Oklahoma Route 66 historian and author Jim Ross gives a tour of his house, the design which was inspired by Phillips 66 cottage-style gas stations from the 1930s. Ross also built roadside-based guest cabin on his property, which sits on a piece of land where two alignments of Route 66 run nearby. I've been to … Continue reading A tour of Jim Ross’ property
Category: Gas stations
Castle Car Wash being restored
The historic Castle Car Wash building on Odgen Avenue, aka Route 66, in Chicago is being restored after years of neglect and will be converted into a Greek restaurant. Debra Jane Seltzer of the terrific Roadside Architecture site got the scoop when she saw workers at the site and asked them what was going on. Seltzer said the work at the building has been going on for about two weeks. According to … Continue reading Castle Car Wash being restored
Touching on its legacy
ConocoPhillips today posted this nifty video that talks about the history of Route 66 and historic Conoco and Phillips 66 gas stations along the Mother Road in Texas. It's good to see a major corporation at least acknowledge its history. Sometimes, in the quest to pave roads to the future, corporations forget where they've been. … Continue reading Touching on its legacy
Kingman association gets grant to restore sign
The Kingman Route 66 Association announced Monday that it has received a $10,000 matching grant from the city to restore a Packard neon sign (seen in a vintage photo above) at the Old Trails Garage in downtown. The money also will be used to restore an original glass-top gas pump near the garage. The group … Continue reading Kingman association gets grant to restore sign
Abandoned but not forgotten
The folks who run the Abandoned Oklahoma site take a closer look at the long-defunct Conoco gas station on Route 66 near Arcadia. The station is particularly notable because of its notorious history: Back then, times were very hard and it was difficult to make a living. One day, about the time Al Capone was … Continue reading Abandoned but not forgotten
It’s a gas, gas, gas
If you live in northern California, here's something for you to check out. Route 66 enthusiast Mark Reiff converted the front yard of his Woodland, Calif., home into a virtual museum of gas-station memorabilia. And he drives a fabulous-looking tow truck, too. You can see it all in this video by the Sacramento Bee.
Stimulus money awarded for Route 66 welcome center
Money from the recently passed federal stimulus package will be used to partly fund the establishment of a Route 66 welcome center in Webb City, Mo., reports the Joplin Globe. The Route 66 Welcome Center in Webb City is to be developed in an old gasoline service station at Webb Street and Broadway. The project … Continue reading Stimulus money awarded for Route 66 welcome center
Gay Parita featured in magazine
Rural Missouri, a publication of the Association of Missouri Electrical Cooperatives, features the re-created Gay Parita gas station near Halltown, Mo., in its May issue. The place has been open only a few years, but it's already attracting visitors by the thousands, thanks in large part to the hospitality of owner Gary Turner: “We get … Continue reading Gay Parita featured in magazine
Vintage photos of Chambless, surrounding area wanted
Gus Lizalde, proprietor of the Chambless66 blog dedicated to the Mojave Desert ghost town of Chambless, Calif., says he's "getting close" to beginning reconstruction of Chambless. To assist this project, he's seeking vintage photos of Chambless and the surrounding area, including Cadiz Summit and the Road Runner Cafe. You can e-mail images to design1one(at)aol(dot)com. "We … Continue reading Vintage photos of Chambless, surrounding area wanted
City council gives landmark status to historic station
The city council of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., unanimously awarded historic landmark status to the Cucamonga Service Station, located on Foothill Boulevard (aka Route 66), reported the Contra Costa Times. Receiving such a status does not mean the two buildings - the structure once used as a gas station that faces the street and the former … Continue reading City council gives landmark status to historic station