Cowboy sign returns to Big Texan after one-month hiatus

The 90-foot-tall landmark cowboy sign at the Big Texan Steak Ranch returned Friday after being removed for about a month when a wind storm damaged it, reported the Amarillo Globe-News. The newspaper reported about the saga of Bull, the name of the cowboy figure on the sign: Strong winds in late June damaged the sign to the … Continue reading Cowboy sign returns to Big Texan after one-month hiatus

Joe Rogers Chili Parlor reopening under a new name

Joe Rogers' The Chili Den Parlor, a landmark in Springfield, Illinois, since 1945 that unexpectedly closed in April, will reopen next month under the same family ownership, but a different name, reported the State Journal-Register. Marianne Rogers, daughter of founder Joe Rogers, told the newspaper contractual issues with previous owners forbids her from using the … Continue reading Joe Rogers Chili Parlor reopening under a new name

Albuquerque’s most popular filming locations

KRQE-TV in Albuquerque produced this fascinating story about the city's most popular filming locations for movies, television series and commercials. Not surprisingly, several exist on Central Avenue, aka Route 66 -- Lindy's Coffee Shop and Loyola's Family Restaurant. The station reported: So why are Lindy’s and Loyola’s attractive for filmmakers? “They’re still period, they still … Continue reading Albuquerque’s most popular filming locations

Reality show being produced at El Pinto Restaurant in Albuquerque

A reality television show will be produced featuring the twin brothers who own El Pinto Restaurant and Salsa Co., which is located on an original alignment of Route 66 on the north side of Albuquerque, New Mexico. According to the news release, Media Meld Studios and Smart Skirts Entertainment will produce the show about the … Continue reading Reality show being produced at El Pinto Restaurant in Albuquerque

Bob Kraft, former co-owner of the Riviera, dies

Bob Kraft, a co-owner of the regrettably gone Riviera Roadhouse bar and restaurant along Route 66 in Gardner, Illinois, died last week at age 90 in a nursing home, according to an obituary in The Daily Journal of Kankakee, Illinois. Kraft and his wife, Peggy, who died in May 2013, owned and operated the Riviera … Continue reading Bob Kraft, former co-owner of the Riviera, dies

Summer in St. Louis

A friend on Facebook posted this a few days ago, and it certainly will make former residents of the Gateway City homesick. If nothing else, maybe it'll encourage a few Route 66 travelers to hang around the city for a few days. Here is St. Louis from Grain Inc. on Vimeo. The exceptional video was … Continue reading Summer in St. Louis

Williams trades Denny’s for a Route 66-themed restaurant

This is a switch I can get behind -- the landlord of a Denny's in Williams, Arizona, let the franchise go, remodeled the building, and opened a Kicks on Route 66 Bar and Grill in its place, reported the Williams News. Brad and Sally Olson opened the revamped restaurant about two weeks ago, reported the … Continue reading Williams trades Denny’s for a Route 66-themed restaurant

A visit to the Palms Grill Cafe

KC Keefer, on his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, interviews Angel French at the historic Palms Grill Cafe on Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Illinois. https://youtu.be/BGNHcdCKaik The Palms Grill, built in 1934, was restored in 2009 and quickly became a must-stop for travelers -- especially for folks who like a small-town atmosphere and pie. … Continue reading A visit to the Palms Grill Cafe

NBC Nightly News airs segment about Route 66

NBC Nightly News aired a two-minute segment about Route 66 on Tuesday night. If you missed it, you can check it out below, or hit the above link if the embedding doesn't work. It painted a very flattering picture of the old road. The segment by correspondent Harry Smith features a stretch of Route 66 … Continue reading NBC Nightly News airs segment about Route 66

A visit to the Midpoint Cafe

KVII-TV reporter Larry Lemmons, based in Amarillo, traveled west on Route 66 to check out what was happening at the historic Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas. This television segment was more in-depth than I anticipated, and it captures the atmosphere of the restaurant as well as anything. https://youtu.be/IkywbkeqiPo Dennis Purschwitz and his wife Donna bought … Continue reading A visit to the Midpoint Cafe