Anthony Reichardt has posted more videos from a 1993 journey he took on Route 66 in a 1959 Cadillac. The first is a visit with the legendary Lucille Hamons at Lucille's near Hydro, Oklahoma, a few years before her death in 2000 and subsequent closure of the gas station. The station, built in 1929, remains … Continue reading More 1993 footage from Route 66
Category: Motels
Hopi Travel Plaza near Holbrook undergoes renovations
The Hopi Travel Plaza, a fixture along Route 66 near Holbrook, Arizona, for nearly 40 years -- partly because of its eye-catching dinosaur statues -- is undergoing much-needed and extensive renovations, according to the Arizona Journal. The plaza's new general manager, Kelly Jarvis, acknowledged to the newspaper the facility was "going down, spiraling desperately out … Continue reading Hopi Travel Plaza near Holbrook undergoes renovations
Two accused in double homicide at Bristow motel
Two people were arrested Thursday on suspicion of two killings that occurred more than five months ago at the Carolyn Inn motel on Route 66 in Bristow, Oklahoma. Antonio Rayfield Moore and Hanah Renee Jones, both 22, each were taken into custody in Tulsa on two counts of first-degree murder, according to the Tulsa World. … Continue reading Two accused in double homicide at Bristow motel
The Route 66 episode of “Hotel Impossible”
The Travel Channel reality show "Hotel Impossible" aired a Route 66-related episode on Tuesday night, showing how host Anthony Melchiorri tries to dress up the Luxury Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona, and the Red Garter Inn and Canyon Motel and RV Park in Williams, Arizona. As you'll find, the Red Garter and the Canyon didn't need … Continue reading The Route 66 episode of “Hotel Impossible”
Palms Motel in Needles is for sale
The Palms Motel of Needles, California, a historic property on Route 66 that features individual cabins amid towering palm trees, is for sale for $429,900, according to a recent listing on several real-estate sites. The property was listed on Trulia.com about a week ago. It's also on Zillow. According to the listing, the 16 units … Continue reading Palms Motel in Needles is for sale
Painted Desert Inn may serve ice cream, baked goods
The historic Painted Desert Inn in the Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona soon may partly go back to its original purpose as an eating place if the National Park Service has its way. For the first time in 75 years, the park is asking for bids from concessionaires, according to the Arizona Journal. … Continue reading Painted Desert Inn may serve ice cream, baked goods
Lebanon Park Board approves funding for Route 66 park
The Park Board of Lebanon, Missouri, approved nearly $400,000 in funding for a Route 66-themed area in Boswell Park after about an hour of debate, according to the print edition of the Lebanon Daily Record. That was about $100,000 less than a previous proposal floated about a month ago. About $323,000 of the funds will … Continue reading Lebanon Park Board approves funding for Route 66 park
Documentary film, book coming about Negro Travelers Green Book
This weekend, filmmakers Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Becky Wible Searles will interview relatives of the former publisher of the Negro Travelers Green Book for a documentary, according to the New York Times. Victor Hugo Green, a letter carrier who lived in New York City, in 1936 began publishing the guidebook to help travelers find black-friendly … Continue reading Documentary film, book coming about Negro Travelers Green Book
Rail Haven hotel installs replica of classic sign
The Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven hotel in Springfield, Missouri, on Friday installed a replica of a classic neon sign that came down in 1994 when the hotel was rebranded, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Part of the reason the original sign was taken down was because it was "in bad shape," said Jennifer … Continue reading Rail Haven hotel installs replica of classic sign
Springfield mayor ends up with Bel-Aire Motel’s seal
The mayor of Springfield, Illinois, is the new owner of the seal sculpture that once stood at the now-demolished Bel-Air Motel on Route 66 in Springfield, according to the State Journal-Register. Jim Langfelder said he paid $2,500 of his own money for the 8,000-pound statue, which once stood as a fountain near what used to be … Continue reading Springfield mayor ends up with Bel-Aire Motel’s seal