The Route 66 town of Elk City, Oklahoma, has a new lodging option. It is the Bluebird Inn boutique hotel, located one block off the Mother Road in a former shoe store built in 1905. The Bluebird is located on the brick streets of 118 W. Broadway Ave. The hotel, which held its grand opening … Continue reading Bluebird Inn boutique hotel opens in a historic building in downtown Elk City
Category: Motels
Roamin’ Rich Dinkela has Shamrock Court motel near Sullivan under contract
Roamin' Rich Dinkela, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri and a well-known champion of Route 66 on social media, made an offer to buy the historic Shamrock Court near Sullivan, Missouri, and likely will close on the deal next month. Dinkela said in a phone interview he isn't going into the motel business. … Continue reading Roamin’ Rich Dinkela has Shamrock Court motel near Sullivan under contract
El Vado Motel developer to revamp Imperial Inn Motel in Albuquerque
The same developer who revamped the El Vado Motel and Monterey Motel in Albuquerque also will transform another Route 66 motel in that city -- the Imperial Inn Motel. According to Albuquerque Business First (subscription required), the motel will become a mix of residential, restaurants and retail: The city announced Saturday it is moving forward … Continue reading El Vado Motel developer to revamp Imperial Inn Motel in Albuquerque
New chef at The Turquoise Room in Winslow’s La Posada also draws praise
A recent article in an Arizona newspaper answers a question -- who became the new chef at The Turquoise Room restaurant in La Posada of Winslow, Arizona, after John Sharpe retired in October? The short answer: Jesus Nunez, a native of Mexico who was Sharpe's right-hand man for more than three decades. According to the … Continue reading New chef at The Turquoise Room in Winslow’s La Posada also draws praise
“Extensive” fire damage at Sunset Village apartment complex in St. Robert
A local media outlet reported "extensive" damage from an early morning fire Sunday in St. Robert, Missouri, at Sunset Village of the Ozarks, which serves mostly as retirement housing in the region. One resident told KY3-TV that residents jumped out of windows to escape the fire. The Pulaski County Daily News reported that one person … Continue reading “Extensive” fire damage at Sunset Village apartment complex in St. Robert
Amarillo TV station provides details about Barfield Hotel before it opens in April
An Amarillo television station filed an exclusive report about what's to come inside the historic Barfield Hotel when it's scheduled to open in April. KDFA-TV filed the report. Here are a couple of the excerpts: All rooms preserve the original 1920′s decor, with special nods to Barfield creator, M.D. Oliver.“We want to give homage back … Continue reading Amarillo TV station provides details about Barfield Hotel before it opens in April
Munger Moss Motel holding a celebration for two big anniversaries in June
The Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, will host a celebration in June for not one, but two, significant anniversaries regarding the Route 66 landmark. First, the motel itself will be marking its 75th anniversary. Second, Ramona Lehman will be marking her 50th year as owner of the property. The gala weekend will be June … Continue reading Munger Moss Motel holding a celebration for two big anniversaries in June
The remarkable story of Alberta’s Hotel in Springfield, Missouri
KOLR-TV in Springfield, Missouri, recently produced a segment about the amazing history of Alberta's Hotel, an establishment in that Route 66 city that catered to African Americans during the Jim Crow era. Alberta's Hotel was listed in the annual Negro Motorist Green Book travel guide. Both perished during the mid-1960s, about the time the United … Continue reading The remarkable story of Alberta’s Hotel in Springfield, Missouri
Apache Motel in Tucumcari slated to reopen in mid-March
The operator of the long-closed Apache Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, anticipates he'll reopen the Route 66 business to overnight travelers by early spring. I wrote a story in the Quay County Sun in Tucumcari: Wade Dirr said in a telephone interview that electricians and plumbers were working on getting the lobby at least eight … Continue reading Apache Motel in Tucumcari slated to reopen in mid-March
Teardown begins of Cactus Motor Lodge in Tucumcari
Workers on Tuesday began tearing down the long-closed Cactus Motor Lodge, aka Cactus RV Park, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, to make way for an auto parts store. O'Reilly Auto Parts, based in Springfield, Missouri, plans to build a store there later this year. O'Reilly purchased the property in late 2018 but was delayed in developing … Continue reading Teardown begins of Cactus Motor Lodge in Tucumcari