I saw this story, "Disappearing Fast: Route 66, Chicago-Los Angeles," on the Los Angeles Times' Daily Travel Deal Blog a few days ago, but didn't plug it here because it contained some inaccuracies. The story makes it sound like Route 66 is going to quickly disappear after the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program sunsets in … Continue reading A self-correcting situation
Category: Motels
Report from the festival
Brent Weber of KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City interviewed Michael Wallis and Emily at the beautification project for the former Ray's Motel in Clinton, Okla., during the recent National Route 66 Festival.
Back to the beginning for El Vado
After a court ruling struck down the city landmark designation for El Vado Motel in Albuquerque, the matter is back before the Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission on July 11 on whether to make the historic Route 66 motel a city landmark to protect it from redevelopment. A judge ruled that the commission didn't adequately … Continue reading Back to the beginning for El Vado
Preservation in action
Emily, who is in charge of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association's preservation committee, supervised the preservation project during the past weekend's National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla. The mission: To pretty up the long-closed Ray's Motel in Clinton over a three-day period. More than two dozen volunteers showed up. Emily has more details and … Continue reading Preservation in action
Motel gets a lift from tourism
This story by the Edwardsville (Ill.) Journal is a case study about how the surge of Route 66 tourism, beginning in the 1990s, has probably helped keep alive many old motels. The motel in question is the Apple Valley Motel in nearby Mitchell, Ill., which dates to the 1940s or '50s and has just 17 … Continue reading Motel gets a lift from tourism
Barstow may restore old Route 66 signs
The City of Barstow, Calif., may restore nine old neon signs along Route 66, reports the Desert Dispatch of nearby Victorville, in an effort to boost tourism. The total cost of the project will be an estimated $180,000, with half expected from a grant by the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. The article doesn't provide … Continue reading Barstow may restore old Route 66 signs
Rain stops, preservation project begins
It was looking grim Friday morning before the scheduled start of the preservation project for the closed Ray's Motel in Clinton, Okla., as part of activities with the National Route 66 Festival. Heavy rain had fallen, and according to radar, a storm system appeared parked over Clinton. However, shortly before the project's 11 a.m. start, … Continue reading Rain stops, preservation project begins
The perils of fast money and Route 66
Vince Scott bought the Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., a few years ago with the sole purpose of quickly selling it again to Walgreens for a quick buck. However, Route 66 preservationists protested the impending deal, and Walgreens moved to greener pastures. Scott still has the motel, and admits the 1930s landmark could be a … Continue reading The perils of fast money and Route 66
Sunrise Motel torn down
We've known about this for a couple of weeks, but today we nailed down the details why: The Sunrise Motel at 805 N. Service Road in Sullivan, Mo., has been razed to make way for an improved overpass over Interstate 44. I'm not aware whether the Sunrise was ever on old Route 66 itself, but … Continue reading Sunrise Motel torn down
Show some pride
Daily Oklahoman writer Steve Lackmeyer traveled Route 66 in Oklahoma, and he thinks, if anything, that the Mother Road isn't getting enough attention in the state. Go read it. Lackmeyer also has a blog about his Route 66 trip. Here also is a slide show of Route 66 in Miami, Okla., and Afton, Okla. The … Continue reading Show some pride