The Aztec Hotel on old Route 66 in Monrovia, California, may reopen sometime in 2015, reported the Pasadena Star-News. However, with the report about the historic building containing caveats -- plus the owner's problems in managing the property -- one has to wonder whether the hotel will reopen at all next year. Excerpts from the … Continue reading Aztec Hotel may reopen next year
Category: Preservation
Santo Domingo Trading Post wins a large grant
The historic Santo Domingo Trading Post along old Route 66 in Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico, earned a half-million-dollar federal grant for its renovations, according to a news release from U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico. The $511,118 comes from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The project revives an historic Native … Continue reading Santo Domingo Trading Post wins a large grant
A tour of the Tower Theatre
A few days ago, The Oklahoman newspaper provided a tour for 30 subscribers to the historic but long-closed Tower Theatre along Route 66's Northwest 23rd Street alignment in Oklahoma City. As you will see, the tour contained a few former employees or patrons of the Tower. The tour also included a Q&A with the developers … Continue reading A tour of the Tower Theatre
Developer chosen for El Vado Motel
A developer has been picked by the city of Albuquerque to redevelop the historic El Vado Motel -- including it being partly revived as a boutique motel, according to Albuquerque Business First. Palindrome Communities is the developer, which is a partnership between PacifiCap and the Sawmill Community Land Trust. Its proposal calls for creating a … Continue reading Developer chosen for El Vado Motel
Mobil pegasus sign taken out of mothballs in Carthage
A Mobil pegasus neon sign that had been in storage for more than 30 years has been removed from the mothballs, donated and reinstalled at a renovated Skelly Filling Station in Carthage, Missouri, reported the Carthage Press. Jerry Perry, president and CEO of Grace Energy Corporation, gave a Mobil pegasus sign to Mark Jenny and … Continue reading Mobil pegasus sign taken out of mothballs in Carthage
County will seek grant for Sidewalk Highway
Ottawa County, Oklahoma, will apply for a $300,000 "Rails to Trails" grant to shore up and ultimately preserve the Route 66 section of the historic Ribbon Road, aka Sidewalk Highway, between Miami and Afton, Oklahoma, reported the Miami News-Record. The article does a good job explaining the complex issues about preserving the 1922 Sidewalk Highway, … Continue reading County will seek grant for Sidewalk Highway
Historic landmark for sale in Missouri
The turn-of-the-century Weeks Hardware Co. building on Route 66 in Carterville, Missouri, is listed for sale. Ordinarily, I don't publish stories about properties for sale on the Mother Road. But this one is an exception because of its historic nature and prominence in Carterville's downtown. According to Kathy Sidenstricker at Smith Midwest Real Estate, the Weeks building at … Continue reading Historic landmark for sale in Missouri
Part of downtown East St. Louis added to National Register
The Downtown East St. Louis Historic District in East St. Louis, Illinois, was added to the National Register of Historic Places effective Sept. 17, according to an email a few days ago from the National Park Service. The district comprises of two blocks of Collinsville Avenue, a block and a half of Missouri Avenue and the south … Continue reading Part of downtown East St. Louis added to National Register
Webb City wants to restore historic gas station
The city of Webb City, Missouri, is seeking to land a grant to restore a historic gas station in its downtown, reported the Joplin Globe. The station, which once sold Sinclair and Tydol gas, was built in the 1920s and designed to look like a replica of a nearby post office and serve those vehicles. … Continue reading Webb City wants to restore historic gas station
Southwest Missouri county will dedicate three historic sites
The Greene County Historic Sites Board on Saturday will dedicate three locations west of Springfield, Missouri, along Route 66 as historic sites, reported the Springfield News-Leader. One of the ceremonies will include a lightning ceremony for a restored neon sign at a former tourist cabin complex. The sites are: Barnes Town & Country, 8240 W. Highway 266, formerly … Continue reading Southwest Missouri county will dedicate three historic sites