The Genuine Route 66 Life series points the camera at Kumar Patel, whose family bought the historic Wigwam Motel of San Bernardino, California. https://youtu.be/agYR4mqizh4 The Patels have owned the Wigwam for about 10 years, and have received several awards for the restoration of the property. Before then, the Wigwam had declined into a seedy place … Continue reading A chat with Kumar Patel at the Wigwam Motel
Category: People
Prominent National Geographic writer will travel Route 66
Andrew Evans, a prominent writer for National Geographic with his Digital Nomad blog, in a matter of days will travel the full length of Route 66 for Brand USA, a public and private partnership that promotes international travel to the United States. The announcement of the trip, made in Chicago this morning, contained these details: … Continue reading Prominent National Geographic writer will travel Route 66
Magic on Route 66
Magician Justin Flom, who's made a lot of appearances on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show, apparently hit a lot of coffee shops during a trip on Route 66. This engaging video consists of clips -- and tricks -- from that trip. https://youtu.be/3w0P2ZW43_0
Go down memory lane to the Rock Cafe
This video about the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., by Jack Frank's Tulsa Films is 10 years old, but a lot has happened since then. The Rock Cafe was nearly destroyed by fire a few years later (and rebuilt), and owner Dawn Welch's little girl, Alexis, is now college age. And the restaurant started to … Continue reading Go down memory lane to the Rock Cafe
The amazing story of Joe Bauman
Famed sportswriter Joe Posnanski a few days ago wrote about Joe Bauman, who set a professional baseball record of 72 home runs in a season in 1954. That record stood until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001. The hot, dry air of the region and smallish ballparks of the Longhorn League undoubtedly helped Bauman set … Continue reading The amazing story of Joe Bauman
Route 66’s lifeguard
The Bloomington Pantagraph recently published a profile about longtime Illinois state trooper Chester Henry, who patrolled Route 66 and Interstate 55 in the Pontiac area for more than 25 years and wrote an estimated 50,000 speeding tickets. Henry, now 84, has been retired for about 30 years. He still drives his old beat from time … Continue reading Route 66’s lifeguard
A chat with a Texola business owner
KC Keefer, as part of his ongoing "Genuine Route 66 Life" series, talks to Masel Zimmerman of the Tumbleweeds Grill and Country Store in the Route 66 ghost town of Texola, Okla. https://youtu.be/S6KJ-9yQReU About a year ago, Zimmerman took a 1930s building, Water Hole #2, and converted it into a personal art gallery, plus a … Continue reading A chat with a Texola business owner
Southwest Missouri station puts Route 66 segments online
Years ago, KY3-TV reporter Ed Fillmer, a native of the Route 66 town of Marshfield, Mo., shot segments about Route 66 in Missouri. Yesterday, the Springfield, Mo., station put those segments online. The video cannot be embedded, but I've provided direct links and descriptions of them. Some of these videos date to the 1970s. I recommend … Continue reading Southwest Missouri station puts Route 66 segments online
A chat with the co-owner of Del’s Restaurant
As part of his "Genuine Route 66 Life" series, KC Keefer interviews Yvette Peacock, co-owner of Del's Restaurant in Tucumcari, N.M. The restaurant opened in 1956. https://youtu.be/6SBJc09POqY And although Del's naturally plays up the beef part of its menu, its Mexican dishes are praised far and wide. (Image of the Del's sign by "Caveman Chuck" … Continue reading A chat with the co-owner of Del’s Restaurant
A chat with the operator of Texas Ivy Antiques
In his ongoing "Genuine Route 66 Life" video series, KC Keefer interviewed Dora Meroney, operator of Texas Ivy Antiques along the Sixth Street Historic District (aka Route 66) in Amarillo. https://youtu.be/YT3wV3Cx1-I Not only does Meroney sell Route 66 memorabilia and other items in a converted 1920s house, but she serves as president of the Old … Continue reading A chat with the operator of Texas Ivy Antiques