A suspected teenage drunken driver caused thousands of dollars in damage to the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, California, when his pickup truck veered off the road and destroyed the motel's front fence, a light pole and other structures early Sunday morning. The crash happened about 3 a.m. The crash involving the pickup truck also damaged a … Continue reading Wayward pickup causes damage at Wigwam Motel
Category: Motels
The sad decline of the Sun ‘n Sand Motel
Less than three years after it served overnight customers, the historic Sun 'n Sand Motel in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, has declined into an eyesore and a magnet for homeless people, according to a detailed report this week in the print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator. Longtime Route 66 travelers likely will recognize the … Continue reading The sad decline of the Sun ‘n Sand Motel
Appeal of De Anza decision is rejected
A rival developer's appeal of the city of Albuquerque's decision to award a redevelopment contract for the historic De Anza Motor Lodge was rejected Monday night during the regular council meeting, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The winning contractor, Anthea, will spend a projected $8.2 million to renovate the Route 66 motel into extended-stay lodging, … Continue reading Appeal of De Anza decision is rejected
Demolition of Bel-Aire Motel begins
The razing of the long-troubled and condemned Bel-Aire Motel along Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois, began Monday, according to varying media outlets in the city. The Springfield State Journal-Register published a gallery of photos of Sheppard's Auto Sales & Salvage doing the demolition work. The company's owner said he hoped he would be finished within … Continue reading Demolition of Bel-Aire Motel begins
Artisan re-creating smaller versions of classic Route 66 neon signs
Joel Rayburn of GlassBoy Studios in the Oklahoma City area unveiled three smaller re-creations of classic Route 66 neon signs during the Rockabilly on the Route festival in Tucumcari, New Mexico, this weekend. The re-created signs are El Cajon Motel in San Bernardino, California, a Whiting Bros. Motel sign in San Fidel, New Mexico, and … Continue reading Artisan re-creating smaller versions of classic Route 66 neon signs
De Anza developer responds to appeal
Deep in an Albuquerque Business First story about developers Bill and Anna Smith of Construct Southwest and Anthea LLC, they respond to the charges in an appeal from a rival over the redevelepment of De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque. The Anthea developers submitted the winning $8.2 million proposal in March to redevelop the historic … Continue reading De Anza developer responds to appeal
UFO-themed hotel planned in Baker
An entrepreneur is planning a $30 million, science fiction-themed UFO Hotel in Baker, California, about 50 miles northeast of Barstow, according to a news release. Luis Ramallo, best-known for Alien Fresh Jerky store in Baker, plans to build the two-story, 31-room hotel shaped like a spaceship. The UFO Hotel, which is in pre-construction development, will … Continue reading UFO-themed hotel planned in Baker
Negro Motorist Green Book project wins grant
A project to document Route 66 properties listed in editions of the Negro Motorist Green Book was awarded a 2015 grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts. According a release from the foundation, it awarded a total of $490,000 to support 63 projects by individuals "that engage original ideas in … Continue reading Negro Motorist Green Book project wins grant
State of Oklahoma will sell former Route 66 motel
Anybody want to buy a Route 66 motel that was converted into a prison? If so, you're in luck. The former Suntide Inn in Oklahoma City, later the now-closed Kate Barnard Community Correction Center, will be sold at auction June 15 by the state as surplus property, according to The Oklahoman newspaper. The old correctional center … Continue reading State of Oklahoma will sell former Route 66 motel
More Genuine Route 66 Lives
KC Keefer recently uploaded a few more videos as part of his Genunine Route 66 Life series. Here is Bob Russell, mayor of Pontiac, Illinois, who personally greets many Route 66 travelers as they arrive in downtown Pontiac. The clip prominently features the bus of late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. https://youtu.be/X6MmLMJ3RWQ Next is historian … Continue reading More Genuine Route 66 Lives