Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop likely has new owners

The co-owners of the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop in Adrian, Texas, on Tuesday said they have accepted an offer from at least two people to buy the restaurant, with the sale anticipated to close in the early spring. Dennis Purschwitz and his wife, Donna, made the announcement on the restaurant's Facebook page. They declined … Continue reading Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop likely has new owners

Man plans to drive 1918 Dodge the length of Route 66 next year

A California man plans to drive his restored 1918 Dodge car on Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles next year, accompanied by his three sons. It's not the first time a century-old car has traversed Route 66 -- several during The Big Race in 2015 did it. But it's rare, and it takes commitment … Continue reading Man plans to drive 1918 Dodge the length of Route 66 next year

Longtime Oklahoma Route 66 booster Frank Gierhart dies

Frank Gierhart, a longtime supporter of Route 66 and former owner of a business on the Mother Road in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, died Thursday in Claremore, Oklahoma. He was 81. Visitation is from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Green Hill Funeral Home in Sapulpa, according to an obituary in the Tulsa World. The funeral will … Continue reading Longtime Oklahoma Route 66 booster Frank Gierhart dies

Rocket launch over Amboy delayed

"Mad" Mike Hughes' scheduled launch today of his self-made rocket over the Route 66 town of Amboy, California, was delayed after the Bureau of Land Management nixed it, saying he didn't have permission. However, Hughes told the Washington Post he would launch the rocket -- with him inside -- sometime next week on private property … Continue reading Rocket launch over Amboy delayed

Man plans to launch himself in rocket over Amboy on Saturday

A self-taught rocket scientist plans to launch his steam-powered creation -- with him inside -- over the Route 66 hamlet of Amboy, California, between 2 and 3 p.m. Saturday. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, “Mad” Mike Hughes built his rocket in his garage from salvaged parts and about $20,000 of his own money. … Continue reading Man plans to launch himself in rocket over Amboy on Saturday

InSites offering special tours in Chicagoland on Thanksgiving, holiday season

If you're in the Chicago area during the Thanksgiving holiday or during the Christmas season, the InSites tour company has something for you. InSites and David "Windy City Road Warrior" Clark, who organized tours a few weeks ago during the Miles of Possibility Conference, are offering a Thanksgiving Day road trip between Wilmington, Illinois, and … Continue reading InSites offering special tours in Chicagoland on Thanksgiving, holiday season

Dawn Patterson of DK’s Garage in Towanda dies

Dawn Patterson of Towanda, Illinois, who turned her two-car garage next to her home into a Route 66 tourist destination called DK's Garage, died last week after a brief illness. She was 59. Catherine Stevanovich of the Illinois Route 66 Association wrote some thoughts about Patterson in an email: If Dawn's garage overhead door was … Continue reading Dawn Patterson of DK’s Garage in Towanda dies

R.I.P., Marian Clark

Marian Clark, best known for her series of popular Route 66 cookbooks, died Thursday of cancer. She was 83. Clark's passing occurred a day after her daughter, Rebecca Barnes, announced on Facebook she had been placed in hospice care. Clark also had suffered a stroke the previous year but rallied until her cancer diagnosis in … Continue reading R.I.P., Marian Clark

Warehouse fire destroys inventory by several Route 66 authors

Fire destroyed a St. Louis warehouse used by Reedy Press, along with all the stored books by several Route 66 authors, according to several media reports. Smoke from the five-alarm fire that began Wednesday morning was seen for miles, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. At one point, part of the building collapsed onto a firetruck, and … Continue reading Warehouse fire destroys inventory by several Route 66 authors

Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark in hospice care

UPDATE2: Marian Clark died Thursday morning. An obituary will be posted later when the arrangements information is available. The original post from Wednesday: Marian Clark, an Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame member who found and compiled recipes from many restaurants along the Mother Road into several books, is dying of cancer and has been … Continue reading Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark in hospice care