A portion of the Inn of the Lamplighter, a longtime social gathering spot and an oasis for Route 66 travelers in Springfield, Ill., is going to be nominated as a historic landmark, reports the Springfield Journal-Register. This week a group of residents at the Route 66 landmark-turned-condos begins the work of putting a piece of … Continue reading Historic status sought for Lamplighter property
Category: Restaurants
Tulsa restaurant refurbishing neon sign
Tulsa roadie Brad Nickson dropped me an e-mail about El Rancho Grande, the longest-surviving restaurant on 11th Street, aka Route 66, in Tulsa. Nickson said the owner is giving a face-lift to its distinctive and vintage neon sign. The neon is off and the re-painting is almost complete. Owner (John) said it should have the … Continue reading Tulsa restaurant refurbishing neon sign
Notes from the road
--- The bad news in Oklahoma is that the state's turnpike authority will raise toll-road prices an average of 16 percent. The good news is that this probably means more traffic on old Route 66 in the Sooner State. --- On Monday we briefly visited with Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, … Continue reading Notes from the road
They’re Cozy Dogs, not corn dogs
Dave Bakke of the Springfield (Ill.) Journal-Register explains that in Springfield, you order "cozy dogs," not corn dogs at the Cozy Dog Drive-In on Route 66 in south Springfield. “We usually give them funny looks when they say (corn dog),” says the Cozy Dog’s Sue Waldmire. The newspaper decided to do an update about the … Continue reading They’re Cozy Dogs, not corn dogs
‘Man v. Food’ host takes on Springfield eateries
Adam Richman, host of the Food Network's "Man v. Food" series, will film an episode at three Route 66 restaurants in Springfield, Ill., starting Friday, reports the Springfield Journal-Register. Richman's big task is to eat a record five bowls of Firebrand chili in one sitting from Joe Rogers' Original Recipe Chili Parlor. Richman and his … Continue reading ‘Man v. Food’ host takes on Springfield eateries
Gull wing gathering
A group of DeLorean car owners from Oklahoma recently went to POPS on Route 66 in Arcadia, Okla. One of them even had his DeLorean decked out to resemble the time-traveling car from the "Back to the Future" films. Awesome.
Chicken-fried bacon
In this warm review by Columbus Alive of Roadhouse 66 Bar & Grille in Worthington, Ohio, this excerpt caught my eye: If you're snacking with your nightcap, an appetizer menu is served until 11:30 p.m. This means you can get a pint of beer with Betty Boop's Tickle Pickles - battered and fried dill wedges … Continue reading Chicken-fried bacon
Former Dixie Truckers Home gets a face-lift
The Dixie Travel Plaza in McLean, Ill., formerly known for decades as the Dixie Truckers Home on Route 66, recently finished a $500,000 remodeling, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. Remodeling is 90 percent complete and among the most visible improvements is a new awning bearing Dixie and Route 66 logos, Kletz said. Also new is a … Continue reading Former Dixie Truckers Home gets a face-lift
Let’s celebrate The Mill’s 80th year
The Mill, a former restaurant on Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill., will mark its 80th anniversary on July 25 with several events, reports the Springfield Journal-Register. Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County is hosting the festivities that day, beginning at noon. Music and food will be served beginning at 1 p.m., with an informal … Continue reading Let’s celebrate The Mill’s 80th year
New restaurant in an old package
Roadies traveling in the Cuba, Mo., area have a new dining option, but it's housed in a historic building on the Mother Road. Road House 66, on Highway UU off Interstate 44, recently opened in the former Wagon Wheel Restaurant -- a fixture on Route 66 since 1954, according to a newspaper article by the … Continue reading New restaurant in an old package