About a week ago, an article hinted that the proposed Mother Road National Monument in California's Mojave Desert was looking more likely. On Tuesday, the Press-Enterprise reports that the monument appeared to be "gaining momentum." Part of the reason was because a proposed solar-power plant in the desert had been scrapped and another said it … Continue reading Mother Road Monument edges closer to reality
Category: Preservation
Wagon Wheel Motel gets a new owner
The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Mo., an architecturally significant motel which has continuously operated on Route 66 since 1934, has a new owner. Connie Echols, who owns The Wildflower florist and gift shop on Route 66 in Cuba, took possession of the motel Tuesday from the heirs of longtime owners Pauline and Harold Armstrong. … Continue reading Wagon Wheel Motel gets a new owner
Governor opposes Mojave monument plan
A proposal to create a Mother Road National Monument across California's Mojave Desert has encountered opposition from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office, reported the Inland Press-Enterprise. The article says the governor opposes the project because it would halt solar-energy projects there. However, it's reported that Sen. Diane Feinstein is working on a scaled-down compromise. At issue … Continue reading Governor opposes Mojave monument plan
Historic Mayo Hotel reopens in Tulsa
The iconic Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa, which had been shuttered for almost 30 years, held a limited "soft" opening Monday, reported the Tulsa World. The Mayo, at 115 W. Fifth St., is about two blocks from the downtown Route 66 alignment of Seventh Street. The Mayo dates to the 1920s, is listed on the … Continue reading Historic Mayo Hotel reopens in Tulsa
Partridge Creek alignment may be developed
Arizona Route 66 aficionado Jeff Jensen noticed that a semi-obscure alignment of old Route 66 east of the Crookton Road exit of Interstate 40, west of Ash Fork, suddenly had recently sprouted a bunch of "for sale" signs. This is what is called the Partridge Creek section of Route 66. Swa Frantzen's Historic66.com site provides … Continue reading Partridge Creek alignment may be developed
Arizona Route 66 Association wins top award
Story and photos by Mark Potter The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona was honored as the recipient of the 2009 Will Rogers Award, and Carolyn Pendleton for the Kansas Route 66 Visitors Center accepted the Cyrus Avery Preservation of the Year Award during the 2009 Will Rogers Awards Banquet on Saturday night at the … Continue reading Arizona Route 66 Association wins top award
Notes from the Route 66 Summit
As I've reported, I'm unable to attend the Route 66 Festival in Flagstaff, Ariz., because of time constraints. However, Swa Frantzen of the seminal Historic66.com site was taking notes at the Route 66 Summit on Thursday and e-mailed them, some of which I'll pass along here: --- Renee Charles, one of the four women of … Continue reading Notes from the Route 66 Summit
Motel converted to housing for mentally ill soon will open
Nearly two years ago, it was announced that the old Village Motel at 2624 Santa Monica Blvd., aka Route 66, in Santa Monica, Calif., would be bought and converted into housing for youths with mental illness. Now, the Los Angeles Times reports, the motel will hold its grand opening Sept. 11 and be christened Daniel's … Continue reading Motel converted to housing for mentally ill soon will open
Twin Arrows namesake gets a face-lift
The famed giant arrows at the defunct Twin Arrows Trading Post east of Flagstaff, Ariz., recently were refurbished after years of deterioration and neglect. Longtime roadie Carol Major reported a few days ago to the Route 66 yahoogroup: ... On my 66 trip from Topock to Oklahoma City last week, I went by Twin Arrows … Continue reading Twin Arrows namesake gets a face-lift
Bent Door update
I hadn't heard from Roy and Ramona Kiewert, the new owners of the long-closed Bent Door restaurant in Adrian, Texas, for a long while. But this weekend, I got an e-mail from her: Our family spent most of our summer vacation painting inside and out. [...] Things are improving, most of which you can not … Continue reading Bent Door update