The Hotel Parq Central will open on the site of the historic Memorial Hospital on Route 66 near downtown Albuquerque, according to a news release at Hotel Interactive. Memorial Hospital was built on 806 Central Ave. in 1926 -- the same year that Route 66 was certified -- and is listed on the National Register … Continue reading New hotel in a historic site will open this fall
Category: Motels
Nice try, but …
Lisa Putnam at Helium put together "The Best Places to Stay on Route 66." It's a decent list of historical motels, especially with the inclusion of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M.; the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, N.M., and both Wigwam Motels in Holbrook, Ariz.; and Rialto, Calif. But notable exclusions include La … Continue reading Nice try, but …
Photographer’s prints will be displayed in Munger Moss room
Eight images by photographer Shannon Richardson will be displayed in one of the rooms of the historic Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Mo., he said in an e-mail. The series of images above is what the Munger Moss ordered. Richardson said on his blog: This selection of prints are from my upcoming book Route 66 American … Continue reading Photographer’s prints will be displayed in Munger Moss room
Progress seen at Triangle Motel
The pace is slow, but owner Alan McNeil is making progress on restoring the historic Triangle Motel along Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas -- especially now that since a new roof is being repaired, reported the Amarillo Globe-News. Alan McNeil acquired the property four years ago after it was condemned by the city. Demolition proceedings … Continue reading Progress seen at Triangle Motel
Lodging group criticizes Joplin tourism bureau
With less than a week before the Tri-State Route 66 Festival, this story from the Joplin Globe about a local lodging association expressing deep dissatisfaction about the Joplin Visitors and Convention Bureau sparked my interest. The lodging group is so irked by a precipitous drop in motel revenue that it is considering a campaign to … Continue reading Lodging group criticizes Joplin tourism bureau
Former Santa Rosa motel to be razed
The long-closed Coronado Court motor lodge, a 1930s-era Route 66 motel in Santa Rosa, N.M., soon will be torn down because it's about to collapse, according to the print edition this week of the Guadalupe County Communicator. Longtime owner Robert "Bobby" Serrano told the newspaper he feared the deteriorated adobe structures would fall apart while … Continue reading Former Santa Rosa motel to be razed
Sleep in a motel room way underground
Grand Canyon Caverns, on Route 66 between Seligman and Peach Springs, Ariz., boasts a number of gimmicks and attractions to draw in tourists. But the latest one may be the strangest -- and among the most enticing -- one yet. A few weeks ago, Grand Canyon Caverns unveiled its Cavern Suite, 220 feet below ground. … Continue reading Sleep in a motel room way underground
Fire kills man in former Route 66 motel
A man died in a fire Wednesday at a former motel along the Kearney Street alignment of Route 66 in Springfield, Mo., according to news reports. James Martin Steffens, 51, died as a result of smoke inhalation. According to the Springfield News-Leader, the fire was caused by careless smoking in his room at the Rancho … Continue reading Fire kills man in former Route 66 motel
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
Wagon Wheel Motel reopens to travelers
The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Mo., will partially reopen to travelers this weekend, then will have a full opening the following weekend, according to its owner. This comes after months of renovations on the historic Route 66 property. Owner Connie Echols, who bought the motel in fall 2009, said three rooms will be available … Continue reading Wagon Wheel Motel reopens to travelers