A new Route 66 Visitors Center, housed in a renovated 1930 Phillips 66 gas station in Baxter Springs, Kan., is set to open Saturday afternoon, reports the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. Auman said that by Saturday, he expects the building to be stocked with tourism brochures and Route 66 souvenirs. Most of the building has been … Continue reading Route 66 Visitors Center to open Saturday
Category: Preservation
Deferred again
Albuquerque's Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission again on Wednesday deferred a decision on whether to designate the historic El Vado Motel as a city landmark. The decision has been moved to Nov. 14. It has been reported that the city and owner Richard L. Gonzales have been negotiating a possible buyout of the motel. Gonzales … Continue reading Deferred again
Route 66 Caravan returning in 2008
Jim Conkle of the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation announced Monday that he will be embarking on a Route 66 Caravan to mark attractions on the road in summer 2008, similar to the one he led in 2003. Hampton Inn was the sponsor nearly five years ago. It will participate, but won't be a major … Continue reading Route 66 Caravan returning in 2008
Albuquerque’s La Posada may reopen next year
A story in the New Mexico Business Weekly has this story about Gary Goodman and his La Posada of Albuquerque: For the past two years, Goodman has been renovating the hotel and returning it to its former elegance. He plans to open the 1939 hotel as a boutique hotel with 107 guest rooms and indoor … Continue reading Albuquerque’s La Posada may reopen next year
Preventing a motel vanishing act
The Arizona Republic published a good article Friday about slowly vanishing motels along Route 66. The article quotes Emily Priddy of Route66Motels.com and cites the ongoing preservation efforts at Earl's Motor Court and La Posada, both in Winslow, as beacons of hope for Mother Road travelers who love vintage lodgings. I found it especially fascinating … Continue reading Preventing a motel vanishing act
Glancy Motel undergoing renovations
While driving last week through the Route 66 town of Clinton, Okla., we saw something that gladdened our hearts. The Glancy Motel at 217 Gary Blvd., was undergoing extensive renovations after years of slow decline. The owner of the 1950s motel wasn't there, but building permits for remodeling, electrical and plumbing work were taped to … Continue reading Glancy Motel undergoing renovations
Arizona launches asbestos removal plan for Route 66 properties
Asbestos removal remains a daunting problem for many of those who want to fix up aging buildings on the Mother Road. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has stepped in and decided to help Route 66 communities deal with the problem, reports the Arizona Capital Times. Many older buildings and structures along the Route 66 … Continue reading Arizona launches asbestos removal plan for Route 66 properties
Round Barn in Arcadia receives grant
The Round Barn in Arcadia, Okla., is receiving a $50,000 grant from the Oklahoma Centennial Commemoration Commission, reported the Edmond Sun. The money will be used for improvements to its restrooms and parking lot. Also, a new sign and a sidewalk around the 1898 structure will be built.
Not fade away
While returning to Tulsa from a weekend outing in the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico, we saw a slight but welcome change to the restoration of the closed Lucille's near Hydro, Okla. See it? Here's a hint: The little Lucille's sign has been restored. The sign had continued to fade after Lucille Hamons' death in … Continue reading Not fade away
New paint job
We stayed at the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., just a few months after owners Bill Kinder and Terri Johnson put a new, old coat of paint on the historic Route 66 motel. Kinder said he wanted to bring back the Blue Swallow to its original shades, circa 1939. Much of the complex was … Continue reading New paint job