The restoration of the neon sign for the closed West Winds Motel in Erick, Oklahoma, is among the $6 million in grants recently awarded by the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. A list of the funds given from the state's Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program was posted in a document on the commission's website. Several grant … Continue reading Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants
Category: Motels
Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die” (second edition)
If you think there are a lot of "100 Things to Do" books on the market, you wouldn't be wrong. A perusal of the Reedy Press website reveals more than 80 of them, detailing U.S. destinations from Amarillo to the Wisconsin Dells. And that doesn't even count the copycat books or clickbait articles. Reedy Press … Continue reading Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die” (second edition)
Did another Blue Swallow Motel exist near Shamrock, Texas?
Many, many Route 66 enthusiasts know about the landmark Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Smithsonian Magazine once called the 1939 establishment "the last, best and friendliest of the old-time motels." But the Texas Old Route 66 Association recently went through the files of longtime Texas Route 66er Delbert Trew and found an intriguing … Continue reading Did another Blue Swallow Motel exist near Shamrock, Texas?
Celebration of life for Munger Moss owner includes cleanup, fundraiser for National Register
The Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, is hosting a celebration of life on May 3-5 for its longtime co-owner that will include a cleanup of the site and a fundraiser to list the property on the National Register of Historic Places. The celebration of life is scheduled for 5 p.m. May 5 that will … Continue reading Celebration of life for Munger Moss owner includes cleanup, fundraiser for National Register
Apache Motel sign in Tucumcari taken down; motel’s new owner wants it repaired
The new owner of the closed Apache Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, took down its neon sign on Thursday, though she didn't plan to do so. Joanne Thompson, who in February acquired the Route 66 motel from her former business partner Wade Dirr, noticed the sign had twisted at an angle. Upon closer inspection, she … Continue reading Apache Motel sign in Tucumcari taken down; motel’s new owner wants it repaired
Restoration of Herring Hotel paused amid owner’s bankruptcy filing
The restoration of the historic but long-abandoned Herring Hotel in downtown Amarillo, Texas, appears to be on hold indefinitely after its owner filed for bankruptcy this month. According to the Amarillo Globe-News, the Herring Hotel Development Company LLC filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on March 5. That's about three years after the company purchased … Continue reading Restoration of Herring Hotel paused amid owner’s bankruptcy filing
Boots Court Foundation receives award from Carthage Historic Preservation
The Boots Court Foundation received the Golden Hammer award from Carthage (Mo.) Historic Preservation for its work in preserving the Route 66 motel. The organization also honored the Phelps Country House -- the first time it gave out two awards in one year. Steve Wagner, co-chairman of the preservation group, talked to the Joplin Globe … Continue reading Boots Court Foundation receives award from Carthage Historic Preservation
Relighting of Park Plaza Courts neon set for the evening of April 13
The Route 66 Association of Missouri recently announced it will hold a ceremonial relighting of the Park Plaza Courts neon sign at 8 p.m. April 13. The relighting will occur at the Holiday Inn Southwest at 10709 Watson Road (aka Route 66) in St. Louis. The association has reserved a block of rooms at the … Continue reading Relighting of Park Plaza Courts neon set for the evening of April 13
Quest to revive 4 Tucumcari businesses earns award from New Mexico Route 66 Association
Robert Moore Jr. and his brother William Cooke have been busy acquiring and cleaning up four long-abandoned businesses along Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Though reopening at least three of those businesses is a long way off, those efforts earned the annual Route 66 Heritage Award from the New Mexico Route 66 Association. The … Continue reading Quest to revive 4 Tucumcari businesses earns award from New Mexico Route 66 Association
Imperial Inn in Albuquerque erects restored neon sign, reopens to overnight travelers
The redeveloped Imperial Inn motel in Albuquerque showed off its restored neon sign shortly before it reopened to overnight travelers on Wednesday. Here's an image from the Route 66 motel's Instagram account of the sign, complete with its chasing lights: View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Imperial (@theimperialabq) Palindrome Communities, which … Continue reading Imperial Inn in Albuquerque erects restored neon sign, reopens to overnight travelers