Chick Kirk, 87, a longtime volunteer who greeted thousands of tourists at the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville over the years, died Aug. 27. Kirk, whose real name was Charlotte, and fellow longtime volunteer Betty Halbe worked side by side at the museum, reported the Victorville Daily Press. Together, Chick Kirk and Halbe were … Continue reading Longtime California Route 66 museum volunteer Chick Kirk dies
Category: People
Ron “Tattoo Man” Jones is up to 162 skin markings
Someone a few weeks ago asked how many Route 66 tattoos were on the body of Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I said it was north of 100 but had no certainty, because Jones was liable to add one any given weekend. KTUL-TV in Tulsa caught up with Jones this week when he … Continue reading Ron “Tattoo Man” Jones is up to 162 skin markings
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2017 cost-share grants
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program on Thursday announced its annual cost-share grant awards, with seven grants totaling $98,137. This year's grant awards are remarkable in their breadth, including neon-sign restorations, oral-history projects, a full assessment of Route 66's bridges, a historic-property database, an educational websites and a documentary film. Since 2001, the program has … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2017 cost-share grants
Cool Springs Camp needs new caretakers
The owner of Cool Springs Camp, on Oatman Road, aka old Route 66, between Oatman and Kingman, Arizona, needs a caretaker to look over the historic property. Owner Ned Leutchner said one caretaker he enlisted early last year is moving to Colorado to set up a Wounded Warrior retreat, and another is moving on to … Continue reading Cool Springs Camp needs new caretakers
Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public
Ryburn Place, aka Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, held its grand opening Saturday after a multi-year restoration of the historic Route 66 site. Ryburn Place is named after Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who owned the site for years and shepherded its renovations. Here is video of the site's sign reveal: And here … Continue reading Ryburn Place in Normal opens to the public
Two hikers found dead near Amboy Crater
Two people hiking near Amboy Crater in Amboy, California, were found dead Saturday afternoon after apparently being overcome by the terrain's 113-degree temperatures. According to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office, the people pronounced dead at the scene were Kathie Barber, 58, and Gen Miake, 60, a married couple from Yorba … Continue reading Two hikers found dead near Amboy Crater
Sprague Super Service station reopens Saturday as Ryburn Place
The long-in-coming restoration of the historic Sprague Super Service station in Normal, Illinois, will culminate with a grand opening Saturday, where it will be rechristened as Ryburn Place. The station will be renamed after Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who purchased the property more than a decade ago and slowly and steadily began to restore … Continue reading Sprague Super Service station reopens Saturday as Ryburn Place
78-year-old man is walking the length of Route 66
A few people walk the 2,400-mile length of Route 66 each year. Not many do, but it's not that unusual, either. But a man who's just south of 80 years old walking Route 66? That's unusual. M.J. Eberhart, an avid hiker by who calls himself Nimblewill Nomad. is walking west on Route 66 as we … Continue reading 78-year-old man is walking the length of Route 66
Class of 2017 for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame announced
The Route 66 Association of Illinois announced last month its three newest inductees to the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame. The association inducts "people and places along Route 66 whose blend of hardy individualism and grassroots community spirit gave the road such special character." The 2017 inductees were announced at a ceremony in Lincoln, … Continue reading Class of 2017 for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame announced
Midpoint Cafe goes back on the market
The owner of the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, a Route 66 landmark in Adrian, Texas, has put the property up for sale again because of health issues. Dennis Purschwitz wrote Wednesday night on Facebook: Although I am doing better health wise than this time last year, I still have further to go. I realize … Continue reading Midpoint Cafe goes back on the market