This seems to be a glass half-full, glass half-empty situation. The Motel 6 chain is looking for "Open Road Correspondents" this summer to journey down several classic highways, including Route 66 from Amarillo, Texas, to Santa Monica, Calif. The catch is these road reporters will have to stay at Motel 6's throughout the trip. From … Continue reading Motel 6 wants “correspondents” for a Route 66 trip
Category: Motels
De Anza rehab will begin in July
The long-awaited rejuvenation of the long-closed De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque will begin in a matter of weeks, reported the New Mexico Business Weekly today. Several developers of the historic Route 66 property have come and gone. But the latest, Rob Dickson, reportedly has set a construction start for July with the $4.3 million … Continue reading De Anza rehab will begin in July
Boots Motel reopens
The historic Boots Motel of Carthage, Mo., reopened Tuesday to overnight guests after a decade-long hiatus. A few reports and videos have popped up, but this one by KOAM-TV in nearby Pittsburg, Kan., is the best so far: UPDATE: KY3 News also posted a story and video about the reopening.
Boots Motel reopens for overnight travelers on Tuesday
The Boots Motel of Carthage, Mo., a Route 66 landmark once endangered by redevelopment, at last will reopen for overnight stays starting Tuesday, reported the Joplin Globe. The motel already has its five rooms available for guests booked for that night. The property isn't fully restored, but the new owners -- sisters Deborah Harvey and Priscilla … Continue reading Boots Motel reopens for overnight travelers on Tuesday
Preservationists concerned by Aztec Hotel’s impending renovations
The historic Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, Calif.. is closed for renovations. Ordinarily, this would be good news for a distinctive structure built in 1924 and probably needs the work. However, preservationists fret that the work will endanger the hotel's listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported: The work is … Continue reading Preservationists concerned by Aztec Hotel’s impending renovations
Miami seeing big boost in tourism-related revenue
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe today published a story about how towns in the region are preparing for Route 66 tourism season. One of the most striking parts of the story came out of Miami, Okla.: “We’re anticipating this to be a record travel season,” said Amanda Davis, director of the Miami (Okla.) Convention and Visitors … Continue reading Miami seeing big boost in tourism-related revenue
From the precipice to revitalization
This new Cronkite News Service video explains how El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, Ariz., went from the brink of foreclosure to rapid revitalization: https://vimeo.com/40966348 For more about the motel's sign restorations, go here and here.
A tour of the Wigwam Motel
A program titled "Inland Empire Explorer" gets a walk-through of the historic Wigwam Motel on Route 66 in Rialto, Calif. It's a good video: https://youtu.be/hgCHrrXUPTo "Inland Empire Explorer" airs on a PBS affiliate, KVCR, and on several cable-access stations in the Los Angeles area.
Bel-Aire Motel’s owner faces $141,000 in fines
The owner of the Bel-Aire Motel, located along old Route 66 in Springfield, Ill., has been slapped with $141,000 in fines for more than 400 building code violations, reported the Springfield State Journal-Register. The city inspected nearly the entire 80-room hotel over three days this year — Jan. 9, Feb. 3 and March 1, said … Continue reading Bel-Aire Motel’s owner faces $141,000 in fines
Kickstarter campaign launched for “The Motels of Route 66” film
Simon Cantlon, who we previously reported was creating a documentary film and book called "The Motels of Route 66," has just launched a fundraiser on Kickstarter to cover the some of the expenses of the project. The money raised will cover a month-long journey down Route 66 with a full four-man film crew (director, cameraman, … Continue reading Kickstarter campaign launched for “The Motels of Route 66” film