The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that a group called the Illinois Barn Alliance is trying to preserve what's left of the state's historic barns. The group is encountering two problems. One, it's not sure how many old barns are even left in Illinois. Second, farmers tend to be a practical lot and often tear … Continue reading A new preservation target — barns
Category: Preservation
Triangle Motel update
The folks who are restoring the Triangle Motel on old Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas, hope to have electricity restored to the long-closed motel by the weekend. After that, new owner Alan McNeil and volunteers should be able to remove the rest of the contents from the rooms that were previously used for storage. McNeil … Continue reading Triangle Motel update
More meetings like this are needed
The Lincoln (Ill.) Courier has an article about a panel discussion concerning Route 66 in Lincoln and Illinois in general. Attending were representatives from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism, Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project. The Courier reported: The three women on Wednesday's panel explained that it's important for Route … Continue reading More meetings like this are needed
Apache Motel in Tucumcari being rehabbed
The Apache Motel, a closed and declining motel on Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., recently was purchased by an Oklahoma group and is being rehabbed, according to someone I talked to at Truesdell Real Estate. The Apache, which had the rock-bottom price of $59,500, had been under contract for several weeks. One Route 66 News … Continue reading Apache Motel in Tucumcari being rehabbed
Tucumcari theater nominated for National Register
The Odeon Theatre of Tucumcari, N.M., which is just a few blocks north of Route 66, has been one of six theaters in New Mexico nominated to the State Register of Cultural Properties and the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Quay County Sun. In his nomination of the theater, historian David Kammer … Continue reading Tucumcari theater nominated for National Register
Trolley museum celebrates 10th year
The city of Sapulpa, Okla., is marking the 10th anniversary of the trolley museum that sits on a prominent spot along Route 66, reports the Sapulpa Daily Herald. It's a 1918-19 electric trolley that moved around Sapulpa a lot and nearly was purchased by the nearby town of Sand Springs. But a local group stepped … Continue reading Trolley museum celebrates 10th year
City of Lincoln may condemn The Mill
The city of Lincoln, Ill., has filed a public-nuisance complaint against the owner of The Mill, a long-closed restaurant on Route 66 that resembles a windmill, reports the Lincoln Courier. The Mill originally opened at the Blue Mill in 1929, which had an lighted, revolving windmill. The restaurant closed in 1996, and the building has … Continue reading City of Lincoln may condemn The Mill
Southwest Museum is closed … now what?
Scott Piotrowski reports that the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, the oldest museum in Los Angeles, has closed and its future is uncertain. There will be a "funeral service" for the museum at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Gold Line Southwest Museum rail station, along with a candlelight vigil that evening at Sycamore Grove … Continue reading Southwest Museum is closed … now what?
Triangle Motel Web site is up
Alan McNeil, the man who seeks to restore the long-closed Triangle Motel at 7954 Amarillo Blvd., aka Route 66, in Amarillo, Texas, recently put up his Web site about his renovation efforts for the 1940s motel. You can find the site here. I held some initial skepticism about McNeil's ability or will to restore it. … Continue reading Triangle Motel Web site is up
Property for sale update
While checking a few things with my "Route 66 Properties for Sale" link, I saw the following things have occurred: The Apache Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., is under contract. It was in bad shape, as its for-sale price of $59,000 attests. Hopefully, the buyer can do something with it. The price on the historic Palomino … Continue reading Property for sale update