Now that the dust has settled on the City of Albuquerque's seizure of El Vado Motel to protect it from destruction by a developer, here are a few thoughts: -- Send a thank-you note to Mayor Martin Chavez. He is a relatively popular leader of that city, so his stance on any issue carries weight. … Continue reading El Vado redux
Category: Motels
UPDATED: El Vado Motel saved
A lot has happened since this story first emerged from Albuquerque on Wednesday. But it now seems certain that El Vado Motel has been rescued from the wrecking ball after nearly 2 1/2 years of uncertainty. Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, under the headline "El Vado Saved," touted this news release Wednesday night on the city's … Continue reading UPDATED: El Vado Motel saved
El Vado announcement possibly coming
Jerry Ueckert of the Edgewood (N.M.) Advocate told the Route 66 yahoogroup that an announcement is rumored to be coming later today from Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez regarding El Vado Motel. As many of you readers know, El Vado has been the subject of a lengthy battle between a developer who wants to raze the … Continue reading El Vado announcement possibly coming
City gives wish list to Eagle Hotel owner
Or is it an ultimatum? Clearly becoming impatient, the city council of Wilmington, Ill., issued a list of requests to Bill Scales, owner of the historic Eagle Hotel in town, reports the Joliet Herald News. Wilmington wants a response by 4 p.m. Friday. Scales' agreement to have the Eagle Hotel restored and fully functioning as … Continue reading City gives wish list to Eagle Hotel owner
Easy times in Winslow
Carolyn Burns Bass, in a special story to the Inland Press-Enterprise in California, heads to the Route 66 town of Winslow, Ariz., and takes a look around. Naturally, the Standin' on a Corner Park and La Posada play a sizable role in the story.
Snow cone
Rick Shalander of Whites Creek, Tenn., who's been building his own version of one of the cabins from the Cozy Cone Motel in the movie "Cars," sent me this photo: Incidentally, the title of Shalander's e-mail was "Snow cone." 🙂 It's a nice likeness of a Cozy Cone cabin. Here's another photo for reference:
More publicity for retro motel chain
YourHub.com, a weekly publication for the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain news, has published an article about the fledgling Smalltown America chain in Centennial, Colo., that seeks to restore vintage motels along Route 66. The article rehashes a lot of what was already reported in Route 66 News, but adds a number of photos plus … Continue reading More publicity for retro motel chain
Impatience grows over Eagle Hotel
A recent report in the Joliet Herald News indicates that members of the Wilmington (Ill.) City Council are growing weary about the lack of progress in the rehabilitation of the 171-year-old Eagle Hotel on Route 66 in Wilmington. Owner Bill Scales wants to convert the historic hotel into an upscale restaurant and hotel. He says … Continue reading Impatience grows over Eagle Hotel
Never knew lonely until Vega
This is a video by Oklahoma native Vince Gill of his 1990 hit song, "Never Knew Lonely." Much of it was shot in a room at the Vega Motel on Route 66 in Vega, Texas. If you ever get the notion to stay there, ask Harry or Tresa for the "Vince Gill Room." (Apologies for … Continue reading Never knew lonely until Vega
Progress report on De Anza Motel
Five years ago, the City of Albuquerque purchased the historic De Anza Motel on Route 66 after proposal surfaced to replace it with a drug and liquor store. The city hoped to have it reopened as a boutique motel by now. But progress has been slow, reports the Albuquerque Tribune. It took the city until … Continue reading Progress report on De Anza Motel