For those who worried about the fate of the sputnik structure atop the doomed Bel-Air Motel in Springfield, Illinois, do not worry. Ace Sign Co. of Springfield removed the sputnik over the weekend and eventually will restore it for its neon museum that coincidentally opens today, according to the State Journal-Register. The fiberglass ball of … Continue reading Bel-Aire sputnik will be restored for sign company’s museum
Category: Motels
Two Williams businesses featured in ‘Hotel Impossible’ show
The Canyon Hotel and RV Park and the Red Garter Bed and Bakery will be featured in an episode of the Travel Channel's reality show "Hotel Impossible" later this year, according to the Williams News. "Hotel Impossible's" premise is hotels receive an extensive makeover by veteran hotel operator and hospitality expert Anthony Melchiorri and his … Continue reading Two Williams businesses featured in ‘Hotel Impossible’ show
Pixar short film uses Route 66 motel as its setting
An upcoming short film by Pixar Animation Studios, "Sanjay's Super Team," uses a Route 66 motel as its setting. That's because the short's director, Sanjay Patel, saw his parents buy and operate Route 66's Lido Motel in San Bernardino, California, according to the Los Angeles Times. His family still owns the motel. The short film will be … Continue reading Pixar short film uses Route 66 motel as its setting
What I did on my vacation
The answer is: not much. It is supposed to be R&R time, after all. However, my ever-creative companion Emily (aka Redforkhippie) was busy at the historic Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, painting images of extinct neon signs that once graced Route 66 in Tucumcari, plus one in nearby San Jon, in one of … Continue reading What I did on my vacation
Students show design proposals for Tulsa’s Route 66
A group of University of Oklahoma architecture students on Thursday unveiled their redesigns of 11th Street in Tulsa that incorporates modern looks but pays tribute to the street's Route 66 history. The News on 6 station in Tulsa had this report: NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | The … Continue reading Students show design proposals for Tulsa’s Route 66
Two people found slain in Bristow motel
A man and a woman were found dead Sunday at the Carolyn Inn motel on Route 66 in Bristow, Oklahoma, according to several media outlets in the area, including KWTV. The Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation is treating the scene as a homicide. Dead were Jake Allen Wright, 19, and Ruth Ann Rex, 31, The state Medical Examiner’s … Continue reading Two people found slain in Bristow motel
Albuquerque’s Aztec Motel sign taken down
The sign for the Aztec Motel, the only remainder of the historic Route 66 motel in Albuquerque that was torn down in 2011, was taken down Friday, according to several sources that included one eyewitness. The fate of the sign remains uncertain, although the city's Route 66 Action Plan mentions including it as part of a pocket … Continue reading Albuquerque’s Aztec Motel sign taken down
66 Motel in Flagstaff converted into affordable rental housing
The historic 66 Motel in Flagstaff, Arizona, is being turned by a nonprofit group into a place for affordable rental housing until its residents can save enough money for better rentals or a down payment on a home. And the nonprofit, ANEW Living, wants to do the same thing to other distressed motels along Route … Continue reading 66 Motel in Flagstaff converted into affordable rental housing
Albuquerque board approves ‘condotel’ plan for De Anza
The Albuquerque Development Commission on Thursday approved an $8.2 million plan to convert the long-closed De Anza Motor Lodge into a condominium and hotel hybrid, according to Albuquerque Business First. It won out over four other proposals, including a $12.4 million plan by an investing group to turn De Anza into a boutique motel that … Continue reading Albuquerque board approves ‘condotel’ plan for De Anza
University developing mobile archive of Missouri’s Route 66 motels
Missouri State University is developing Project MO Tell, a mobile archive that shows and explores all the Route 66 motels in the Show Me State. The university is one of the repositories for Route 66's archives. Two university researchers, Thomas Peters and David Richards, recently received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation … Continue reading University developing mobile archive of Missouri’s Route 66 motels