The Route 66 Association of Illinois announced in its email newsletter Thursday it has opened its nomination period for its Hall of Fame for individuals or businesses. Until Dec. 31, anyone may submit information about nominee(s) that have made "significant contributions to the character or history of the Illinois portion of Route 66 from 1926 … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame open for nominations
Category: People
Former owners of Kellys Brew Pub in Albuquerque pay $1.4M in settlement
A local judge this week ordered two previous owners of Kellys Brew Pub and Restaurant in Albuquerque to pay nearly $1.4 million as part of settling a class-action lawsuit for underpaying its employees. The Albuquerque Journal reported: Former owners Dennis and Janice Bonfantine will pay $1,375,000 in legal costs and payments to servers who worked … Continue reading Former owners of Kellys Brew Pub in Albuquerque pay $1.4M in settlement
‘Archaeological dig’ scheduled in Illinois barn to find Bob Waldmire artifacts
Longtime Route 66 enthusiast Jim Conkle is scheduling a so-called "archaeological dig" at a barn in Rochester, Illinois, to find artifacts that belonged to late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. The barn belongs to Buz Waldmire, Bob's brother. Bob also spent time there off and on during his lifetime, and he died there in 2009 … Continue reading ‘Archaeological dig’ scheduled in Illinois barn to find Bob Waldmire artifacts
Latest RoadTripOK video concentrates on sites in and near Claremore
The latest RoadTripOK video this week features a restaurant and museum in Claremore and a unique park in nearby rural Foyil. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/MgNAkg_WBkw Here are the three places the video covers: Will Rogers Memorial MuseumHammett House restaurantEd Galloway's Totem Pole Park Oklahoma Tourism and Broken Arrow-based Retrospec Films announced last fall they … Continue reading Latest RoadTripOK video concentrates on sites in and near Claremore
Turquoise Room chef at La Posada in Winslow to depart on Oct. 1
You only have a few weeks left to enjoy the Southwest cuisine of longtime chef John Sharpe at La Posada's acclaimed Turquoise Room restaurant in Winslow, Arizona. Sharpe and his wife, Patricia, stated in the restaurant's email newsletter last week titled "TIME TO SAY GOODBYE!!!!" that "the time has come to hand the space back … Continue reading Turquoise Room chef at La Posada in Winslow to depart on Oct. 1
FBI investigates deaths of South African men found dead during Route 66 trip
The FBI is investigating the deaths of two former South African mining executives found lifeless in a hotel in Springfield, Missouri, during a Route 66 trip in 2015. Initial reports indicated Gerrit Strydom, 45, and James Bethel, 44, died of cerebral malaria before their bodies were found in separate rooms at La Quinta Inn, according … Continue reading FBI investigates deaths of South African men found dead during Route 66 trip
El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff soon may undergo restoration, renovations
The owner of the historic El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona, said he wants to restore the property and add space to each room. Peter Corbett of On the Road Arizona reported: The renovation project would redesign and enlarge guest rooms, adding modern bathrooms and patios. The inn had been operating as a single-room occupancy rental … Continue reading El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff soon may undergo restoration, renovations
Launching Pad Drive-In will remain closed until spring due to COVID-19 pandemic
The owners of the revived Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, said they would keep their Route 66 restaurant closed until spring "to protect our family, employees and patrons" from COVID-19. Tully Garrett and Holly Barker made the announcement Friday on Instagram and other social media. It stated, in part: We have carefully watched this … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In will remain closed until spring due to COVID-19 pandemic
Jim Hinckley adds more than 1,000 descriptions of sites to Route 66 Navigation app
Touch Media, which creates the Route 66 Navigation smartphone app, announced Thursday it's collaborated with Route 66 historian and author Jim Hinckley to provide more than 1,000 descriptions for points of interest along the route. The descriptions should go live on the app within the next two weeks. According to a news release from the … Continue reading Jim Hinckley adds more than 1,000 descriptions of sites to Route 66 Navigation app
Mrs. California Route 66 Esther Hollister found dead; no foul play suspected
Esther Hollister, better known as Mrs. California Route 66, was found dead Monday at a Riverside construction site after she disappeared Saturday during a hiking excursion. She was 53. An autopsy will be performed, but local police said no foul play was suspected. One friend said on Facebook that heatstroke was a possible contributor to … Continue reading Mrs. California Route 66 Esther Hollister found dead; no foul play suspected