The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced Thursday it has opened its 2014 season for accepting applications for cost-share grants. The deadline to submit an application is March 28. It requires a minimum investment of 50 percent of the cost. Nearly $1.8 million in grants have been awarded since 2001. Forms and more about the … Continue reading Route 66 program is accepting grant applications
Category: Preservation
Developer drops De Anza project
The developer of the historic but long-closed De Anza Motel in Albuquerque has dropped the project entirely because he didn't get the funding he wanted, reported KRQE-TV in Albuquerque. Developer Rob Dickson had ambitious plans for the De Anza Motel at Central and Washington. He promised to create 39 apartments, a Zuni jewelry store, a … Continue reading Developer drops De Anza project
Tucumcari theater reopens Friday after renovations
The historic Odeon Theatre in downtown Tucumcari, N.M., reopens Friday with a 7 p.m. screening of the animated film "Frozen" after months of interior renovations by its new owners. Improvements included upgrades to the long-substandard sound system and a conversion to digital projection, including 3-D capability for the theater's next film, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of … Continue reading Tucumcari theater reopens Friday after renovations
Scout replants crosses at Route 66 cemetery
KOTV in Tulsa unearthed this remarkable story about a Boy Scout and a cemetery for a long-gone poor farm along Route 66 near Bristow, Okla. NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | Richard Dye, 17, was the one with the idea to plant new and improved white crosses at … Continue reading Scout replants crosses at Route 66 cemetery
Old gas stations being converted into trendy restaurants
Many old and abandoned gas stations in America are being converted into neighborhood restaurants, according to a story on CNN.com. And Route 66 is not immune to this trend. The report said: "Gas stations are almost always on corner sites, they have good visibility and great accessibility, so they make great locations for restaurants," said … Continue reading Old gas stations being converted into trendy restaurants
Old Cathedral in St. Louis undergoing restoration
The Old Cathedral in St. Louis, located next to the Gateway Arch grounds, is undergoing a privately funded $10 million restoration, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The newspaper detailed what will happen to the 1834 church, also known as the Basilica of St. Louis King of France: [T]he Old Cathedral will have new windows, air-conditioning … Continue reading Old Cathedral in St. Louis undergoing restoration
The neon at the Blue Swallow Motel
Many things make the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., distinctive. One of the big things is its neon lighting. Co-owner Kevin Mueller talks about the motel's neon in this new video from KC Keefer's "Genuine Route 66 Life" series. https://youtu.be/WqZeqixWA1Y (Night image of the Blue Swallow Motel's neon sign by Nancy L. Stockdale via … Continue reading The neon at the Blue Swallow Motel
Oklahoma senator again criticizes Route 66 preservation program
U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) again targets the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program with his "Wastebook," an annual publication released Tuesday that cites alleged government waste. In the publication, Coburn criticized the $81,224 the program awarded in cost-share grants to restore the roof of the historic DeCamp Junction near Staunton, Ill., the climate-control system of … Continue reading Oklahoma senator again criticizes Route 66 preservation program
Santa returns to Catsup Bottle after a long hiatus
A decorative Santa Claus figure on the lower structure of the historic World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Ill., has returned after a more than a 10-year hiatus, according to a news release from the landmark's preservation group. From the news release: The 12-foot-tall, 400-pound Santa figure is wrapped in lights and colorful garland and … Continue reading Santa returns to Catsup Bottle after a long hiatus
Route 66 Alliance and Federation may merge
Looking over the emails and posts that trickled in from the recent "Route 66: The Road Ahead" roundtable, it seems the most newsworthy thing from it is a possible merger of the Route 66 Alliance and the National Historic Route 66 Federation. A merger may take months of talks. Or it may not happen at … Continue reading Route 66 Alliance and Federation may merge