Here's a video shot in 2009 by Channeling Media when it was pitching Dawn Welch and her Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., for a possible Food Network show. It was about a year after the historic Route 66 restaurant was gutted by a fire and rebuilt. The cable channel passed on the idea, but Welch … Continue reading The Rock Cafe, circa 2009
Category: People
Meet the Midpoint Cafe’s new owners
When Dennis Purschwitz and his wife, Donna, started a Route 66 trip in May 2011, little did they know that journey would lead to them owning the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas. Traveling in a 2009 Ford Mustang GT, the couple from Thompson Station, Tenn., started their trip in St. Louis and motored west. "We … Continue reading Meet the Midpoint Cafe’s new owners
Midpoint Cafe is sold
The Midpoint Cafe, located on the midpoint of Route 66 in Adrian, Texas, has been sold, a little less than a year after longtime owner Fran Houser announced she was putting it on the market. I wasn't able to contact Houser on Monday night, but I received an email from a longtime Route 66er who … Continue reading Midpoint Cafe is sold
Illinois Route 66 Hall of Famer dies
Former Illinois State Police Capt. Francis Mowery, who was inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame, died at age 99 last week, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The Illinois Route 66 Association reported Mowery's death today on its website. Mowery was among the very first members inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Hall of Famer dies
“Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 6
Here’s the sixth installment of Japanese television’s “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” which chronicles a singer and actor’s trip down the Mother Road last fall. In this episode, he cowboys up at a ranch in the Amarillo area: https://vimeo.com/36947317 This is my favorite episode so far. Yamashita is clearly thrilled to be on the back of a horse; … Continue reading “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 6
Roadie wins free Phillips 66 fuel for a year
In November, we reported that St. Louis-based roadie Rich Dinkela of HookedonRoute66.com had entered the Local Legends contest sponsored by Phillips 66. The top winner would win $1,000 cash and free gasoline for a year. This was his video: https://youtu.be/4YN9Efq65nU The winners have been announced, and Dinkela finished third. He earned no cash, but he … Continue reading Roadie wins free Phillips 66 fuel for a year
A small fact about Whitney Houston’s death
I sorta hate to bring this up, since it's a trivial fact in light of a tragedy. But the hotel where singing superstar Whitney Houston died on Saturday -- the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. -- sits next to Route 66. A reader alerted me to this today. The hotel lists its address as 9876 … Continue reading A small fact about Whitney Houston’s death
Nominations sought for Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Every two years, one living and one deceased person are chosen for the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. It is that time again. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is seeking nominations for 2012. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be May 26 at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Here's what's need … Continue reading Nominations sought for Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Survivor of Joplin hotel collapse dies
Alfred Summers, the lone survivor of a collapse in 1978 of a large motel along Route 66 in Joplin, Mo., died Friday at age 64, according to the Joplin Globe. Summers, part of demolition crew, was trapped in the rubble for more than three days before he was extricated. Two co-workers died in the unexpected … Continue reading Survivor of Joplin hotel collapse dies
The heap behind Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
The Disney Parks Blog took a behind-the-scenes look at Larry the Cable Guy, aka Mater from the 2006 Disney-Pixar film "Cars," recording a voice-over. Disney needed Larry's pipes for Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, one of the rides featured in Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure: https://youtu.be/_dzY9K_0nuM Cars Land is based on the fictional Route 66 town of … Continue reading The heap behind Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree