The Edmond (Okla.) Sun has a story about the history of a long-defunct Conoco gas station on Route 66 between Luther and Arcadia, Okla. The station dates to 1926 -- the very beginnings of Route 66. It also has a less-than-sedate past: Unsolved mystery looms there where the body of a murdered man was found … Continue reading Old station keeps holding on
Category: Preservation
Report from the festival
Brent Weber of KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City interviewed Michael Wallis and Emily at the beautification project for the former Ray's Motel in Clinton, Okla., during the recent National Route 66 Festival.
Keep that bridge open
The historic bridge that takes an older alignment of Route 66 into Devil's Elbow, Mo., needs repairs. Without it, many residents of the town would have to drive miles out of their way. This sounds like a slamdunk for state road assistance. But the Waynesville (Mo.) Daily Guide says the county isn't taking chances: Pulaski … Continue reading Keep that bridge open
Saving Old Two Spot
The Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff tells about how Malcolm Mackey and others saved a 1911 steam engine locomotive, nicknamed Old Two Spot, that now sits at the town's historic railroad depot. "It was kind of the town mascot because it had a whistle that was recognizable," said Mackey, 80, who still lives in the … Continue reading Saving Old Two Spot
Lightning meets Mater
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe published a story about four women who are refurbishing a former gas station on Route 66 in nearby Galena, Kan., into a tourism center. On Thursday, a family from Texas with a 1995 Mustang Cobra decked out to resemble Lightning McQueen from the 2006 animated movie "Cars" stopped by to visit … Continue reading Lightning meets Mater
Back to the beginning for El Vado
After a court ruling struck down the city landmark designation for El Vado Motel in Albuquerque, the matter is back before the Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission on July 11 on whether to make the historic Route 66 motel a city landmark to protect it from redevelopment. A judge ruled that the commission didn't adequately … Continue reading Back to the beginning for El Vado
Preservation in action
Emily, who is in charge of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association's preservation committee, supervised the preservation project during the past weekend's National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla. The mission: To pretty up the long-closed Ray's Motel in Clinton over a three-day period. More than two dozen volunteers showed up. Emily has more details and … Continue reading Preservation in action
Donation boosts The Mill restoration
Restoration efforts for The Mill, a long-closed Route 66 restaurant in Lincoln, Ill., got a big lift when local philanthropist Larry Van Bibber donated $15,000, reported the Lincoln Courier. Van Bibber said he asked Geoff Ladd, who is chairman of the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County, how much money Ladd thought the renovation … Continue reading Donation boosts The Mill restoration
Barstow may restore old Route 66 signs
The City of Barstow, Calif., may restore nine old neon signs along Route 66, reports the Desert Dispatch of nearby Victorville, in an effort to boost tourism. The total cost of the project will be an estimated $180,000, with half expected from a grant by the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. The article doesn't provide … Continue reading Barstow may restore old Route 66 signs
Rain stops, preservation project begins
It was looking grim Friday morning before the scheduled start of the preservation project for the closed Ray's Motel in Clinton, Okla., as part of activities with the National Route 66 Festival. Heavy rain had fallen, and according to radar, a storm system appeared parked over Clinton. However, shortly before the project's 11 a.m. start, … Continue reading Rain stops, preservation project begins