The city council of Normal, Illinois, on Monday night approved a deal for the purchase and maintenance of Terri Ryburn's Sprague Super Service station on Route 66. Ryburn posted on her Facebook account shortly after the vote: Well, it's official. The Town of Normal council voted tonight to buy my building; I will get to … Continue reading City buys Sprague Super Service station
Category: Preservation
City may buy Sprague Super Service station
The city of Normal, Illinois, will vote Monday on whether to buy and keep up Terri Ryburn's historic Sprague Super Service station on old Route 66. The Bloomington Pantagraph reported: The council will consider a $458,000 investment, including $229,000 to buy the property, $200,000 to improve the building and $172,000 to buy and renovate an … Continue reading City may buy Sprague Super Service station
National parks likely will offer naming rights
The Painted Desert in Arizona won't be renamed the Sherwin Williams Painted Desert anytime soon. But many other things will be up for grabs when the National Park Service begins to look for naming rights for many parts of its facilities. The Washington Post this week published a story about this development. Hard up for money because of flat funding from … Continue reading National parks likely will offer naming rights
New plan suggests Gasconade River Bridge will be saved
It appears the Missouri Department of Transportation will repair and reconstruct the closed Gasconade River Bridge that carries old Route 66 near Hazelgreen, Missouri, instead of a new bridge being built in its place. A draft of the state's 2017-2021 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program was released late in the week. It isn't set in stone, but page 16 of … Continue reading New plan suggests Gasconade River Bridge will be saved
Formal celebration held for new California monuments
The recent designation of three national monuments in California -- including the Mojave Trails National Monument that includes Route 66 -- was formally celebrated Thursday by conservationists and the Secretary of the Interior. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell attended the celebration, according to The Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs. The other two monuments are the Sand … Continue reading Formal celebration held for new California monuments
Kelly’s Brew Pub gets new owners; lawsuit filed against it
Kelly's Brew Pub, located in an old gas station and car dealership on Route 66 in Albuquerque, soon will be acquired by Santa Fe Dining. During the same week, media outlets reported several current and former workers have filed a class-action lawsuit against Kelly's Brew Pub, alleging the restaurant and microbrewery violated the city's minimum-wage ordinance. Santa Fe Dining … Continue reading Kelly’s Brew Pub gets new owners; lawsuit filed against it
Route 66 Car Museum opening next month in Springfield
Classic-car collector Guy Mace plans to open a Route 66 Car Museum on June 15 at 1624 W. College St. (aka Route 66) in Springfield, Missouri. According to a news release from the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau: Patrons can see two Rolls Royces, the 1926 Hudson used in the 1939 movie “The Grapes of … Continue reading Route 66 Car Museum opening next month in Springfield
Laurel Kane will be inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Laurel Kane, co-owner of Afton Station in Afton, Oklahoma, will be inducted into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame posthumously later this year, it was learned Saturday during a celebration of her life. A panel from the Oklahoma Route 66 Association selects two winners — one living and one deceased — from a list of … Continue reading Laurel Kane will be inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Grocery may move into Gold Dome in Oklahoma City
A Natural Grocers store likely will move into the historic Gold Dome building in Oklahoma City, reported The Oklahoman newspaper. The deal with the building's owner, Jonathan Russell, negotiated with the grocery chain and its developer to have it oversee the building's renovation, yet preserve its historical integrity. The deal must be approved by the … Continue reading Grocery may move into Gold Dome in Oklahoma City
Hundreds show up for Gasconade River Bridge rally
Hundreds of historic preservationists and Route 66ers showed up Saturday afternoon for Gasconade River Bridge rally near Hazelgreen, Missouri, to persuade the Missouri Department of Transportation to preserve the Route 66 bridge. KY3 in Springfield, Missouri, posted this good report from the rally: Based on the station's reporting, it seems MoDOT will not reopen the … Continue reading Hundreds show up for Gasconade River Bridge rally