A crew for the documentary "Alfred & Jakobine" stopped Sunday on Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., in the early stages of production for the film, reported Richard Talley of the Motel Safari in town. Here's a blog entry from the filmmakers about their pit stop in Tucumcari, with lots of photos. The film is a … Continue reading Documentary film crew stops in Tucumcari
Category: Motels
Vega Motel goes on auction block
The historic Vega Motel on Route 66 in Vega, Texas, is going to be the subject of a sealed-bid auction because of delinquent taxes. Here's the notice about the auction: Oldham County Appraisal District is taking sealed bids on the Vega Motel, Lots Numbered Six (6), Seven (7), Eight (8), Nine (9) and Ten (10), … Continue reading Vega Motel goes on auction block
Albuquerque mayor loses re-election
It appears incumbent Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez has lost his bid for an unprecedented fourth term on Tuesday night in a close race against Rep. Richard Berry. I don't get too wound up about local election campaigns, and confess to knowing little about the mayoral candidates' platforms. But I confess to a tinge of sadness … Continue reading Albuquerque mayor loses re-election
A look back at a grand old hotel
I wasn't aware of this longtime landmark on Route 66 in Bloomington, Ill. But Bill Kemp, an archivist for the McLean County Museum of History, wrote an interesting article for the Bloomington Pantagraph about the Tilden-Hall Hotel in the downtown area. The six-story hotel was at Madison and Washington streets in Bloomington. It opened about … Continue reading A look back at a grand old hotel
National Park Service launches Route 66 site
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is already under the auspices of the National Park Service. But the NPS recently launched a Route 66 "Discover Our Shared Heritage" travel itinerary site that should prove useful to novice travelers and be informative to researchers. Funded in part by American Express and the World Monuments Fund, the … Continue reading National Park Service launches Route 66 site
Wagon Wheel Motel gets a new owner
The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Mo., an architecturally significant motel which has continuously operated on Route 66 since 1934, has a new owner. Connie Echols, who owns The Wildflower florist and gift shop on Route 66 in Cuba, took possession of the motel Tuesday from the heirs of longtime owners Pauline and Harold Armstrong. … Continue reading Wagon Wheel Motel gets a new owner
Historic Mayo Hotel reopens in Tulsa
The iconic Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa, which had been shuttered for almost 30 years, held a limited "soft" opening Monday, reported the Tulsa World. The Mayo, at 115 W. Fifth St., is about two blocks from the downtown Route 66 alignment of Seventh Street. The Mayo dates to the 1920s, is listed on the … Continue reading Historic Mayo Hotel reopens in Tulsa
Motel converted to housing for mentally ill soon will open
Nearly two years ago, it was announced that the old Village Motel at 2624 Santa Monica Blvd., aka Route 66, in Santa Monica, Calif., would be bought and converted into housing for youths with mental illness. Now, the Los Angeles Times reports, the motel will hold its grand opening Sept. 11 and be christened Daniel's … Continue reading Motel converted to housing for mentally ill soon will open
What’s happening with El Garces?
While in the Route 66 town of Needles, Calif., this summer, it appeared there was little recent activity in the restoration of the historic El Garces Hotel. A sign said the century-old Harvey House would have a "limited" opening by winter 2008, and the hotel's Web site hadn't been updated since last year. El Garces' … Continue reading What’s happening with El Garces?
2009 cost-share grants announced for Route 66 properties
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced Monday its cost-share grant recipients for 2009. They are: Colors of the West, 201 W. Route 66, Williams, Ariz. — Constructed in 1912, the Duffy Brothers building in downtown Williams served as a grocery until 1954, when it became the Indian House, a curio selling Indian crafts and … Continue reading 2009 cost-share grants announced for Route 66 properties