After prodding by officers from the New Mexico Route 66 Association, the Tucumcari City Commission last week passed a first reading of a proposed landmark ordinance for the town's historic Route 66 neon signs. However, final passage by the commission likely faces an uphill battle because of concerns about the ordinance infringing on property rights. … Continue reading Tucumcari reconsiders, advances landmark sign ordinance proposal
Category: Preservation
Will crowdfunding help revitalize vintage Route 66 hotel in Albuquerque?
The folks who seek to revitalize The Hotel Blue just west of downtown Albuquerque are using a novel source in the effort -- crowdfunding. Los Angeles-based ARRIVE Hotels & Restaurants announced plans in August to redevelop The Hotel Blue at 717 Central Ave. (aka Route 66) and rebrand it as ARRIVE Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Journal … Continue reading Will crowdfunding help revitalize vintage Route 66 hotel in Albuquerque?
Gasconade River Bridge Guardian meets with the lieutenant governor
A member of the Route 66 Gasconade River Bridge Guardians met Thursday with Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe in an effort to buy more time for the endangered bridge near Hazelgreen. "Roamin'" Rich Dinkela, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, said in an online video later that day he didn't get a definitive … Continue reading Gasconade River Bridge Guardian meets with the lieutenant governor
Neon sign relighted at De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque
The historic and restored neon sign for De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque was relighted during a ceremony Sunday evening. Here's a countdown video of the relighting from the motel's Facebook page: Here are more images Sunday evening from the New Mexico Route 66 Association: A few days ago, the Albuquerque Journal published a story … Continue reading Neon sign relighted at De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque
Gearhead Curios in Galena wants your old license plates
The folks who are renovating an old Texaco station in Galena, Kansas, into Gearhead Curios are asking for old license plates to help cover the ceiling of their shop. The shop put out this message on Facebook a few days ago: In case you missed the initial news about a year ago, Aaron Perry, a … Continue reading Gearhead Curios in Galena wants your old license plates
Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield reopens to overnight travelers
The historic Rockwood Motor Court has reopened to overnight travelers along old Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri. Ozarks Alive has the story: The project is the work of Phyllis Ferguson, a longtime Springfield resident whose mission is revitalization — and not only in form of the motor court, which in part dates to 1929, just … Continue reading Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield reopens to overnight travelers
Newspaper editorial floats National Park idea for Route 66
In the wake of the ongoing struggle to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, a newspaper along the historic highway has floated an intriguing idea -- make Route 66 a national park instead. The editorial board of the Joplin Globe in Missouri published an editorial with that proposal a few days ago. Below … Continue reading Newspaper editorial floats National Park idea for Route 66
Singing Road of Route 66 in Tijeras is fading; county mulls maintenance takeover
It's been known that without regular upkeep, the so-called Singing Road portion of Route 66 near Tijeras, New Mexico, would continue to fade in volume and eventually go silent. More than five years after the specially tuned rumble strips were created, the county is considering taking over maintenance of the Singing Road for the benefit … Continue reading Singing Road of Route 66 in Tijeras is fading; county mulls maintenance takeover
De Anza Motor Lodge sign will be relighted Sunday
The neon sign for the De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque will be relighted in a ceremony Sunday evening. The Route 66 motel at 4301 Central Ave., most of which has been converted into higher-end apartments, announced on Instagram and other social media the relighting will occur at 5 p.m. Sunday. De Anza also is … Continue reading De Anza Motor Lodge sign will be relighted Sunday
Two bridges near downtown Chicago will be closed for two years for repairs
Adams Street Bridge (Update: This post contains significant corrections, including photos.) Two years of repairs on two bridges on the eastbound and westbound lanes of Route 66 in downtown Chicago are scheduled that will force detours for travelers. Chicagoland Route 66 expert David Clark flagged this news in an email, saying the Jackson Boulevard Bridge … Continue reading Two bridges near downtown Chicago will be closed for two years for repairs