We met Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., on Sunday to check the progress of the rebuilding of her historic Route 66 restaurant after a fire gutted it in May. Sharp-eyed observers might see recent subtle differences from the outside since the fire: But it's in the interior where progress is … Continue reading The rebuilding begins
Category: Restaurants
More on Obama’s stop on Route 66
Claire Messud of Newsweek spent a week with Barack Obama's presidential campaign a few weeks ago. Here's her take of when Obama made an unscheduled stop at Bell's Restaurant on Route 66 in Lebanon, Mo.: When Obama makes a truly unannounced stop at the Bell Restaurant in Lebanon, Mo., a small town in the Ozarks, … Continue reading More on Obama’s stop on Route 66
UPDATED: Negotiations on Red Cedar Inn end — for now
NOTE: Important update below. A local museum apparently won't be coming to the closed Red Cedar Inn restaurant in Pacific, Mo., because parties couldn't come to a purchase agreement, reports the Tri-County Journal. “Negotiations with the Smith family have ceased,” Adams said. “We could not come to an agreement on terms.” City officials began talks … Continue reading UPDATED: Negotiations on Red Cedar Inn end — for now
Taking the Big Texan challenge
Kevin Connolly of BBC News Magazine decides to take the 72-ounce challenge at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. As I prepared for my own attempt to consume 72oz (that's 4.5lb or just over two kilos) of beef in less than an hour - together with a prawn cocktail, a roll, salad and … Continue reading Taking the Big Texan challenge
Dinner at White Dog Hill
Emily and I recently went to dinner at White Dog Hill ("Come for the view ... stay for the food") near Clinton, Okla. -- our first proper meal there since it opened last summer. It was very good. If you want to read more about it, surf on over to Route66Food.com for the review.
Kitschy restaurant in Amarillo reopens
Although it's no longer on Route 66, it was with sadness when it was reported last spring that the Beef Burger Barrel in Amarillo, Texas, was going to close after more than 50 years. Apparently reports of the uniquely shaped restaurant's demise were premature. According to the Austin American-Statesman, David White reopened the restaurant after … Continue reading Kitschy restaurant in Amarillo reopens
On the road again
I received word this morning that Tokyo photographer Hiroshi Hanamura is traveling Route 66 again. He met up with a bunch of Illinois roadies at the Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, Ill., on Tuesday night. Illinois Route 66 Association President Catherine Stevanovich wrote: Mr. Hanamura starts a 2 week trip down Route 66. Hiroshi has … Continue reading On the road again
Notes from the road
The Motel Safari in Tucumcari, N.M., has added another mural image, courtesy of local artist Doug Quarles. It's a 1953 Flxible Clipper bus. Motel owner Richard Talley also passed along this news: On another note, we just had our first celebrity guest check-in! No, it wasn't Sir Paul!!! During the annual Rattler Reunion weekend, a … Continue reading Notes from the road
The Mill soon will regain its blades
A bunch of Illinois Route 66 volunteers recently gathered at John and Lenore Weiss' house in Wilmington to construct new windmill blades for The Mill, a landmark in Lincoln since 1929. It wasn't long ago that the shuttered Route 66 restaurant appeared to have a date with the wrecking ball. Now it's being renovated for … Continue reading The Mill soon will regain its blades
Olde Keg retools in an effort to survive
The Olde Keg in Joliet, Ill., has been a fixture on old Route 66 even before the highway existed -- since 1897, in fact. So it alarmed longtime customers when a "closed" sign appeared on the restaurant/bar on Tuesday. But it's just temporary, reports the Joliet Herald-News. On Tuesday, the Keg temporarily closed for dinner … Continue reading Olde Keg retools in an effort to survive