The now-closed New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari is seeking a new home at the long-vacant Alco building on the city's west side. It may be joined by a proposed New Mexico State Police museum and memorial in that space. With luck and funding, the two museums may open in that space by 2027. … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Museum may find new home at vacant retail store in Tucumcari
Category: Preservation
Aztec Hotel in Monrovia hits the market for $15 million
The historic and intricately designed Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, California, was recently put up for sale for $15 million. According to its LoopNet listing, agent John Faire of Coldwell Banker Commercial Realty can be contacted for a personal showing of the property. Here's what the executive summary states: Hotel has 44 rooms available for services … Continue reading Aztec Hotel in Monrovia hits the market for $15 million
Historic Castaneda Hotel sold to local developers
The historic Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, has been sold to entrepreneurs who hail from the city. Allan Affeldt, known as the savior of La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona, purchased the rundown hotel in 2014 and spent five years renovating it to its former glory. Affeldt and the hotel announced the sale … Continue reading Historic Castaneda Hotel sold to local developers
Barfield Hotel in Amarillo given a Texas Historical Commission marker
The once-neglected Barfield Motel in downtown Amarillo recently was recognized with a Texas Historical Commission marker as an official Texas Historic Site. The Barfield, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020, sits along Polk Street and Sixth Street (aka Route 66) in the downtown area. The Amarillo Globe-News reported the 10-story structure, built … Continue reading Barfield Hotel in Amarillo given a Texas Historical Commission marker
Route 66 centennial monument dedicated at Threatt Filling Station
A Route 66 centennial monument was dedicated Friday at the historic Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma. Members of the surviving Threatt family, which have worked for the past several years to preserve the structure, attended the event. According to the Luther Register News, Edward Threatt Sr., who manages the station, announced … Continue reading Route 66 centennial monument dedicated at Threatt Filling Station
Ground broken on project to move Chrysler Plymouth neon sign in Bristow to Route 66
Local officials, including the Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, presided Friday over a groundbreaking ceremony to move the historic but long-abandoned Chrysler Plymouth tower sign in Bristow, Oklahoma, to Route 66 in town and restore the neon. KJRH-TV in nearby Tulsa reported that a state Route 66 revitalization grant is covering $700,000 of the $1 million … Continue reading Ground broken on project to move Chrysler Plymouth neon sign in Bristow to Route 66
Restraining order stops removal of New Mexico Route 66 Museum artifacts, demands their return
A judge on Wednesday granted a request for a temporary restraining order against the operators of the closed New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari, New Mexico, that stops them from removing artifacts and demands the return of the ones that were moved. The petition for the order accuses the museum’s operators of “willful misconduct, … Continue reading Restraining order stops removal of New Mexico Route 66 Museum artifacts, demands their return
Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita soon will add a second Muffler Man
The Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita, Oklahoma, recently announced it had acquired a second Muffler Man that will be added to its premises. The Route 66 restaurant stated on Facebook that it will move its Big Bill fiberglass statue next door to its Western Motel and its fabulous neon sign. That's so it makes way for … Continue reading Hi-Way Cafe near Vinita soon will add a second Muffler Man
City of Flagstaff may acquire historic Orpheum Theatre
City councilors for Flagstaff, Arizona, recently expressed unanimous interest in possibly acquiring The Orpheum Theater soon. The Arizona Daily Sun newspaper published a recent account of the meeting: The agreement by the city council to “move forward” with conversations about the potential acquisition does not commit the city to a purchase. Members of the council … Continue reading City of Flagstaff may acquire historic Orpheum Theatre
Expert: Muffler Men seeing a resurgence across the U.S.
Joel Baker, an expert on the Muffler Men made in the 1960s and '70s, reported something I've suspected for a few years -- that those fiberglass giants are seeing a big resurgence across the country. Baker in this recent video recounts all the activity seen with new and old Muffler Men, including along the Route … Continue reading Expert: Muffler Men seeing a resurgence across the U.S.