Hill Top Motel in Kingman adds 30-day bookings on Airbnb site

Travelers who want to stick around Kingman, Arizona, for a few weeks can book via Airbnb the historic Hill Top Motel for long-term stays there. The Airbnb listing can be seen below: View On Airbnb1 bed, 1 bath Motel Room Suite The listing indicates the earliest booking available is in the second week of November. … Continue reading Hill Top Motel in Kingman adds 30-day bookings on Airbnb site

New videogame allows users to restore, reopen a gas station on Route 66

A new videogame called "Gas Station Simulator" on the Steam online platform allows the user to clean up, renovate and reopen a gas station in the desert in Route 66. Here's the trailer for the game: https://youtu.be/VAg0R3EPDkw A writer for PCGamer.com reports: It starts with you driving your really cool car—complete with a smoking dog … Continue reading New videogame allows users to restore, reopen a gas station on Route 66

Owner of Charcoal Oven in OKC donates neon sign to Billboard Museum

The owner of The Charcoal Oven in Oklahoma City officially has donated its iconic neon sign to the Billboard Museum five years after the restaurant closed. Kathy Anderson, one of the officers of the museum, made the announcement on Facebook on Sunday: The next day, all signage started to be removed by G&S Sign Services, … Continue reading Owner of Charcoal Oven in OKC donates neon sign to Billboard Museum

Volunteer cleanup effort at Road Runner’s Retreat set for Oct. 16-17

The historic but long-closed Road Runner’s Retreat complex on Route 66 near Chambless, California, is hosting its annual cleanup weekend on Oct. 16-17. According to the High Desert Daily: Former owner Duke Dotson will be on hand to share stories of his childhood growing up at Road Runner’s Retreat during Route 66’s heyday. The 1960’s Googie-Style … Continue reading Volunteer cleanup effort at Road Runner’s Retreat set for Oct. 16-17

U-Drop Inn’s restaurant officially reopens for the first time in decades

The restaurant inside the historic U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas, officially opened for business Wednesday after about a one-week trial run. It's the first time a restaurant has operated in the Route 66 landmark in more than 25 years. The U-Drop Inn Cafe will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday … Continue reading U-Drop Inn’s restaurant officially reopens for the first time in decades

Restored version of “The Outsiders” film to be screened at Circle Cinema in Tulsa on Sept. 26, 29

The Circle Cinema of Tulsa, in partnership with The Outsiders House Museum in town, will show a newly restored cut of "The Outsiders Complete Novel" -- a final version of Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 adaptation of S.E. Hinton's classic book -- on 2 p.m. Sept. 26 and 7 p.m. Sept. 29. The Circle Cinema, along … Continue reading Restored version of “The Outsiders” film to be screened at Circle Cinema in Tulsa on Sept. 26, 29

Roof-rehab event at Shamrock Court begins Sept. 9

The president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri recently announced a volunteer work session that will begin Sept. 9 at the Shamrock Court property he owns in Sullivan, Missouri. Rich Dinkela stated the rehabilitation of the roof of the Route 66 motel will begin on that day and probably last for two days. He … Continue reading Roof-rehab event at Shamrock Court begins Sept. 9

Chicago Cubs documentary explains how Wrigley Field was renovated

This well-produced video released last month by the Chicago Cubs baseball team, "Saving Wrigley Field," goes into considerable detail about how the century-old ballpark underwent a badly needed renovation a few years ago. If you have about an hour to kill, I commend it to your attention: https://youtu.be/xd9VrvheS-s Though the Wrigley Field project was large-scale, … Continue reading Chicago Cubs documentary explains how Wrigley Field was renovated

Arizona 66 Association awards grant to repurpose Holbrook motel into veterans housing

The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona awarded a $10,000 grant to Veteran Services USA to "repurpose and renew historic elements" of the former America's Best Value Inn motel at 720 Navajo Blvd. in Holbrook, Arizona.  A news release from Veteran Services USA stated: Motel owner Veteran Services USA intends to pursue several pre-development steps that will elevate … Continue reading Arizona 66 Association awards grant to repurpose Holbrook motel into veterans housing

Neon sign just outside Lexington marks its 75th anniversary

Many times, I've driven by the neon "Lexington" sign that stands along Route 66 in Lexington, Illinois, and thought: "I wonder how long that sign has been there?" That question was answered this week during the "How Time Flies" featurette in The Pantagraph in nearby Bloomington: Aug. 31, 1946: Lexington has a new neon sign along … Continue reading Neon sign just outside Lexington marks its 75th anniversary