Seaba Station near Wellston, Okla., has been put up for sale. I'd been aware that Sue Preston and her husband, Sonny, had moved nearly 50 miles away to Yukon and that the operating hours of the Route 66 antique store had become sporadic. The well-maintained Seaba Station sits on more than an acre, and the … Continue reading Notes from the road
Category: Motels
Hillbillee’s closes
While passing through Arcadia, Okla., on Tuesday to go to POPS, we learned that Hillbillee's, a colorful restaurant and bed-and-breakfast on Route 66 in Arcadia since 1993, had closed on Aug. 2. "We decided to retire," said Norma Braxton, former co-owner of the establishment with her husband, Wade. "It's bittersweet for us, but we're just … Continue reading Hillbillee’s closes
Preservation video
KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City interviewed Emily Priddy of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association preservation committee and aired video from the Ray's Motel preservation project in Clinton, Okla., and the National Route 66 Festival in June. The interview was conducted live on the station's morning show a few weeks ago, and was recently posted on the … Continue reading Preservation video
Rebuilding Amboy one chicken at a time
The Inland Press-Enterprise of Southern California published an excellent article about Juan Pollo restaurant chain owner Albert Okura and his efforts to restore Roy's and the nearly abandoned town of Amboy, Calif. "Everyone who has owned Amboy has been in it to make money," he said. "You can't. "I see this as a marketing avenue … Continue reading Rebuilding Amboy one chicken at a time
Triangle Motel will receive NPS grant
This may be letting the cat out of the bag, but Marianne Logan e-mailed us tonight to report that the Triangle Motel in Amarillo, Texas, has been awarded a cost-share grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program administered by the National Park Service. Marianne Logan is the mother of Alan McNeil, who owns the … Continue reading Triangle Motel will receive NPS grant
Notes from the road
I got a call a few days ago from Bill Kinder, co-owner of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., informing me that all of his motel's neon lights have been repaired. The motel's neon (and others along Route 66 in Tucumcari) were damaged this spring by a severe hailstorm. Missouri Route 66er Tonya Pike … Continue reading Notes from the road
El Vado decision delayed
The City of Albuquerque's Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission has deferred a decision on whether to again designate the historic El Vado Motel on Route 66 a city landmark until Sept. 12. The decision was scheduled to be made during the commission's regular meeting on Wednesday. The city has been in negotiations for months with … Continue reading El Vado decision delayed
Aztec Hotel to be refurbished
The Pasadena Star-News reports that the lobby and bar of the historic Aztec Hotel on Route 66 in Monrovia, Calif., will undergo a $100,000 renovation in the coming weeks. That already had been reported here. However, today's story contains more details about a 20-day liquor-license suspension of the hotel's bar, The Brass Elephant. ABC cited … Continue reading Aztec Hotel to be refurbished
Mixed emotions
This news item from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune in Southern California brought on a lot of mixed feelings for me: GLENDORA - Best Western International has expanded its presence in Southern California with a new location in Glendora. With roughly 4,200 hotels companywide, the world's largest hotel chain provides 400,000 travelers with lodging annually … Continue reading Mixed emotions
Searching Oklahoma City for Vietnamese food
Matt Gross, aka The Frugal Traveler, of the New York Times' travel section ventured to Oklahoma City to dine on ... Vietnamese food. That sounds like an odd combination, but Gross points out that 20,000 Vietnamese live in OKC. His excursion found a few Route 66 spots, including the Hospitality Inn (listed in the Route … Continue reading Searching Oklahoma City for Vietnamese food