The historic Will Rogers Hotel on Lynn Riggs Boulevard (aka Route 66) in Claremore, Okla., is celebrating its 10th year Friday since reopening as a home for businesses and long-term residents, reports the Claremore Progress. The hotel opened in 1930 and was there to take advantage of the area's natural mineral water springs, which was … Continue reading Will Rogers Hotel marks 10th year of reopening
Category: History
History of the Green Spot
Mark Landis, writing for the San Bernardino County Sun, wrote an interesting historical overview of the Green Spot Motel, built in 1937 on Route 66 in Victorville, Calif. The Green Spot, at 16937 C St., was the finest motel in town, offering the most modern comforts and services available for the traveling public. Twin arched … Continue reading History of the Green Spot
Spinning yarns about Oklahoma Joe’s
Johnny Mango at Duke City Fix shows a postcard of one of Albuquerque's first barbecue joints, Oklahoma Joe's, on Central Avenue (aka Route 66) near the University of New Mexico campus. Mango said Okie Joe's, later known as Okie's, was known for 10-cent beer nights, with the brew served in paper cups. It was a … Continue reading Spinning yarns about Oklahoma Joe’s
Coral Court film trailer
Someone has posted the trailer for the award-winning documentary "Built for Speed: The Coral Court Motel," which tells the history of the greatly missed Coral Court Motel on Route 66 in the St. Louis suburb of Malborough, Mo. The film was directed by Bill Boll and Shellee Graham. I don't think the film is on … Continue reading Coral Court film trailer
Wishing Well Motel’s razing is imminent
Lately, I'd been getting e-mails from Illinois Route 66ers, telling me there was grave activity occurring at the historic Wishing Well Motel on Route 66 in the Chicago suburb of Countryside, Ill. One observer said the motel's electrical meters and water main had been removed. Others had reported that fencing had been erected around the … Continue reading Wishing Well Motel’s razing is imminent
Grand opening for Route 66 Visitors Center
I was pressed for time, but I managed to stick around for about an hour or so to shoot pictures the grand opening Saturday of the new Kansas Route 66 Visitors Center in Baxter Springs. The visitors center is located at 10th and Military (aka Route 66). It's housed in a 1930 gas station that … Continue reading Grand opening for Route 66 Visitors Center
The man behind Cadillac Ranch
The Austin American-Statesman published a good article about Stanley Marsh 3, the helium magnate who came up with the idea behind Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas, in 1974. Marsh bought the old cars from junkyards, paying $100 to $125 each. Some didn't have engines; most couldn't run. But from the waist down, they were gorgeous. … Continue reading The man behind Cadillac Ranch
Route 66 Visitors Center to open Saturday
A new Route 66 Visitors Center, housed in a renovated 1930 Phillips 66 gas station in Baxter Springs, Kan., is set to open Saturday afternoon, reports the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. Auman said that by Saturday, he expects the building to be stocked with tourism brochures and Route 66 souvenirs. Most of the building has been … Continue reading Route 66 Visitors Center to open Saturday
A tribute to Route 66
This is a video made by students at St. Martin of Tours Parish Catholic School in St. Louis. A few of the images, coupled with the music, hit me hard. You might find it affecting, also. The music is "Our Town," the Oscar-nominated song written by Randy Newman and sung by James Taylor for the … Continue reading A tribute to Route 66
A tour of the Victorville Route 66 Museum
If you've never been to the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, this three-part video by Best Syndication provides a good overview of what it's like. Museum volunteer Bruce Davis does a yeoman's job in explaining the background of many displays.