The historic Boots Motel on Route 66 in Carthage, Mo., has been named one of the 10 Most Endangered Roadside Places in 2011 by the Society for Commercial Archaeology, according to a news release today. The motel, which dates to 1939, was closed in 2003 after a local developer purchased it, reportedly so it could … Continue reading Boots Motel makes “most endangered” list
Category: Preservation
Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa will reopen
The Lake City Diner along Route 66 in Santa Rosa, N.M., will reopen in early May after it abruptly closed a few months ago, according to the current print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator, based in Santa Rosa. The newspaper reports that the restaurant, housed in a 1901 downtown building, will reopen under new … Continue reading Lake City Diner in Santa Rosa will reopen
From eyesore to eyeful
The Tulsa World today provided a sneak preview of what the renovation of the Campbell Hotel in Tulsa looks like. It also told how close the historic property came to the wrecking ball just a few years ago: No way it could be restored. That's what the gentleman told local architect Tom Neal in the … Continue reading From eyesore to eyeful
Route 66 Garage Sale moved to mid-May
This event has been listed on our Events Calendar for weeks, but it seems prudent to remind folks that the Route 66 Garage Sale in Logan County, Ill., is set for May 13-14 -- one month earlier than usual. And according to the Lincoln Courier, the Logan County portion of the event is being organized … Continue reading Route 66 Garage Sale moved to mid-May
Old business in Grants will be revived
Charlie's Radiator Service, which was established during the 1940s on Route 66 in Grants, N.M., will be renovated into an automobile museum and gift shop, according to an article in the Cibola County Beacon. The long-closed shop and diner at 1308-1310 W. Santa Fe Ave. faced the wrecking ball less than two years ago after … Continue reading Old business in Grants will be revived
Admiral Twin will be rebuilt
It had been hinted for weeks. And now it's confirmed -- the Admiral Twin in Tulsa will be rebuilt by summer. Admiral Twin Drive-In co-owner Blake Smith told the Tulsa World yesterday he'd secured a loan to rebuild the double screen that was destroyed during a huge fire last September. The loan will allow him … Continue reading Admiral Twin will be rebuilt
A development plan we’d like to see
A bunch of Drury University architecture students unveiled a preliminary development plan for the city of Carthage, Mo., that emphasizes its past, including historic Route 66, reported the Joplin Globe. Recommendations for the downtown area included eliminating parking around the square and replacing it with a multilevel parking structure to the south that would be … Continue reading A development plan we’d like to see
Bob Waldmire’s old car acquired by Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Rich Henry, owner of Henry's Rabbit Ranch on Route 66 in Staunton, Ill., recently acquired a 1967 Volkswagen station wagon once used by Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, who died of cancer in December 2009. Henry says the car will be displayed on his property, where other large Route 66 memorabilia have found a home. … Continue reading Bob Waldmire’s old car acquired by Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Tulsa station lands on National Register
Cities Service Station No. 8, at 1648 Southwest Blvd. (aka Route 66) in Tulsa, was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective March 14, according to an e-mail today from the National Park Service. The circa 1940 station was nominated about six weeks ago by the Tulsa Preservation Commission and the state of … Continue reading Tulsa station lands on National Register
Grant awarded to start preservation of Route 66 State Park bridge
Landmarks Association of St. Louis was given a $3,500 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation as seed money for a long-term preservation plan for the closed and deteriorating Route 66 bridge at Route 66 State Park near Eureka, Mo. According to the news release from the Landmarks Association: The master plan for the … Continue reading Grant awarded to start preservation of Route 66 State Park bridge