Country-rock musician Neil Young made a documentary about a nine-day road trip mostly on Route 66 from California to Kansas in 1959 Lincoln Continental before the classic car was given a makeover, reports ContactMusic.com. The film will be called "Linc Volt," which is the name of an alternative-fuel vehicle project underwritten by Young and his … Continue reading Neil Young plans film about Route 66 trip
Category: People
The start and the end
An observation: On Tuesday night, president-elect Barack Obama ended his triumphant campaign at Grant Park, the symbolic beginning of Route 66 in Chicago. Obama also started his presidential campaign in February 2007 at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., which also is right next to Route 66.
Owner of Wagon Wheel Motel dies
Harold E. Armstrong, longtime co-owner of the historic Wagon Wheel Motel on old Route 66 in Cuba, Mo., died Saturday at age 81, according to Britton Funeral Home in Cuba. Armstrong and his wife of 20 years, Pauline, owned the motel that's best-known for its distinctive stone cabins, neon sign and its $17-a-night rooms. Pauline … Continue reading Owner of Wagon Wheel Motel dies
Palm Springs Follies opens Route 66-themed season
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies opened its "Get Your Kicks!" season on Tuesday. The entire season (through mid-May) uses the music and history of Route 66 as its inspiration. The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., interviewed Route 66 advocate and Follies technical adviser Jim Conkle about the production and the Mother Road. Some excerpts: … Continue reading Palm Springs Follies opens Route 66-themed season
It’s an election year …
... so the presidential candidates both were on Route 66 in the same town on the same day. Democratic candidate Barack Obama held a rally at the University of New Mexico on Saturday evening. Earlier that morning, Republican candidate John McCain held a rally at the New Mexico fairgrounds. Both are right on Central Avenue, … Continue reading It’s an election year …
Running Phil update
The Hillsboro (Ill.) Journal-News ran into Phil Rosenstein, the man who's running across the country for the Mario Lemieux Foundation, as he trodded into central Illinois last week. Rosenstein made it into Chicago, the eastern end of Route 66, on Wednesday. But the journey doesn't end there. He hopes to run into Atlantic City, N.J., … Continue reading Running Phil update
Preservation Conference tour heads into Kansas
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe ran into a group from the National Preservation Conference in Tulsa that was touring Oklahoma's eastern end of Route 66, plus the Mother Road in Kansas. Among the sights taken in were the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla.; Afton Station in Afton, Okla.; a stretch of the old 9-foot-wide highway, the … Continue reading Preservation Conference tour heads into Kansas
Preservationist wins Oprah leadership contest
Route 66 preservationist Anne Dodge, of Cambridge, Mass., was one of 80 women who won a contest to be named to the O White House Leadership Project by O, The Oprah Magazine. Dodge was selected for her work in developing "a program encouraging historic preservation and economic development along Route 66 by connecting motel owners … Continue reading Preservationist wins Oprah leadership contest
Roy Rogers’ old ranch is up for sale
Movie star and singer Roy Rogers' old Double R Bar Ranch off old Route 66 in Oro Grande, Calif., is on the block, according to RIS Media. It can be yours for $12.5 million. From the news release: Roy Rogers owned the ranch up to his death on July 6, 1998. Shortly thereafter, Roy Rogers … Continue reading Roy Rogers’ old ranch is up for sale
Route 66 expeditions for 2009
The year isn't close to being over, but two people are already planning on personal expeditions on Route 66 in 2009. Megan Carter is planning on going from Lawton, Okla., to Chicago by horseback, which is about 1,000 miles. She and her ride will latch on to Route 66 at Chandler, Okla. The trip starts … Continue reading Route 66 expeditions for 2009