El Garces restoration may begin in earnest

After many months of delays, it appears the restoration of the historic El Garces Hotel in Needles, Calif., will begin soon. According to a story Monday in the Needles Desert Star, the City Council approved a $188,000 bid from a glass contractor to install windows as a part of the restoration's second phase. The newspaper … Continue reading El Garces restoration may begin in earnest

Music video shot at the Blue Swallow Motel

These teenage triplets, called Emma Rose and The Band, shot a lot of footage at the historic Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., for their music video for "Shooting Star." https://youtu.be/SceR2B2B9-0 You can check out the Atlanta group's other music clips on its YouTube channel.

Original sign re-installed at Boots Motel

Workers from the Wilhite Signs delivered and installed a replica of the original Boots Court sign at the historic Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo. Wilhite was the sign company that installed the original Boots Court sign when the Route 66 motel was built in 1939. The sign and its color scheme later was changed to … Continue reading Original sign re-installed at Boots Motel

Was the wrong developer chosen for De Anza?

A guest column in the Monday edition of the Albuquerque Journal suggests the redevelopment of the historic De Anza Motor Lodge stalled  because a city agency overruled an independent panel's recommendation for the property. John Bloomfield said the city should have followed the recommendation to hire NewLife Homes to rejuvenate the Route 66 property. NewLife … Continue reading Was the wrong developer chosen for De Anza?

Hotel Brunswick scheduled to reopen in September

The historic Hotel Brunswick and its restaurant along Route 66 in Kingman, Ariz., are set to reopen in September, reported the Kingman Daily Miner . Next door, Route 66 Ice Cream and Sweets, a bakery and ice-cream shop, is set to open in June, the newspaper said. As we reported in September, Werner Fleischmann of … Continue reading Hotel Brunswick scheduled to reopen in September

Ground broken on Sundowner Motel redevelopment project

Officials broke ground Thursday on the redevelopment of the Sundowner Motel in Albuquerque. The motel will be adapted into apartments for veterans, the homeless, mixed-income residents, and people with special needs. According to Albuquerque Business First, renovating the Sundowner is a $9.2 million project. Final plans include 71 apartments, commercial space for small business incubators, … Continue reading Ground broken on Sundowner Motel redevelopment project

Boots Motel returns to its original roof

Here it is -- the art deco-inspired Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., with its original flat roof for the first time in more than three decades. The Route 66 landmark came with a flat roof when built in 1939. However, the owners erected a gabled roof over it about 1978. When sisters Debye Harvey and Priscilla Bledsaw bought … Continue reading Boots Motel returns to its original roof

De Anza project may be in jeopardy

The main developer of the historic De Anza Motor Lodge along Route 66 in Albuquerque says the revitalization project may be scuttled if historic tax credits aren't approved soon by the federal government, reported Albuquerque Business First. The newspaper said: Developer Rob Dickson said the approval of historic tax credits, which represent almost 15 percent of the project’s … Continue reading De Anza project may be in jeopardy

Boots Motel begins removal of gabled roof

Workers on Tuesday began removing a gabled roof from the Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., so its owners could return the Route 66 landmark to its original flat roof, reported the Carthage Press. Co-owners Deb Harvey and her sister, Priscilla Bledsaw, and manager Deborah “Debbie Dee” Real were all smiles Tuesday morning when Brothers Construction rolled … Continue reading Boots Motel begins removal of gabled roof

“Raze the Roof” event at Boots Motel canceled due to weather

The "Raze the Roof" volunteer event scheduled for this weekend at the historic Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., has been canceled because of grim weather forecasts. Here's the email sent Thursday from the Boots:  The owners of the historic Boots Motel, Debye Harvey and Priscilla Bledsaw, regret to announce that the "Raze-the-Roof" project is cancelled … Continue reading “Raze the Roof” event at Boots Motel canceled due to weather