David "Windy City Road Warrior" Clark will give a presentation about infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone and his links to Route 66 as part of The Mill Museum's 90th-anniversary celebration Saturday. David Clark in his Al Capone persona. Clark will give his "Al Capone and the Route 66 Connection" presentation from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. … Continue reading Al Capone presentation on tap for The Mill’s 90th anniversary Saturday
Category: People
Making a miniature version of Sun ‘n Sand Motel sign in Santa Rosa
Chris Raley of Fresno, California, is an apparent aficionado of old-time neon signs, so he makes miniature versions of them. Here's a speeded-up time-lapse video that shows how he built a second larger (but still miniature) version of the Sun 'n Sand Motel sign that still stands along Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, … Continue reading Making a miniature version of Sun ‘n Sand Motel sign in Santa Rosa
St. Clair native writes book about experiences at Route 66 gas station
DeWayne Landwehr, 74, a native of St. Clair, Missouri, recently published a book about his experiences as a teen employee at a 1950s service station along Route 66. Landwehr, who now lives in Indiana, wrote: “Will That Be Regular or Ethyl?” According to a story in the Washington Missourian, he said his father owned St. … Continue reading St. Clair native writes book about experiences at Route 66 gas station
Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies
Elmer Long, the eccentric creator of the beloved Bottle Tree Ranch on Route 66 near Oro Grande, California, died June 22 after a bout with lung cancer. He was 72. Kelly Donovan, an administrator of Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch page on Facebook, announced Long's death during a post on the page Friday afternoon. No obituary … Continue reading Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies
Shutdown of Meltdown Diner in Tulsa proves short-lived
Less than a month after the Meltdown Diner in southwest Tulsa closed, it reopened again with a slightly modified name. Owner Jim Hardcastle, citing his desire to spend more time with his father and grandsons, announced he would close Meltdown Diner on May 25. The restaurant, which specialized mainly in grilled-cheese sandwiches, had been operating … Continue reading Shutdown of Meltdown Diner in Tulsa proves short-lived
Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month
Bob Russell, the mayor of Pontiac, Illinois, known for greeting arriving busloads of Route 66 tourists in his city's downtown, will voluntarily step down from his position on July 31. Russell, nicknamed by some as the "Mayor of Route 66," announced his impending departure during a city council meeting this week. According to the Bloomington … Continue reading Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month
Matriarch of Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Visitors Center dies
Martha Jackson, a key figure in the construction of the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Visitors Center in Litchfield, Illinois, died last week after an extended illness. She was 87. Jackson had been in a nursing home in nearby Gillespie, Illinois. Her visitation and funeral will be next week. Here's the key excerpt from the … Continue reading Matriarch of Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Visitors Center dies
New owner of Afton Station wants ideas for Route 66 business there
The new owner of Afton Station in Afton, Oklahoma, wants to put a Route 66-related business there but is unsure what type. So he's appealing to the Route 66 community for ideas. Louis Cox, a retired 22-year Army veteran from nearby Ketchum, Oklahoma, purchased the former gas station for $72,000 during an auction Saturday where … Continue reading New owner of Afton Station wants ideas for Route 66 business there
Grassroots Baseball tour looking for obscure baseball sites on Route 66
The Grassroots Baseball tour this summer needs suggestions on less well-known baseball sites on or near Route 66. The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is helping the soon-to-retire Baseball Hall of Fame president, Jeff Idelson, and photographer Jean Fruth as they explore Route 66. According to the partnership: “We are looking for kids, adults, stickball … Continue reading Grassroots Baseball tour looking for obscure baseball sites on Route 66
Cartoonist to publish graphic novel about Route 66 journey
Award-winning cartoonist Shing Yin Khor in August will publish a 160-page graphic memoir about her experiences during a journey on Route 66. The main title is "The American Dream?" with the subtitle "A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito." Khor grew up in Malaysia and held different … Continue reading Cartoonist to publish graphic novel about Route 66 journey