The long process of restoring the historic El Vado Motel in Albuquerque is just a few weeks from reaching the finish line, according to the president of the project's developer. Last year, officials hoped for a late summer opening. That date got pushed to December. KOB-TV in Albuquerque found out why the project took longer … Continue reading El Vado Motel restoration ‘a few weeks’ from completion
Category: Restaurants
Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill will open in March
Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill in Springfield, Illinois, which contains memorabilia from Route 66 sites in central Illinois, is slated to open in March. The Springfield State Journal-Register reported the former Stuckey's restaurant on Toronto Road on the west side of Interstate 55 will open its bar and gaming room in mid-March, its grill … Continue reading Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill will open in March
Cozy Dog Drive-In offering its own sodas
The Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Illinois, is famous for its Cozy Dog, reputedly the forerunner of the modern-day corn dog. Now it is selling four flavors of soda in bottles featuring the Cozy Dog logo. It offers cola, diet cola, root beer and diet root beer. The restaurant announced the new offerings on its … Continue reading Cozy Dog Drive-In offering its own sodas
Route 66 Dog Haus in Flagstaff changes hands
The Route 66 Dog Haus in Flagstaff, Arizona, best known for its role in key lines of The Eagles' signature hit "Take It Easy," recently swapped owners, but little else is changing. According to Flagstaff Business News, longtime owner Gary McElfresh sold the restaurant at 1302 Historic Route 66 to longtime Flagstaff resident Bill Unkovich. The new owner … Continue reading Route 66 Dog Haus in Flagstaff changes hands
Fire destroys Sirloin Stockade in Rolla
A fire Tuesday night destroyed the Sirloin Stockade restaurant on Route 66 on the west side of Rolla, Missouri. Rolla Fire Chief Ron Smith told the Salem News the building was a total loss. He said an official from the Missouri fire marshal's office will investigate. The flames created a spectacle on the south side … Continue reading Fire destroys Sirloin Stockade in Rolla
Conway restaurant honored for aiding crash-stranded travelers
The Rocking Chair Restaurant in Conway, Missouri, recently was honored for helping travelers affected by a horrific chain-reaction crash on Interstate 44 during a winter storm. The Conway Betterment League bestowed the Route 66 established its first Business of the Month award. KSPR-TV filed this story. Included is footage of a woman who barely escaped injury … Continue reading Conway restaurant honored for aiding crash-stranded travelers
Launching Pad Drive-In may partially reopen in May
The couple that recently purchased the long-closed Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois, said they likely would partly reopen the Route 66 restaurant in May, with a full reopening sometime in 2019. The restaurant is most famous for its one-of-a-kind 30-foot-tall Gemini Giant fiberglass statue. Holly Barker and Tully Garrett, who bought the Launching Pad … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In may partially reopen in May
New neon sign, lizard statue goes up in Kingman
Route 66 author and tour guide Jim Hinckley recently sent a long list of additions in Kingman, Arizona -- including a new neon sign along Route 66 and a statue of a big lizard. Based on those two things, it's safe to say Kingman no longer is a sleepy Route 66 town. Hinckley wrote: Improvements … Continue reading New neon sign, lizard statue goes up in Kingman
Route 66 Chamber of Commerce launches GoFundMe campaign
Ron Hart of the Missouri-based Route 66 Chamber of Commerce has launched a $5,000 GoFundMe campaign to help keep up its website and other activities benefiting the Mother Road. According to the crowdfunding site: With more than 100+ pages on our popular, ten-year-old Route 66 Chamber of Commerce website, it has become the largest Route … Continue reading Route 66 Chamber of Commerce launches GoFundMe campaign
Wilder’s Steakhouse rooftop sign removed for restoration
The rooftop neon sign at Wilder's Steakhouse in Joplin, Missouri, was removed Friday for restoration. A relighting ceremony for the sign is scheduled for dusk April 14. According to a news release, the animated neon sign has not operated for least 25 years. The restaurant at 1216 Main St. landed a $24,000 cost-share grant from … Continue reading Wilder’s Steakhouse rooftop sign removed for restoration