Carl's Coney Island, a mainstay in the historic Crystal City Shopping Center along Route 66 in Tulsa, in October marked its 50th year and welcomed new owners. According to a Facebook post a few weeks ago, Carl's celebrated its half-century on Oct. 21. It served 50-cent Coney dogs that day. It also announced owners Mike … Continue reading Carl’s Coney Island in Tulsa recently marked its 50th year
Category: History
Information unearthed on the obscure Route 66 ghost town of Benonine, Texas
Musician and scholar Nolan Stolz, who has been doing a lot of good fieldwork on Route 66 history lately, recently posted a video about the nearly unknown Route 66 ghost town of Benonine, Texas. Benonine was just a mile or so west of the border town of Texola, Oklahoma, and appears to have been defunct … Continue reading Information unearthed on the obscure Route 66 ghost town of Benonine, Texas
A closer look at the long-closed Ranchotel in Amarillo
In the last few months, a fellow by the name of Charlie has posted a series of articles about Route 66 and its landmarks in Amarillo for the Mix 94.1 radio station. One of the latest is a detailed article about the long-shuttered Ranchotel along the Sixth Street alignment, just west of downtown. Charlie writes … Continue reading A closer look at the long-closed Ranchotel in Amarillo
La Fonda in Santa Fe will mark its centennial in January
The landmark La Fonda on the Plaza hotel in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, will mark its centennial in January, though records indicate a lodging establishment was there several centuries before that. La Fonda will host a "Party of the Century" on Jan. 22 "as we honor our storied past and look to the future … Continue reading La Fonda in Santa Fe will mark its centennial in January
Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino featured on “CBS Sunday Morning”
The fabled Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino, California, was featured this week during a four-minute segment on "CBS Sunday Morning." https://youtu.be/yI4GLpoTDj0 One little-known angle the network explored was the Route 66 restaurant became an organizational meeting place for desegregation efforts for public swimming pools in San Bernardino. As with Black people across the nation, many … Continue reading Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino featured on “CBS Sunday Morning”
All 116 episodes of the “Route 66” TV drama from the 1960s are on YouTube
A few episodes of the famed "Route 66" television drama from the early 1960s had been posted online in dribs and drabs over the years. However, earlier this summer, The OTR Collection uploaded all 116 episodes of the drama that starred George Maharis and Martin Milner. The entire playlist is below, starting with the first … Continue reading All 116 episodes of the “Route 66” TV drama from the 1960s are on YouTube
Historic Fort Wingate in New Mexico goes up for sale for $11 million
The historic and storied Fort Wingate, a former military outpost east of Gallup, New Mexico, along the Route 66 corridor, has been placed on the market for $11 million, according to several media outlets. The New York Post, which initially broke the story, reported: The potential buyer would be getting an original trading post with … Continue reading Historic Fort Wingate in New Mexico goes up for sale for $11 million
World’s Largest Covered Wagon marks its 20th year
The World's Largest Covered Wagon, complete with a figure of Abraham Lincoln riding it while reading a book, in Lincoln, Illinois, recently marked its 20th anniversary. The wagon is one of those attractions that seems older than it is. However, the Lincoln Courier newspaper reports it indeed was created in 2001 by Old Abe enthusiast … Continue reading World’s Largest Covered Wagon marks its 20th year
Thoughts on Route 66 on its 95th birthday
Today marks what is considered by many as the 95th anniversary of the creation of U.S. Highway 66, aka Route 66. As one who has run this website for 16 years and been involved on Route 66 for more than 20, I've got a few random thoughts from my time of reporting about this fabled … Continue reading Thoughts on Route 66 on its 95th birthday
David Clark provides overview of Great Chicago Fire during its 150th anniversary
David G. Clark, known to Route 66 enthusiasts as the Windy City Road Warrior, recently produced a one-hour video about the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, right about the time of its 150th anniversary. The fire predates Route 66 by more than 50 years, but the fire was one of the most consequential events of … Continue reading David Clark provides overview of Great Chicago Fire during its 150th anniversary