Observations about the impending sale of the Lewis Motel in Vinita, Okla.: 1. The sale was handled in an underhanded manner. The owner didn't bother to put the motel on the market once he shuttered it for several years. Once O'Reilly made the offer, that was it -- no consideration of whether anyone else would … Continue reading What to do about the Lewis Motel
Category: Preservation
Route 66 Corridor grants announced
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, run by the Nationa Park Service, has announced its annual recipients of cost-share grants totaling $117,102. The news release does a good job detailing the recipients and for what purpose, so I'm quoting it verbatim and adding links where applicable: 1) Atlanta, Illinois – Palms Grill Café. Grant … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor grants announced
Happier burger
Growing up in Sapulpa, Okla., Reggie Hankes and a buddy used to walk to the Happy Burger restaurant on Route 66 for a bite to eat. As he grew into adulthood, his sentimental attachment to the restaurant strengthened. Whenever he was in town, Hankes would stop by, he told the Sapulpa Daily Herald. It was … Continue reading Happier burger
What’s right — and wrong — with Edwardsville
Here's an article from the Alton (Ill.) Telegraph about nearby Edwardsville being named host of the national Route 66 Festival in 2008, which has already been reported here and several other newspapers. Here's the quote from the story that bugged me, however: "It’s going to put us on the map," said Carol Foreman, director of … Continue reading What’s right — and wrong — with Edwardsville
More photos from the Triangle Motel work day
Marvin, an Amarillo photographer, was there Saturday shooting photos at the Triangle Motel's work day. The gallery is here.
How to save our Route 66 motels
Johnny Mango at Duke City Fix in Albuquerque has been doing a lot of thinking about this issue. His observations about crime and grinding competition crowding out the historic motels are spot-on. Here are what he thinks are solutions: 1. Special tax status for small motels. We already do this for agricultural land in the … Continue reading How to save our Route 66 motels
Baxter Springs gas station receives grant
A historic gas station on Route 66 in Baxter Springs, Kan., has received a $26,202 grant from the National Park Service's Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program to fix up the exterior and repair its heating and air-conditioning system, reports the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. The 1930 station is a Phillips 66 cottage-style station, and it's owned … Continue reading Baxter Springs gas station receives grant
Meadow Gold sign will find a new home
The Tulsa World reported this morning that the historic Meadow Gold sign, which has was dismantled in 2004 and placed into storage for safekeeping, will eventually find a new home in Tulsa just east of Peoria Avenue and 11th Street, aka Route 66. Mark Farrell is donating a portion of the southwest corner Quaker Avenue … Continue reading Meadow Gold sign will find a new home
Emily’s day at the Triangle
As promised, here is Emily's report about the volunteer work day Saturday to help clean up the Triangle Motel in Amarillo, with plenty of her own pictures.
Work day at the Triangle Motel
Saturday was a work day by Route 66 volunteers to help clean up the long-neglected Triangle Motel in Amarillo, Texas. About a dozen people showed up, which was way more than a grateful Alan McNeil, the motel's new owner, ever anticipated. I personally wasn't able to attend because of my work schedule. But Emily, aka … Continue reading Work day at the Triangle Motel