The historic Hotel Will Rogers in Claremore, Oklahoma, finished a seven-month, $2.4 million renovation and is rechristened Will Rogers Lofts. Also known as the Will Rogers Hotel, it long was known for its radium baths; the naturally occurring water was believed to hold health benefits. According to KOTV in Tulsa: During the renovations, the builders were able to preserve some … Continue reading Hotel Will Rogers undergoes renovations
Category: Motels
Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa gets new owners
Local residents purchased the closed Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and plan to eventually reopen it as a sandwich shop and bed-and-breakfast. The Communicator newspaper reported in last week's print edition Arthur and Anastacia Baca completed the purchase of the former bank building that sits on a corner of Route 66 in … Continue reading Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa gets new owners
DVD review: “The Missouri Maze”
Unoccupied Route 66 continues its mix of history and atmospheric images of forlorn Route 66 sites in its latest documentary, "The Missouri Maze." The 26-minute film ($14.95 list, shipping included), directed by KC Keefer and hosted by Nick Gerlich, tells about a mid-Missouri area where Route 66 ended up realigned, realigned again, then abandoned by Interstate 44. Here's … Continue reading DVD review: “The Missouri Maze”
Fire destroys Apple Valley Motel in Mitchell
The historic Apple Valley Motel along old Route 66 in Mitchell, Illinois, was gutted by fire Sunday, according to several media outlets in the St. Louis region. The Belleville News-Democrat reported the blaze involved at least a dozen rooms. The newspaper also posted this video from the scene: The newspaper, which reported the motel was … Continue reading Fire destroys Apple Valley Motel in Mitchell
L&L Motel in Bloomington torn down for more parking
Steve Vogel, a columnist for the Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington, Illinois, had this startling piece of news in a recent column: Did you notice part of Bloomington-Normal’s link to Route 66 just disappeared? ... the L&L Motel on Morrissey Drive has been leveled … the new property owners are the folks at Grady’s Pizza and Family Fun … Continue reading L&L Motel in Bloomington torn down for more parking
Gallup motel gets negligent with its security
The Rodeway Inn along Route 66 in Gallup, New Mexico, earned a few truckloads of bad publicity when this video by a couple of travelers went viral to the tune of 4.5 million views and counting in less than a week: https://youtu.be/HbQauX2LOFI Apparently the motel's management was programming card keys so sloppily or lazily, they could open … Continue reading Gallup motel gets negligent with its security
So what really happened to the Blue Swallow Motel’s former owner?
A number of books, websites and even an application to the National Register of Historic Places tell a tragic story of Ted F. Jones, former owner of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It was reported for years that Jones, a prominent eastern New Mexico rancher, owned the Route 66 motel through much of … Continue reading So what really happened to the Blue Swallow Motel’s former owner?
Elvis sightings on Route 66
The Marshfield Mail in Missouri published an extensive listing of Elvis Presley sightings and shows in the Show-Me State in 1956 -- the year he came into national prominence. The future King of Rock 'n' Roll's tours brought him to a few Route 66 landmarks that year. According to the newspaper. --- "By May 1956, Elvis was … Continue reading Elvis sightings on Route 66
Fire heavily damages Desert Sands Motel in Albuquerque
A fire early Tuesday engulfed two-thirds of the historic Desert Sands Motel along old Route 66 in Albuquerque and left 57 long-term residents there homeless, according to varying media accounts. The Albuquerque Journal reported 22 firefighting units were called to the scene at 1:45 a.m. At least two people were hospitalized with smoke inhalation. KOB-TV … Continue reading Fire heavily damages Desert Sands Motel in Albuquerque
Los Angeles may preserve ‘Green Book’ properties
Los Angeles and the Getty Conservation Institute are exploring the possibility of rehabbing and protecting about 50 properties once listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book. A few of the properties may be designated as L.A. Historic-Cultural Monuments, reported the Los Angeles Times. The Green Book was created by Victor H. Green, a postal service worker from Harlem, N.Y., … Continue reading Los Angeles may preserve ‘Green Book’ properties