Red Fork Hippie, posting for Ron this evening: This USA Today article lists New Mexico as one of the top 10 great road trips. The author is a little too enamored of the interstates for my taste, but the article itself, which focuses on some of Gallup's Route 66 attractions -- including the beautiful and … Continue reading USA Today spotlights Gallup
Category: Motels
Celebrity sighting on the Mother Road
A report from the Desert Dispatch in Barstow, Calif.: Country music duo Brooks & Dunn were sighted at the Route 66 Motel on West Main Street on Wednesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after setting a record by bringing home their 20th and 21st trophies the previous night at the Academy of Country Music Awards … Continue reading Celebrity sighting on the Mother Road
Coleman Theatre relights its neon
Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog alerted me to the fact the circa-1929 Coleman Theatre in Miami, Okla., recently refurbished its vintage neon sign and had it lit for the first time Friday. Ace happened to be driving through Miami on Sunday night and saw it. The photo above is his. A volunteer at … Continue reading Coleman Theatre relights its neon
Gallup tavern named one of the best
The 49er Lounge, which is housed in the historic El Rancho Hotel on Route 66 in Gallup, N.M., was named by Esquire magazine as one of the "Best in America," according to the Gallup Independent. The magazine listed 50 taverns from across the country. Here's Esquire's listing for the 49er: Back when westerns were box-office … Continue reading Gallup tavern named one of the best
A trip on U.S. 54
During a trip home in January to see the old homestead in Illinois, I decided to drive most of my way back to Tulsa on U.S. 54 and see what old motels, old neon and roadside kitsch I could find. U.S. 54 is about 1,200 miles. Its western terminus is at El Paso, Texas, and … Continue reading A trip on U.S. 54
Sleeping with the stars (sort of)
Buck Wolf of ABC News has a list of places where you can sleep where movie and music stars once laid their heads. Two are on Route 66. One is at the Oatman Hotel in Oatman, Ariz., where Carole Lombard and Clark Gable honeymooned in 1939. It's Room 15, and it can be yours for … Continue reading Sleeping with the stars (sort of)
Scenic Byway for Missouri’s Route 66 dedicated
The Springfield News-Leader has coverage of Friday's dedication ceremony in Springfield, Mo., for Missouri's Route 66 being designated a National Scenic Byway. Several prominent Route 66 aficionados and historians were interviewed. Also take note of the side story in the upper right about the historic Best Western Rail Haven motel offering special souvenirs to mark … Continue reading Scenic Byway for Missouri’s Route 66 dedicated
Former Boots Motel owner returns
The Carthage Press has an interesting story about Bob Boots, who now lives in Tulsa, returning to his former Route 66 motel and hometown of Carthage, Mo., for the first time in years. Boots returned for the purpose of telling his memories for a Route 66 oral history project. Boots' father, Arthur Boots, built the … Continue reading Former Boots Motel owner returns
ABQ Route 66 story picked up by news service
It took more than two months, but Scripps Howard News Service picked up the excellent retrospective and forward-looking article about Route 66 by Albuquerque Journal reporter Erik Siemers. If you're a relatively new reader to this site, it's recommended reading.
El Vado Motel appeal is denied
I got word today from the city of Albuquerque that the appeal of Richard Gonzales, owner of El Vado Motel on Route 66, was denied. He was seeking to overturn the Landmarks Commission's recommendation to designate El Vado a city landmark, thus giving the historic motel greater protection. Gonzales was wanting to tear down the … Continue reading El Vado Motel appeal is denied