The owner of the closed Road Runner's Retreat restaurant near Chambless, California, began work last week on restoring its long-dark neon sign. The work was detailed in an Instagram post: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Road Runner’s Retreat (@roadrunnersretreatroute66) High winds forced an early end to the day's work, but "we’ll … Continue reading Road Runner’s Retreat begins restoration work on its long-dark neon sign
Category: Preservation
Full restoration of Boots Court motel in Carthage begins
The federally certified nonprofit Boots Court Foundation, in cooperation with CTown LLC, announced Wednesday they have begun a full restoration of the historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri. An emailed news release noted the Route 66 motel's flat roof and some of its rooms were restored in the last decade by the previous owners. … Continue reading Full restoration of Boots Court motel in Carthage begins
Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
The Bristow (Oklahoma) Historical Society has compiled a wish list of landmarks along or near Route 66 it wants to beautify and restore, including the Chrysler Plymouth tower. According to the Sapulpa Times, the society has placed these landmarks on the renovation list before Route 66's centennial in 2026: The 100-foot-tall Chrysler Plymouth tower just … Continue reading Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
Two grant opportunities are available through National Trust for Historic Preservation
Kaisa Barthuli, program director for the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, recently sent out an email to alert people about two grant opportunities through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Don't procrastinate, though. Applications for both grants are due March 1. One is the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors. It assists in the … Continue reading Two grant opportunities are available through National Trust for Historic Preservation
New video gives a good overview of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville
If you have about 45 minutes to kill, I encourage you to watch this new video about the known history of the massive Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville, Illinois. https://youtu.be/iciOvaIm51M The Ancient Americas channel on YouTube produced the video, which was uploaded just a few weeks ago. It's as good of an encapsulation … Continue reading New video gives a good overview of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup undergoing $6 million in renovations
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, is getting a $6 million makeover where the establishment's owner is carefully considering how well the face-lift work matches the hotel's historic character. Details of the work being done on the historic Route 66 hotel are in the current print issue of New Mexico Magazine. (The story should … Continue reading El Rancho Hotel in Gallup undergoing $6 million in renovations
Lebanon Parks moves forward with a feasibility study on moving parts of Gasconade River Bridge
The Lebanon (Missouri) Parks Department officially is moving forward with a feasibility study to see whether it can move part of Route 66's endangered Gasconade River Bridge to Boswell Park, though it remains unclear whether the span will be torn down. According to a report by KRMS radio, the cost to move the bridge isn’t … Continue reading Lebanon Parks moves forward with a feasibility study on moving parts of Gasconade River Bridge
Key organization launches Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, along with the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission, a few days ago announced they are launching a Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program as part of the highway's centennial celebrations culminating in 2026. According to a news release from the partnership: The Road Ahead was awarded a $250,000 grant … Continue reading Key organization launches Route 66 Black Experiences Grant Program
Part of Gasconade River Bridge may be moved to Boswell Park in Lebanon
The park board of Lebanon, Missouri, is considering a feasibility study of whether a portion of the closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen can be moved to Boswell Park, though the future of the Route 66 span continues to remain unclear. The Laclede County Record reported in its latest edition (subscription required) that Lebanon parks … Continue reading Part of Gasconade River Bridge may be moved to Boswell Park in Lebanon
Desecration of petroglyphs probably means La Bajada access won’t be reopened anytime soon
Don't anticipate the primitive La Bajada Hill alignment of Route 66 southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico, to be reopened to off-roaders or hikers anytime soon. A pueblo group recently accused the U.S. Bureau of Land Management of not doing enough to protect sacred sites in the Caja del Rio Plateau area (aka La Bajada) … Continue reading Desecration of petroglyphs probably means La Bajada access won’t be reopened anytime soon