The 120-year-old St. Cloud Hotel building along Route 66 in Chandler, Oklahoma, has been placed on the market by its longtime owner. John Givens, who has owned the property since the 1980s, said in a telephone interview he put it up for sale a few weeks ago because he needs to devote more time to … Continue reading St. Cloud Hotel in Chandler put up for sale by its longtime owner
Category: Preservation
Tulsa Route 66 organization aims to restore historic buildings in the Red Fork District
The Tulsa Route 66 Main Street organization wants to restore historic buildings in the Red Fork District in southwest Tulsa before Route 66's centennial in 2026. The Red Fork neighborhood runs south of the Arkansas River and ends at 33rd West Avenue, with Route 66 right in the middle. News on 6 in Tulsa reports: … Continue reading Tulsa Route 66 organization aims to restore historic buildings in the Red Fork District
Organization seeks to reopen Saratoga Motor Hotel in Tulsa as sober-living facility by Christmas
The Wings of Freedom organization, which acquired the Saratoga Motor Hotel in Tulsa in 2020, hopes it will be partially open as a sober-living facility by Christmas. Pastor Dixie Pebworth, director of Wings of Freedom, told KJRH-TV in Tulsa he hopes to have 29 rooms on the west side of the Route 66 motel transformed … Continue reading Organization seeks to reopen Saratoga Motor Hotel in Tulsa as sober-living facility by Christmas
Joliet museum acquires the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen
The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, Illinois, recently acquired space that housed the world's first Dairy Queen restaurant. That first DQ, which opened in 1940, was in a brick, two-story building at 501 N. Chicago St., though the building itself dates to the 1890s. Greg Peerbolte, the museum's executive director, talked to the Joliet … Continue reading Joliet museum acquires the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen
Boots Court motel in Carthage opens its visitors’ center
The historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, recently opened to the public its Boots Court Motel Visitors Center, housed in a former Sinclair gas station adjacent to the Route 66 property. The motel opened the facility during Maple Leaf Festival weekend, which is Carthage's biggest event. More about it: A grand opening for the … Continue reading Boots Court motel in Carthage opens its visitors’ center
Neon sign at Webb City Florist is restored
The restoration of the historic neon sign for Webb City Florist in Webb City, Missouri, was unveiled during a ceremony last week hosted by the Route 66 Association of Missouri. Association President Rich Dinkela hosted a brief Facebook Live event from the night: Here are more images from the association: And here's an image from … Continue reading Neon sign at Webb City Florist is restored
Collectible investment firm offers shares of Mickey Mantle childhood home in Commerce
Want an ownership piece of Mickey Mantle's childhood home just off old Route 66 in Commerce, Oklahoma? A collectibles investment firm is offering it for $7 a share. Mantle wore No. 7 when he played his fabled major-league baseball career with the New York Yankees. The Rally firm set up a website -- at themantlehouse.com … Continue reading Collectible investment firm offers shares of Mickey Mantle childhood home in Commerce
Grand Canyon officials: Knock it off with the love locks
A recent social media post by Grand Canyon National Park about so-called "love locks" got a lot of attention in recent days. Love locks are padlocks often hung from a metal fence, usually bearing a couple’s name or initials, with the key then thrown into a nearby lake or river -- symbolizing unbroken love. The … Continue reading Grand Canyon officials: Knock it off with the love locks
Amazing Grace Ministries seeks photos, stories about El Sueno Motor Court in Claremore
Amazing Grace Ministries is seeking photographs and stories about El Sueno Motor Court along old Route 66 in Claremore, Oklahoma, so it can make appropriate repairs to at least one of the buildings. Laurie Paquette Ault, a member of the First Methodist Church in the city, said in a phone interview the owner has allowed … Continue reading Amazing Grace Ministries seeks photos, stories about El Sueno Motor Court in Claremore
Old Courthouse in St. Louis undergoing renovations through mid-2025
The landmark Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis is undergoing $27.5 million in renovations through the middle of 2025. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the project will include four new exhibits, more accessibility and structural improvements. The Old Courthouse is part of the nearby Gateway Arch National Park complex. Both are fewer than 10 blocks … Continue reading Old Courthouse in St. Louis undergoing renovations through mid-2025