The nearly century-old but declining Casa Grande Hotel along Route 66 in Elk City, Oklahoma, recently made Preservation Oklahoma's annual list of its Most Endangered Places. Each year, Preservation Oklahoma seeks nominations from the public, and a team of historic preservation professionals meets to decide what properties to include on the list. Although being on … Continue reading Casa Grande Hotel in Elk City makes list of Preservation Oklahoma’s Most Endangered Places
Category: Preservation
Chicago Coin’s Band-Box in the Pancake Hut in Carthage shipped to California for restoration
The historic Chicago Coin's Band-Box robotic band in the Pancake Hut restaurant in Carthage, Missouri, has been shipped to a company in California so it can be repaired and restored. Wanda Baugh, owner of the restaurant, has set up a donations fund for the Band-Box with an SMB bank in Carthage called the "Pancake Fund." … Continue reading Chicago Coin’s Band-Box in the Pancake Hut in Carthage shipped to California for restoration
State Council to consider Boots Court’s nomination to National Register of Historic Places
The Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation will meet in Jefferson City on July 15 to consider whether to nominate the Route 66 landmark Boots Court motel of Carthage, Missouri, to the National Register of Historic Places. Also to be considered will be the East Town neighborhood of Joplin, Missouri, which is bounded by an … Continue reading State Council to consider Boots Court’s nomination to National Register of Historic Places
Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita lands $40,000 grant from National Trust program
The Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita, Oklahoma, was one of 25 restaurants to receive $40,000 from the Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Launched in 2021, last year 25 small historic restaurants across the country each received a $40,000 grant to improve, upgrade, and preserve their exterior physical spaces and online … Continue reading Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita lands $40,000 grant from National Trust program
TV station takes a look at renovations to the Boots Court motel in Carthage
The new owners hope to have the Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, reopened by October after months of renovations on the historic Route 66 property. KSN-TV had some details about the work being done from Kim Bausinger, the motel's manager: While there has been repair work on the property a few times over years, … Continue reading TV station takes a look at renovations to the Boots Court motel in Carthage
Route 66 pedestrian underpass in Chelsea reopens to the public
The historic pedestrian tunnel under Route 66 in Chelsea, Oklahoma, recently reopened to the public after vandalism forced its closing about a year ago. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association made the announcement of the reopening of the underpass: The tunnel was refurbished in 2016 with a Route 66-style mural that spotlights Chelsea landmarks. The tunnel … Continue reading Route 66 pedestrian underpass in Chelsea reopens to the public
Fundraising campaign launched to repaint Road Runner’s Retreat neon sign near Chambless
The owner and advocates for the long-closed Road Runner's Retreat restaurant near Chambless, California, have launched an online fundraiser to repaint its neon sign. Those who donate $35 or more to the effort through GoFundMe.com will receive a T-shirt and a reproduction bumper sticker from the 1960s when the restaurant still was in operation along … Continue reading Fundraising campaign launched to repaint Road Runner’s Retreat neon sign near Chambless
Archdiocese to mortgage iconic church in downtown Sante Fe to pay abuse settlements
The iconic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, will be mortgaged by the local archdiocese to help it pay off settlements to priests' sexual abuse victims. Archbishop John C. Wester laid out the plan in a letter to parishes earlier this month, reported the Albuquerque Journal. The Cathedral … Continue reading Archdiocese to mortgage iconic church in downtown Sante Fe to pay abuse settlements
Route 66 Association of Missouri’s Motor Tour includes an exclusive tour of Red Cedar Inn
The Route 66 Association of Missouri's annual Motor Tour in September will include an exclusive tour of the Red Cedar Inn building in Pacific, Missouri, that's being converted into a Route 66 visitors center, museum and genealogy site. "They are almost finished and we are going to be the first people to see the completed … Continue reading Route 66 Association of Missouri’s Motor Tour includes an exclusive tour of Red Cedar Inn
Doc’s Just Off 66 in Girard, formerly Doc’s Soda Fountain, opens to the public
Doc's Just Off 66, formerly Doc's Soda Fountain in downtown Girard, Illinois, opened to the public a few days ago after an ownership change, extensive remodeling and forming new menus. The owners held a "super" soft opening on Saturday, then posted their menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and soda-fountain treats on Facebook shortly after … Continue reading Doc’s Just Off 66 in Girard, formerly Doc’s Soda Fountain, opens to the public