The landmark El Rancho Grande Mexican Food Restaurant near downtown Tulsa recently marked its 70th anniversary of operation. El Rancho, located at 1629 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66), remains best known for its well-preserved neon sign and that it is a pioneer in Mexican restaurant food in the United States. The restaurant marked the … Continue reading El Rancho Grande restaurant in Tulsa marks its 70th year
Category: Restaurants
May Cafe, known for its lumberjack Muffler Man, to close temporarily around Christmas
The May Cafe, a Vietnamese restaurant in Albuquerque for over 30 years, will close temporarily around Christmas, its owner told the Albuquerque Business Journal. The restaurant is famous among Route 66 enthusiasts for its Paul Bunyan fiberglass statue, known generically as Muffler Men. The statue was restored in 2019 after a windstorm tore off its … Continue reading May Cafe, known for its lumberjack Muffler Man, to close temporarily around Christmas
Glancy Motel in Clinton is torn down; fate of its sign remains unknown
The historic Glancy Motel along Route 66 in Clinton, Oklahoma, fell victim to the wrecking ball Tuesday to make way for a new Oklahoma Highway Patrol station. Here's a first look at the razing from the Discover Clinton Oklahoma page on Facebook: The motel's iconic sign, however, was not torn down. According to recent editions … Continue reading Glancy Motel in Clinton is torn down; fate of its sign remains unknown
More details revealed of proposed renovations for Blue Whale site in Catoosa
Now we know better where that proposed $6 million for the Blue Whale would go. The City Council of Catoosa, Oklahoma, last week unveiled a proposed master plan for the iconic Blue Whale site along Route 66 as envisioned by Hampton Creative of Tulsa. Among the additions would be a mini-golf course, a new visitors center, … Continue reading More details revealed of proposed renovations for Blue Whale site in Catoosa
Joliet museum acquires the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen
The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, Illinois, recently acquired space that housed the world's first Dairy Queen restaurant. That first DQ, which opened in 1940, was in a brick, two-story building at 501 N. Chicago St., though the building itself dates to the 1890s. Greg Peerbolte, the museum's executive director, talked to the Joliet … Continue reading Joliet museum acquires the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen
Historical marker added to Road Runner’s Retreat site near Chambless
The Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus recently added a big historical marker at the defunct Road Runner's Retreat restaurant and gas station near Chambless, California. The chapter describes itself as a "fun-loving, irreverent group dedicated to the preservation and documentation of the history of the west including native Americans, early settlers, the Gold … Continue reading Historical marker added to Road Runner’s Retreat site near Chambless
Latest cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced six grants this year totaling about $165,000 to varying historic preservation, research, oral history, interpretative and educational projects. I noticed the grant awards this year were capped at $30,000. Still, 30 grand is 30 grand. Here are the grant awards: Round Barn siding repair in Arcadia, OklahomaApplicant: Arcadia Historical … Continue reading Latest cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Preorders now being taken for “Backroads Guide to Route 66 Food, Lodging and Foto-Stops”
Mark Hamilton announced last week he now is taking preorders for the "Backroads Guide to Route 66 Food, Lodging and Foto-Stops," which serves as a successor of the National Historic Route 66 Federation's defunct "Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide." The link to preorder the book through PayPal is here. The cost will be $22.95, … Continue reading Preorders now being taken for “Backroads Guide to Route 66 Food, Lodging and Foto-Stops”
TravelCenters of America to close deal on Russell’s Travel Center next week
TravelCenters of America will acquire Russell’s Travel Center along Route 66 near Endee, New Mexico, effective Oct. 11, though it will keep the Russell’s name and its museum for a few years. Russell's opened in 2010 on the ruins of the long-closed Longhorn II restaurant along Interstate 40 and a 1952-1980 alignment of Route 66. … Continue reading TravelCenters of America to close deal on Russell’s Travel Center next week
Longtime owner of The Comet II Restaurant and Drive-In in Santa Rosa dies
Johnny Martinez Jr., the longtime owner and chef of the landmark Comet II Restaurant and Drive-In in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, died Friday. He was 88. One local expressed his condolences: The town's former newspaper publisher weighed in: According to his obituary: At an early age Johnny became interested in cooking and made it a … Continue reading Longtime owner of The Comet II Restaurant and Drive-In in Santa Rosa dies