We'd heard a rumor of a new restaurant along Route 66 in Clinton, Okla., that used recipes from Pop Hicks restaurant, which burned down in a fire in 1999 and was never rebuilt. That rumor turned out to be false. However, the restaurant in question, Gayla's at the Market, turned out to have long Route … Continue reading A chip off the old block
Category: Restaurants
Book about Wagon Wheel Motel published
An illustrated book about the history of the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Mo., has just been published. Riva Echols, sister of the motel's owner Connie Echols, wrote "The History of a Route 66 Icon: The Wagon Wheel Motel on Route 66" (102 pages, $15.99, paperback). According to the news release about the book: Riva … Continue reading Book about Wagon Wheel Motel published
Former Route 66 Cafe, motel put up for sale
The former Route 66 Cafe and adjacent Belvidere Motel along old 825 Old Route 66 South in Litchfield, Ill., have been put up for sale for $150,000. The restaurant's operators left the property a few years ago, telling me at the time that the landlord hadn't fixed the roof. But, according to the listing for … Continue reading Former Route 66 Cafe, motel put up for sale
Dairy Queen officials visit original store
About 20 company officials from Minneapolis-based Dairy Queen on Friday visited the restaurant where it all started -- at 501 N. Chicago St. (aka Route 66) in Joliet, Ill., reported the Chicago Tribune. The nearby Joliet Area Historical Museum passed out free DQ Dilly Bars to visitors. Then, Curly, DQ's soft-serve cone mascot, led the … Continue reading Dairy Queen officials visit original store
A Bobcat Bite burger
An earlier report about green chile cheeseburgers in New Mexico reminded me of the Bobcat Bite restaurant, on an very old alignment of Route 66 in Santa Fe. This excellent clip from a documentary shows how these great burgers are made: https://youtu.be/SD2cI1i2vqQ
A burger too good to be at just one place
A green chile cheeseburger created eight years at a market in the tiny Route 66 town of Laguna, N.M., has garnered so much acclaim, it's listed in the state tourism department's Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail and the sandwich has been replicated at two other nearby locations, reported the Cibola County Beacon. The Laguna Burger, as … Continue reading A burger too good to be at just one place
Midpoint Cafe placed on the market
Fran Houser has put her Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, up for sale after a 20-year tenure in which she elevated it to a prime stop for travelers on Route 66. Houser said in a phone interview Friday that the asking price is $195,000. Those interested should call her home phone at 806-538-6380. The Midpoint, … Continue reading Midpoint Cafe placed on the market
Grease the wheels
This is an enjoyable program called "Greaseweek," where our intrepid cyclist starts on Route 66 from Pasadena, Calif., all the way to the end of Route 66 in Santa Monica. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vuFSxtdQJ4 I also learned a few things. For instance, I didn't know the Arroyo Seco sported a bicycle trail, and I'll have to investigate the … Continue reading Grease the wheels
Students present revitalization plan for Carthage
Students from Drury University in Springfield, Mo., presented a final proposal Monday to revitalize the downtown area of Carthage, Mo., according to the Carthage Press. The plan includes the renovation and reopening of several R0ute 66 landmarks. A map of the proposal reveals a restored Boots Motel and the long-closed Boots Drive-In restaurant, a Route 66 … Continue reading Students present revitalization plan for Carthage
Fire damages historic building in Barstow
A blaze early Thursday heavily damaged a portion of the historic El Rancho Motel complex in downtown Barstow, Calif., along old Route 66, reported the Desert Dispatch. The newspaper said the fire destroyed the Cedar Restaurant and Travel Store — formerly known as El Rancho Restaurant — at the complex. A fire chief said the … Continue reading Fire damages historic building in Barstow