A spaceship on Route 66 in Illinois

WRSP-TV found this oddity on Route 66 in Divernon, Illinois -- a former cop, Dave Bentley, who made his own spaceship and parked it in his front yard for the enjoyment of passers-by and tourists. Check out the video: The "Earth Patrol" spaceship is part of a diorama featuring Route 66. There's also a hole … Continue reading A spaceship on Route 66 in Illinois

Vin Scully calls it a career

Sunday marked the last major-league game by Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play announcer Vin Scully after 67 seasons behind the booth. The Dodgers made the playoffs, but Scully, 88, insisted his last game before retiring would be a regular-season one. So a 7-1 Dodgers loss Sunday at San Francisco was the finale. Here are a few Scully highlights from … Continue reading Vin Scully calls it a career

Midpoint Cafe put up for sale because of owner’s health problems

The Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, a Route 66 landmark for many years, has been placed on the market after its owner endured chronic health issues -- including an episode late this summer that required hospitalization. Owner Dennis Purschwitz posted Saturday on Facebook: As many of you all know, this past season has been hard on me, my … Continue reading Midpoint Cafe put up for sale because of owner’s health problems

Tow Tater, aka Tow Mater, has a competitor in Missouri Mater

A lot of Route 66 folks know of Tow Tater, the 1951 International boom truck on Route 66 in Galena, Kansas, that served as the direct inspiration to the Tow Mater character in the 2006 Disney-Pixar animated film "Cars." But barely 15 miles east in Carterville, Missouri, also on Route 66, sits another rusty tow truck that … Continue reading Tow Tater, aka Tow Mater, has a competitor in Missouri Mater

Scenes from the Best of the West on 66 Fest Parade

Frank Kocevar, former co-owner of Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, recently uploaded this from the Best of the West of 66 Fest in Kingman, Arizona. Grand marshals for the parade were Dries Bessels and Marion Flimm of the Dutch Route 66 Association. Music for the video is "Kings of Kingman" by The Road Crew. … Continue reading Scenes from the Best of the West on 66 Fest Parade

A tragedy on Route 66 in 1968

I stumbled onto this recent video about a car accident in October 1968 that killed four teenagers on Foothill Boulevard (aka Route 66) in Fontana, California.. Two other teens died on Foothill in other accidents the same weekend. https://youtu.be/4FSmC_wKMx8 The video isn't shot by a professional, so you'll have shakiness and typical other things from … Continue reading A tragedy on Route 66 in 1968

Co-creator of Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner dies

Roy Dunton, a longtime Route 66 resident who with his son built Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner and a slew of automotive businesses in Kingman, Arizona, died last week at age 95. According to an obituary in the Kingman Daily Miner, Roy and Scott Dunton built and leased out Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner, a … Continue reading Co-creator of Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner dies

The Mill likely will reopen as a museum by April

The Mill restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, likely will reopen as an area history museum in April after almost 10 years of restoration work on the Route 66 landmark. The Springfield State Journal-Register published a detailed story about The Mill and the plans for it. A $10,720 cost-share grant recently awarded by the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program … Continue reading The Mill likely will reopen as a museum by April

Book review: “John T. Woodruff”

Cyrus Avery of Tulsa is known worldwide as the "Father of Route 66." Springfield, Missouri, is known as the "Birthplace of Route 66." John Woodruff never earned a tagline with his name. But a new book leaves little doubt he played a crucial role in developing Route 66 and Springfield. Thomas A. Peters' book is titled "John T. Woodruff" … Continue reading Book review: “John T. Woodruff”

A concise history of Ash Fork

Marshall Trimble, who's been designated Arizona's official state historian, appears in this 2 1/2-minute video about the Route 66 town of Ash Fork, Arizona, for the Ash Fork Historical Society and Museum. And because Trimble grew up in Ash Fork, who better to tell the town's story? Ash Fork, Arizona with Marshall Trimble from Route … Continue reading A concise history of Ash Fork