO update
Jerry McClanahan wins top honor at Will Rogers Awards
Longtime author and artist Jerry McClanahan won the prestigious Will Rogers Award during the Will Rogers Awards Evening on Saturday night during the Tri-State Route 66 International Festival at Downstream Casino Resort in Quapaw, Okla. McClanahan, who has researched Route 66 since the early 1980s, has written several magazine articles about obscure Mother Road alignments … Continue reading Jerry McClanahan wins top honor at Will Rogers Awards
Webb City works on visitors center
Here's the work being done on the interior of the future Route 66 Visitors Center in downtown Webb City, Mo., that's going in an old gas station on Route 66. The building is on Main and Broadway. The old gas station also will be home to the city's chamber of commerce. (Photos courtesy of Ron … Continue reading Webb City works on visitors center
Notes from the road
(Editor's note: This is my Catch Up from the Memorial Day Holiday Edition.) Actor and director Dennis Hopper died over the weekend after a long bout with prostate cancer. He was 74. A memorial service and burial was held Wednesday at a church in his beloved Taos, N.M., where he lived for years. Although a … Continue reading Notes from the road
A “green” refueling stop
Urban Tulsa published a long, wide-ranging article about Michael Wallis, Tulsa and the Route 66 Alliance, and two guys who want to drive Route 66 this summer in a 1966 GTO that's been converted to run on compressed natural gas. But the most newsworthy part of the article is Albert "Albee" Thomas' plans for building … Continue reading A “green” refueling stop
Bob Waldmire’s last mural
A mural that was designed by recently deceased Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire for a gas station in Topock-Golden Shores, Ariz., was finished a few days ago. The mural of old Route 66 is on a replica 1970s Shell gas station on 12888 Oatman Highway (aka Route 66) owned by Ned Leuchtner, who also owns … Continue reading Bob Waldmire’s last mural
POPS closes in on 1 million bottles sold
POPS, the restaurant/convenience store on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla., is fast approaching its 1 millionth bottle of soda sold since opening in 2007, reported The Oklahoman's BAM's Blog. Whoever buys the fateful bottle will earn prizes of 66 scoops of ice cream, free soda for a year, 66 free burgers and fries, and 2,400 … Continue reading POPS closes in on 1 million bottles sold
Route 66 in miniature
Willem Bor of the Netherlands is a big Route 66 fan, and has decided to make models of landmarks along the Mother Road. The models are in 1/25 scale. Here's one of Lucille's near Hydro, Okla.: Here's one of the 66 Super Service Station near Alanreed, Texas: These amazingly intricate and accurate models are not … Continue reading Route 66 in miniature