La Posada in Winslow, Arizona, recently acquired a historic Santa Fe Pleasure Dome rail car that will be refurbished to house history exhibits and a guest room. The rail car will be a part of the next phase of La Posada complex's Route 66 Art Museum project that begins next month. La Posada co-owner Allan Affeldt said in … Continue reading La Posada acquires vintage domed rail car
Category: Motels
When much of Route 66 was segregated
If you've got an hour, watch this recent video about author and photographer Candacy Taylor, who attended the Bay Area Book Festival to talk about her research into Route 66 and the Negro Motorist Green Book. If you're not familiar with the Green Book, it was an annual guide published from 1936 to 1966 by Harlem postal … Continue reading When much of Route 66 was segregated
Springfield, Missouri, releases “story maps” website
Ahead of the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival this weekend, the city of Springfield, Missouri, launched an interactive "story map" website detailing about 80 Route 66 businesses that once stood or still exist in the city and its outskirts. According to KSMU radio, the city's Geographic Information Systems division used mapping software Esri to create the … Continue reading Springfield, Missouri, releases “story maps” website
Texas firm buys El Rey Inn in Santa Fe
El Rey Inn in Santa Fe, New Mexico, ended 80 years of family ownership when a Texas real-estate investment company recently bought the historic Route 66 motel. The Santa Fe New Mexican had the scoop Wednesday night: Terrell White, who had owned El Rey since 1973, sold the 5-acre complex to a company called Behringer, … Continue reading Texas firm buys El Rey Inn in Santa Fe
Redevelopment deals signed with De Anza, El Vado motels
The city of Albuquerque on Wednesday announced the signing of contracts earlier this month to redevelop the historic but long-closed De Anza Motor Lodge and El Vado Motel, both along old Route 66. According to a news release from the city: The agreement with Anthea @ Nob Hill for the De Anza Motor Lodge is a … Continue reading Redevelopment deals signed with De Anza, El Vado motels
Carlyle Motel in Oklahoma City soon will disappear
The historic Carlyle Motel along old Route 66 in west Oklahoma City has closed, and it seems it soon will make way for a used-car lot. A reader alerted me by email this week the motel's "driveway is now blocked, by a large truck that has a sign reading 'Cash for Cars.'" The current situation has existed … Continue reading Carlyle Motel in Oklahoma City soon will disappear
Desert Sands Motel catches fire again
Albuquerque firefighters on Sunday responded to a second fire in 40 days at the now-closed Desert Sands Motel along the city's Route 66 corridor. A passerby alerted the fire department about 3 p.m. after seeing a fire burning in the back of the motel, KOAT-TV reported. Just one unit burned before firefighters brought the blaze … Continue reading Desert Sands Motel catches fire again
Hotel Will Rogers undergoes renovations
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
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”