The Sundowner Motel, a Route 66 lodging establishment in Albuquerque where Bill Gates and Paul Allen lived while starting Microsoft, will reopen to the public Tuesday after a $5.4 million renovation into apartments, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Developer NewLife Homes, which has refurbished other Route 66 motels in Albuquerque into housing, is holding a grand … Continue reading Motel where Microsoft founders lived reopens Tuesday
Category: Preservation
Historic Tropics sign removed
ExploreLoganCounty.com on Wednesday posted on its Facebook page a photo of the Tropics sign along Route 66 in Lincoln, Illinois, being removed. The tourism agency said: Although it will be missed from the landscape, the city of Lincoln (the new owner of the sign) has expressed plans to have it restored. When this will happen … Continue reading Historic Tropics sign removed
Museum wants to organize tours of Joliet Prison
The City of Joliet, Illinois, hopes to strike an agreement with the Illinois Department of Corrections so the long-closed Joliet Prison can be reopened for tours, reported the Northwest Herald. The Joliet Area Historical Museum is clamoring for access of the old prison because tourists -- many of them traveling on Route 66 -- want to … Continue reading Museum wants to organize tours of Joliet Prison
Wanted: A restorer of signs for Soulsby Station
The owner of the historic Soulsby Station along old Route 66 in Mount Olive, Illinois, is looking for a sign contractor who can do some restoration work on the main Shell sign in front of the station. We happened to be driving a few dozen miles of old 66 in Illinois on Sunday evening when … Continue reading Wanted: A restorer of signs for Soulsby Station
El Garces reopens Saturday
The City of Needles, California, has planned an 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday for the remodeling and reopening of the long-closed El Garces intermodal transportation facility, reported the Mohave Valley Daily News. In addition to public speakers, the event at the former Harvey House will feature: A farmers market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. … Continue reading El Garces reopens Saturday
Route 66 Arcade Museum opens Thursday
If you're old enough to remember pinball machines, coin-operated video games and brightly colored and noisy arcades, downtown Atlanta, Ill., has just the place for you. The Route 66 Arcade Museum in Atlanta, Ill., is slated to open Thursday, according to a news release from Bill Thomas, the chief mover-and-shaker of the revitalization of Atlanta's … Continue reading Route 66 Arcade Museum opens Thursday
More about the U-Drop Inn’s upcoming changes
A few weeks ago, we reported on some upcoming changes with the historic U-Drop Inn gas station and restaurant in Shamrock, Texas, plus more that were hinted. KFDA-TV in Amarillo filed a follow-up story. If the video doesn't embed properly just hit the link. KFDA - NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo News, Weather, Sports City officials … Continue reading More about the U-Drop Inn’s upcoming changes
Tropics sign will be taken down and restored
Some good news and bad news about a Route 66 landmark. The bad news is the long-closed Tropics Dining Room building along old Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill., was sold and its sign will be taken down, according to Lincoln Daily News. The good news is the sign will be preserved and restored after a new home … Continue reading Tropics sign will be taken down and restored
Historic boarding house reopens in Atlanta, Ill.
After months of renovations, a boarding house that operated during the late 1940s near downtown Atlanta, Ill., has reopened as a lodging facility again. An open house recently was hosted for the Colaw Rooming House at 204 NW Vine St., about a block and a half off historic Route 66. From the news release about … Continue reading Historic boarding house reopens in Atlanta, Ill.
Developers tour El Vado Motel
The city of Albuquerque finally is pushing hard to have developers do something with the historic but long-closed El Vado Motel. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque filed this report about developers touring the property this week: A few weeks ago, the city released a request for proposals from developers. The deadline for submission is July 3. The … Continue reading Developers tour El Vado Motel