Restoration efforts for The Mill, a long-closed Route 66 restaurant in Lincoln, Ill., got a big lift when local philanthropist Larry Van Bibber donated $15,000, reported the Lincoln Courier. Van Bibber said he asked Geoff Ladd, who is chairman of the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County, how much money Ladd thought the renovation … Continue reading Donation boosts The Mill restoration
Category: Restaurants
A talk with the Sheriff
The Daily Oklahoman concludes its week-long coverage of Route 66 and the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla., with an interview with Michael Wallis, author of "Route 66: The Mother Road" and the voice of the Sheriff of Radiator Springs in the movie "Cars." The linked page includes an audio file of Wallis' distinctive … Continue reading A talk with the Sheriff
Scenes from the festival
On Saturday afternoon, I took a walk at downtown Clinton, Okla., to check on the activity during the National Route 66 Festival. Inside the Frisco Center, Delbert Trew, who won the Route 66 Lifetime Achievement Award with his wife Ruth on Friday, is displaying one of the letters salvaged from "Rattlesnakes -- Exit Now" sign … Continue reading Scenes from the festival
Fire up the plane, crank the jukebox
I got this e-mail today from Ramona Kiewert, co-owner of the Bent Door in Adrian, Texas, on how progress has been with th old Route 66 business: The Music is playing and the Plane's flying at The Bent Door. Progress has been good this summer so far; the office area has now been painted as … Continue reading Fire up the plane, crank the jukebox
Stay for the view
The White Dog Hill restaurant east of Clinton, Okla., is distributing a flier for attendees at the National Route 66 Festival in town. The top of the leaflet says: Come for the food ... Stay for the view. It is truth in advertising. The White Dog Hill, formerly the Clinton Country Club decades ago, is … Continue reading Stay for the view
Yum
Rory Schepisi, who's busy trying to get her Boot Hill Saloon & Grill open in Vega, Texas, won a contest in "The Next Food Network Star" TV series in that the dish she created appears on the July issue of Bon Appetit magazine. The dish is called Rory's Ribs with Grilled Corn, Cantaloupe and Fresh … Continue reading Yum
Project manager moves onto El Garces site
Now, this is what we call hands-on restoration. According to this story in the Mohave Daily News, artist and sculptor Dan Lutzick has been hired as project manager for the restoration of El Garces, a former Harvey House, in Needles, Calif. And he's not just dropping by the site every week or so: In April, … Continue reading Project manager moves onto El Garces site
Miami, Okla., jumps on Route 66 bandwagon
The Daily Oklahoman has a good overview about big changes in the offing for Miami, Okla., which once was tepid to Route 66 but now seems to have jumped onto the Mother Road bandwagon. The city has applied for a bunch of grants for streetscape improvements, shoring up historic properties and better signs to direct … Continue reading Miami, Okla., jumps on Route 66 bandwagon
Tearing down to build back up
The Lincoln (Ill.) Courier reported that the back portion of The Mill, a dilapidated former restaurant on Route 66 in Lincoln, was torn down Monday for safety reasons and as part of a renovation program. The part of the Mill that was saved includes the original 1929 section, shaped like a Dutch windmill, and the … Continue reading Tearing down to build back up
White Dog Hill to open during festival
The White Dog Hill restaurant, site of the former Clinton Country Club clubhouse east of Clinton, Okla., will have a soft opening Thursday through Sunday during the National Route 66 Festival in town. The owner, Nelson King, says it will essentially be an open house from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. those days, with desserts … Continue reading White Dog Hill to open during festival