Oklahoma City's historic Classen Circle complex to businesses, which just weeks ago faced the wrecking ball to make way for a Braum's store, seems to have landed a new owner who pledges to fix up the property. The Oklahoman newspaper reports: Local real estate investor Josh Thomas said he entered into a purchase contract for … Continue reading Once-doomed Classen Circle may be purchased and renovated
Category: Preservation
Rare film footage of old Galena
The Galena Mining and Historical Museum late Wednesday posted on Facebook this video of very old film footage of Galena, Kansas, much of it believed to be in the 1920s. It shows a variety of scenes around town, including its lead and zinc-mining industries. The museum posted this message with the footage: This video was … Continue reading Rare film footage of old Galena
Fees could rise sharply at popular national parks, including Grand Canyon
The U.S. Park Service is considering steep increases to 17 of its most popular national parks, including Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, a side trip for many Route 66 travelers. The Associated Press reported Tuesday: Visitors to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion and other national parks would be charged $70 per vehicle, up … Continue reading Fees could rise sharply at popular national parks, including Grand Canyon
Settlement reached between Davis Arms Museum, state
The J.M. Davis Foundation, which runs the J.M. Davis Arms Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, and the state of Oklahoma recently reached an agreement over a nearly 10-year-old lawsuit alleging breach of contract by the state. The Claremore Daily Progress reported: Under the terms of the agreement approved Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 by Rogers County District … Continue reading Settlement reached between Davis Arms Museum, state
Museum unveils restored Tucumcari Motel sign
The New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari on Monday officially unveiled the restored Tucumcari Motel neon sign. Here's a brief Facebook video of the unveiling: Eight Ball Engineering in Clovis, New Mexico, restored the sign’s paint. Wellborn Sign Company in Amarillo, Texas, restored the neon. To show you how far the sign has come, … Continue reading Museum unveils restored Tucumcari Motel sign
Route 66: The Road Ahead issues third-quarter report
Last week, the Route 66: The Road Ahead Partnership issued its third-quarter report to keep the Route 66 community up-to-date on its activities and future endeavors. Bill Thomas, chairman of the group, summarized the report in an overview. One excerpt, lightly edited: The board of directors held its third meeting of the year in September, … Continue reading Route 66: The Road Ahead issues third-quarter report
Group donates neon signs to Route 66 Neon Park
The Friends of the Mother Road nonprofit group this week donated neon signs from the Stanley Cour-Tel and Lin-Air Motel on Route 66 in St. Louis to the future Route 66 Neon Park in St. Robert, Missouri. According to a news release from Beth Wiles of Pulaski County Route 66 Preservation: Both properties were razed … Continue reading Group donates neon signs to Route 66 Neon Park
El Vado Motel to reopen in December; De Anza in 2019
The long-simmering restoration of Albuquerque's historic El Vado Motel is slated to reach completion by December, when it reopens as a boutique motel with local-beer taproom, retail store, mixed-income housing and food pods. The city had hoped to have it open by the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta earlier this month. Meanwhile, restoration work on the … Continue reading El Vado Motel to reopen in December; De Anza in 2019
Group to begin fundraising to restore Gasconade River Bridge
An Iowa-based preservation group reached an agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation for the nonprofit to begin fundraising efforts to eventually restore the closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri. North Skunk River Greenbelt Association, aka Workin' Bridges, based in Grinnell, Iowa, hopes to raise $3.5 million for the cause by Dec. 31, 2018. … Continue reading Group to begin fundraising to restore Gasconade River Bridge
Miles of Possibility news conference to introduce Launching Pad Drive-In’s new owners
On Tuesday, Tully Garrett and Holly Barker officially bought the long-closed Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, and its iconic Gemini Giant fiberglass statue. On Friday, the couple will be introduced as the Route 66 restaurant's new owners during a news conference at 9:30 a.m. at the Route 66 Miles of Possibility event in Joliet, … Continue reading Miles of Possibility news conference to introduce Launching Pad Drive-In’s new owners