Although there is a link to the Route 66 Pulse newspaper on the side of this site (and vice versa), I don't often link to their stories because there's a lot of redundancy there. Route 66 News often reports news on the Mother Road first because the Internet allows nearly instantaneous coverage; Route 66 Pulse … Continue reading History of the “Patel motels”
Category: People
The forgotten graveyards of Route 66
Ron Paschall, writing for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., makes an impassioned plea that someone, anyone help preserve the long-forgotten graveyards along Route 66 in the Mojave Desert. The Mother Road's cemeteries lay in a state of disrepair. Located on lonely hillsides, out of sight of the few cars that still travel the … Continue reading The forgotten graveyards of Route 66
A look at the Gay Parita station
KOLR-TV in Springfield, Mo., has a story about Gary Turner's re-creation of the Gay Parita gas station on old Route 66 west of Springfield in a settlement called Paris Springs. Here are more photos of Gay Parita. There's a video link with the story. But buried in the story is this item that's not on … Continue reading A look at the Gay Parita station
His own Cozy Cone
Rick Shalander of Whites Creek, Tenn., liked the "Cars" movie and decided to re-create one of the Cozy Cone Motel cabins in the film. He's going to use it as a place to park his motorcycle. He's building it out of of salvaged materials, including a motor from a hospital bed that will be used … Continue reading His own Cozy Cone
A visit to Meteor City
A videographer checks out Meteor City in Arizona, which features what purportedly is the world's longest map of Route 66. There's another long map of 66 in Winslow, Ariz. The Meteor City map was painted originally by Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, but it was repainted some years later. You can see Waldmire's version here.
Nominations being taken for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame
The Illinois Route 66 Association is taking nominations for the state's Route 66 Hall of Fame through Feb. 29. According to this news release in the Morris (Ill.) Daily Herald: They can be submitted to Route 66 Association of Illinois, Attention Hall of Fame Committee, 110 W. Howard St., Pontiac, Ill. 61764. Deadline for nominations … Continue reading Nominations being taken for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame
A songwriter and Route 66 convert dies
John Stewart, 68, died of a brain aneurism on Saturday. He was best-known as a member of the Kingston Trio and the writer of "Daydream Believer," a hit single for the Monkees and Anne Murray that was covered by dozens of other artists. In this obituary from the Associated Press, I learned he had a … Continue reading A songwriter and Route 66 convert dies
“JJ’s Route 66 Cruise for ALS” video
Readers may remember John "JJ" Bouma's tour on Route 66 to raise awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease, and raise funds. A photographer traveled with the caravan to document other people near the route who have the disease. This video is the result. Bouma died of ALS in December 2006, at age … Continue reading “JJ’s Route 66 Cruise for ALS” video
Tucumcari leader Bettie Ditto dies
Bettie Ditto, the former mayor of the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., and longtime owner of the Pow Wow Inn, died at age 91 on Saturday, reports the Quay County Sun. She was so respected in the region, she was called "Mrs. Tucumcari." A former city commissioner and real estate developer, she is perhaps … Continue reading Tucumcari leader Bettie Ditto dies
A spotlight on a small section of 66
A reporter from the Noblesville (Ind.) Daily Times stopped on Route 66 in northeastern Oklahoma to visit Laurel Kane of Afton Station in Afton, the nearby Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park in Foyil, and the Blue Whale of Catoosa. Many media stories about the Mother Road become hugely expansive, to the point of being unwieldy. … Continue reading A spotlight on a small section of 66