The city of Pacific, Missouri, recently completed its purchase of the closed Red Cedar Inn restaurant and will reopen it as visitors center, history museum and genealogy center sometime next year. The Washington Missourian reported the city paid $290,000 for the Route 66 landmark, which closed in 2007. The city had its eye on the … Continue reading City of Pacific closes deal to buy Red Cedar Inn
Category: Restaurants
State receives two bidders for Garrett’s Desert Inn in Santa Fe
The state of New Mexico received two bidders for land containing the historic Garrett's Desert Inn in downtown Santa Fe, and both bidders want updates to the property. The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper reported HRV Hotel Partners and GreenTree Hospitality submitted sealed bids to the State Land Office for the property at 311 Old Santa … Continue reading State receives two bidders for Garrett’s Desert Inn in Santa Fe
New mural to be unveiled Sunday in Elkhart
A new Route 66-themed mural in downtown Elkhart, Illinois, will be unveiled Sunday during a weekend that includes the 11th annual Car Cruise-In at The Mill in nearby Lincoln, Illinois. Here's more information about the mural from a news release: According to the Elkhart Historical Society, “the colorful hand-painted mural measuring 36 feet long by … Continue reading New mural to be unveiled Sunday in Elkhart
Launching Pad Drive-In lands new owners
The Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois -- best-known for its Gemini Giant fiberglass giant on a corner of the property -- has new owners who plan to reopen the Route 66 landmark in the late spring. The Free Press Newspapers reported Tully Garrett and Holly Barker will take possession Oct. 16 of the property, … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In lands new owners
Elbow Inn’s main building reopens
The main building for the Elbow Inn bar and barbecue restaurant in Devil's Elbow, Missouri, reopened Wednesday about five months after record flooding ravaged it and the tiny Route 66 town. The Elbow Inn's beer-garden area reopened a few weeks after the flood. But seeing the main bar looking all shiny and new was a … Continue reading Elbow Inn’s main building reopens
Book review: Charles Phoenix’s “Addicted to Americana”
If you wondered whether famed pop-culture enthusiast Charles Phoenix included Route 66 attractions in his latest book, "Addicted to Americana" (180 pages, hardcover, illustrated, Prospect Park Books), all you have to do is glance at its cover. It contains an image of the Desert Hills Motel neon sign in Tulsa and a tepee from one … Continue reading Book review: Charles Phoenix’s “Addicted to Americana”
Grand Canyon Cafe grand reopening set for next Saturday
The Grand Canyon Cafe in Flagstaff, Arizona, will hold a grand reopening celebration Saturday, Oct. 7, with free pancakes that morning and possibly free meals for a year at the historic Route 66 restaurant. Starting at 10:30 a.m. next Saturday, guests can score free pancakes in exchange for submitting their email addresses or sharing their online … Continue reading Grand Canyon Cafe grand reopening set for next Saturday
Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die”
Traveling Route 66 has ended up on many people's so-called "bucket list," or "things you ought to do before you kick the bucket." Prolific author Jim Hinckley created a bucket list for Route 66 itself in his newest book, "100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die" (160 pages, soft cover, photos, Reedy … Continue reading Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die”
Restaurant inspired by Roy’s of Amboy opens in Barstow
Roy's Cafe, which features a neon sign inspired by another sign at the historic Roy's of Amboy, California, recently opened on Route 66 in Barstow, California. Here's the sign for the original Roy's, for comparison's sake: Carlos Aceves, Amboy town manager, wrote to the Route 66 yahoogroup Saturday: Roy's Cafe is now open in Barstow … Continue reading Restaurant inspired by Roy’s of Amboy opens in Barstow
You may help land a grant to rehab the Formosa Cafe
With the help of Route 66 enthusiasts, the historic Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood, California, could be rehabilitated for the enjoyment of future Mother Road travelers and Hollywood stars. American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street America have teamed to launch the Vote Your Main Street campaign, in which 10 of … Continue reading You may help land a grant to rehab the Formosa Cafe