The Ambler's Texaco Station in the Route 66 town of Dwight, Ill., has been restored to its 1940s appearance, reports the Morris (Ill.) Daily Herald. Part of the restoration was covered by a cost-share grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. A plaque from the National Park Service commemorating the restoration will be dedicated … Continue reading Historic Dwight service station is restored
Category: Preservation
Chain-weary diners seeking out indie restaurants
BusinessWeek reports that many diners are increasingly seeking independent restaurants when they go out to eat. Here's why: Consumers tired of the chains' clinical atmospheres, indifferent service, and mass-produced products are returning to small specialty stores where they can find unique products and know the face behind the counter. In a sense, it's something of … Continue reading Chain-weary diners seeking out indie restaurants
Two Texas sites added to National Register
The National Park Service announced today that two Route 66 sites in Texas were added to the National Register of Historic Places. In the small settlement of Conway in Carson County, an old section of Route 66, listed as Texas Farm Road 2161, was placed on the register. Here's what Mock Turtle Press said about … Continue reading Two Texas sites added to National Register
“A blip of a town”
Maggie Downs of the The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., writes about the continuing attempts to revive Roy's and the lonely Mojave Desert town of Amboy, Calif. Most of the stuff Downs reports has already been noted here, including that Roy's soon will be pumping gas again. But it's a good read. The article … Continue reading “A blip of a town”
Documenting L.A.’s architecture
More than a decade ago, German tourist Martin Schall was near the end of Route 66 road trip. He took a wrong turn and ended up in downtown Los Angeles. He became awed by the city's skyscrapers and architecture, and started shooting pictures. He's returned to L.A. nine times to document that city's rich architecture, … Continue reading Documenting L.A.’s architecture
Roy’s should be back in business soon
Trevor Summons of the San Bernardino County Sun drove Route 66 deep into California's Mojave Desert to see whether he could find the hamlet of Bagdad. He didn't find much. "Blink, and you'll miss it" is the common description of what now is a ghost town. However, he motored on to the nearby Route 66 … Continue reading Roy’s should be back in business soon
Ruling leaves El Vado’s future in doubt
According to the first paragraph of the Albuquerque Tribune: Two rulings this week on the future of the Route 66-era El Vado motel either deal a huge setback to the city's efforts to preserve the historic structure or represent a minor bump in the road, depending on whom you talk to. First off, State District … Continue reading Ruling leaves El Vado’s future in doubt
Illinois House passes police headquarters bill
The Illinois State Senate approved a bill Friday that would transfer ownership of the historic Illinois State Police District 6 building from the state to Livingston County for $1, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The Senate Bill 768 goes on to the House. The pistol-shaped building, built on Route 66 near Pontiac in 1941, was recently … Continue reading Illinois House passes police headquarters bill
Randy’s of Wildorado is moving
A reader tipped me off that the fine-dining restaurant on Route 66 in Wildorado, Texas, is moving to nearby downtown Amarillo. Sure enough, Randy's Web site says the restaurant closed its Wildorado location on Feb. 17 and is moving into the historic Paramount Building at 817 S. Polk, about two blocks south of Route 66. … Continue reading Randy’s of Wildorado is moving
Restoration of Needles hotel begins
The long-closed El Garces Hotel in Needles, Calif., built in 1908 and one of the last surviving railroad Harvey Houses, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its rehabilitation, reported the Mohave Daily News. According to the article: Plans call for El Garces to include a state of California Needles Visitor Center, an inter-modal transit center, … Continue reading Restoration of Needles hotel begins