The rooftop neon sign for Wilder's Steakhouse in Joplin, Missouri, glowed again for the first time in at least 25 years during a relighting ceremony Saturday night. Brad Nickson, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, posted this short video of the relighting of the animated neon sign on Instagram: A post shared by Brad … Continue reading Wilder’s rooftop neon sign glows again
Category: Preservation
Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop
The Route 66 Chamber of Commerce recently announced it seeks to move into the historic Dale's Ole 66 Barbershop in Joplin, Missouri. The main building also will host an art gallery. The chamber stated on its GoFundMe campaign and on a separate website that Dale's would would be restored so the chamber could use it … Continue reading Route 66 Chamber seeks to move into historic barber shop
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2018 grant season
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced this week it is taking applications for its 2018 cost-share grants -- possibly for the last time before the program sunsets next year. Applications for the cost-share grants will be taken through May 10. More details may be found here. The federal program, under the auspices of the … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2018 grant season
Wilder’s neon sign reinstalled; relighting event set for Saturday
The historic rooftop neon sign at Wilder's Steakhouse in downtown Joplin, Missouri, was reinstalled Thursday after being taken down for several weeks for restoration. The official relighting ceremony for the sign will be at dusk Saturday, April 14. Sunset that day is 7:52 p.m., but it may become dark faster if skies are overcast. Here's a … Continue reading Wilder’s neon sign reinstalled; relighting event set for Saturday
Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post
A new group that calls itself the Route 66 Co-op has purchased the long-abandoned ruins of the Painted Desert Trading Post and its accompanying 94 acres in eastern Arizona to preserve it, according to a news release Sunday afternoon. "Roamin'" Rich Dinkela, one of the co-op's members, stated in the release: It was brought to … Continue reading Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post
Old Joliet prison may reopen to the public by August
Supporters of reopening the 160-year-old Joliet Correctional Center in Joliet, Illinois, as a tourism attraction now are thinking of a grand reopening for August after cleanup efforts at the site accelerated in recent weeks. The Herald-News reported Homer Tree Service was busy last week removing brush inside the prison, which has been closed and neglected … Continue reading Old Joliet prison may reopen to the public by August
Ritz Theatre in Baxter Springs screens first film in 62 years
The Ritz Theatre in downtown Baxter Springs, Kansas, during Easter weekend showed its first movie in more than 60 years with a screening of "Peter Rabbit." According to the Cherokee County News-Advocate: Theater owner Ron Puckett was busily getting everything ready and taking care of last minute issues prior to the Friday afternoon matinee, but … Continue reading Ritz Theatre in Baxter Springs screens first film in 62 years
El Vado Motel inches closer to reopening
The historic El Vado Motel in Albuquerque is moving closer to reopening -- probably sometime in May -- after a lengthy redevelopment on the long-closed Route 66 property. While in Albuquerque earlier this week, we dropped by to check on progress on the property, which is being converted into a boutique motel with food pods, … Continue reading El Vado Motel inches closer to reopening
VIDEOS: De Anza Motor Lodge sign taken down for restoration
Workers on Wednesday took down the neon sign for the De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque to be restored -- one of many steps to rehabilitate the long-closed historic Route 66 property into a boutique motel. Melissa Lea Beasley, president of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, wrote in that group's Facebook page: Today the … Continue reading VIDEOS: De Anza Motor Lodge sign taken down for restoration
Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis reopens Thursday
The Eat-Rite Diner near downtown St. Louis will reopen Thursday morning during the Cardinals baseball team's home opener, as hoped by the Route 66 restaurant's new owners several months ago. KMOX radio in St. Louis talked Monday to new owners Joel and Shawna Holtman: "Our counter top is in, we've got everything done, we've got … Continue reading Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis reopens Thursday