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

History of the “Patel motels”

Although there is a link to the Route 66 Pulse newspaper on the side of this site (and vice versa), I don't often link to their stories because there's a lot of redundancy there. Route 66 News often reports news on the Mother Road first because the Internet allows nearly instantaneous coverage; Route 66 Pulse … Continue reading History of the “Patel motels”

City may seize El Vado property

The City of Albuquerque is offering $680,000 to buy El Vado Motel from owner Richard L. Gonzales, who wants to raze it and put up luxury townhouses. If the offer is rejected, the city intends to condemn the historic Route 66 property and seize it from Gonzales to save it from demolition, reports the Albuquerque … Continue reading City may seize El Vado property

Future of Wilmington hotel turns iffy again

The owner of the circa-1837 Eagle Hotel in downtown Wilmington, Ill., is asking for yet another extension on his city contract, reports the Joliet Herald News. Bill Scales, who owns the building, has asked for another 18 months after his current five-year pact expires. The Ottawa developer had agreed to purchase the building for $45,000 … Continue reading Future of Wilmington hotel turns iffy again

El Vado back before Landmarks commission

Here's an e-mail from Ed Boles, historic preservation planner for the City of Albuquerque, that was sent Friday: This coming Wednesday, the El Vado Motel owner's application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition will be heard again by the City of Albuquerque Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission. The application was remanded to the LUCC … Continue reading El Vado back before Landmarks commission