At least cooler heads prevailed. In Mark Muckenfuss' column in the Inland Press-Enterprise, he said he was doing some research about old Route 66 in Southern California when he uncovered a 1967 newspaper article by Earl E. Buie about Interstate 40 road-construction plans through the Bristol Mountains. Normally, construction crews would have blasted their way … Continue reading Nuclear blasts for road construction
Category: History
Book review: “Traveling the Historic Three”
Here's something for roadies: A guidebook for traveling not one, not two, but three historic highways, all in a compact loop. Illinois Route 66 preservationists John and Lenore Weiss recently published the "Traveling the Historic Three" (self-published, 74 pages, $9.95), which is a guidebook to Route 66, the Lincoln Highway and the Dixie Highway in … Continue reading Book review: “Traveling the Historic Three”
Old Potapov Service Station buildings are razed
The Victorville (Calif.) Daily Press reports that the stone buildings that once were Potapov's Service Station and Auto Court on Route 66 in Oro Grande were torn down Monday. “The only option I had was to tear them down, in my mind, because what are you going to do, a tourist spectacle? It’s not safe,” … Continue reading Old Potapov Service Station buildings are razed
A special birthday celebration
The Bartlett-Carnegie Sapulpa Public Library in Sapulpa, Okla., is marking its 90th birthday on Sept. 15, and to begin the festivities that day will be Route 66 author Michael Wallis, reports the Sapulpa Daily Herald. Wallis will sign books and answer questions from the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in John Frank Hall … Continue reading A special birthday celebration
Town asks for county help with Red Cedar Inn
Pacific, Mo., is asking for help from St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley in the city's possible purchase of the closed Red Cedar Inn and converting it into a historical museum, reports the Tri-County Journal. The Red Cedar Inn, 1047 E. Osage St. (Old Highway 66), closed in March 2005 after more than 70 years … Continue reading Town asks for county help with Red Cedar Inn
Why did a turtle cross Route 66?
To get to the other side, of course. 😉 In the space of less than a mile on Old Sapulpa Road (aka Route 66) in Oklahoma, we encountered a small flock of wild turkeys and this turtle. The turkeys didn't have a problem. When a couple of motorcyclists approached from the other direction, they simply … Continue reading Why did a turtle cross Route 66?
Book review: “Macoupin County on Route 66”
"Macoupin County on Route 66," with text and photo compilations by Dennis Garrels, is yet another historical volume about the Mother Road by Arcadia Publishing. That includes "Route 66 in California" and the recently published "Route 66 in Chicago." "Macoupin County on Route 66" (96 pages, $19.95) covers Macoupin County, Ill., which boasts not one, … Continue reading Book review: “Macoupin County on Route 66”
Wallis and Colbert
Author Michael Wallis was on the Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" last week to plug his new book, "The Lincoln Highway." Here is the video clip of the interview: Wallis also is well-known for the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road" and mentions ol' 66 during the bantering. UPDATE 8/23/07: YouTube removed the video because … Continue reading Wallis and Colbert
Cool Springs Camp owner says he’s not shutting down
On the Route 66 yahoogroup, there was a report that Cool Springs Camp, on the old Oatman Road / Route 66 alignment between Oatman and Kingman, Ariz., has been closed down for good. However, I just got off the phone with Cool Springs Camp owner Ned Leuchtner in Chicago, and he insists this is a … Continue reading Cool Springs Camp owner says he’s not shutting down
Jewel of the Southwest
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch this weekend had an article about the history and rebirth of La Posada, a former Harvey House, on Route 66 in Winslow, Ariz. Even though it's been a major attraction for several years, owner Alan Affeldt isn't done. He's undertaking a landscaping project at La Posada that will cost about a … Continue reading Jewel of the Southwest