The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, under the auspices of the National Park Service, announced its cost-share grants for 2016. This year, the program awarded eight cost-share grants totaling more than $103,000 -- mostly for renovations or preservation of historic Route 66 properties. Since 2001, the program has awarded 122 projects $1.9 million with $3.1 … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces grants for 2016
Category: Restaurants
La Posada acquires vintage domed rail car
La Posada in Winslow, Arizona, recently acquired a historic Santa Fe Pleasure Dome rail car that will be refurbished to house history exhibits and a guest room. The rail car will be a part of the next phase of La Posada complex's Route 66 Art Museum project that begins next month. La Posada co-owner Allan Affeldt said in … Continue reading La Posada acquires vintage domed rail car
Mexican restaurant moves into Sonrise Donuts building
An authentic Mexican restaurant becomes the latest tenant to move into the building in Springfield, Illinois, that contains the historic Sonrise Donuts neon sign on its roof. Taqueria Moroleon opened in the building at 1101 S. Ninth St. (aka Route 66) that contains a horseshoe-shaped Formica counter and red counter stools, reported the State Journal-Register. The … Continue reading Mexican restaurant moves into Sonrise Donuts building
When much of Route 66 was segregated
If you've got an hour, watch this recent video about author and photographer Candacy Taylor, who attended the Bay Area Book Festival to talk about her research into Route 66 and the Negro Motorist Green Book. If you're not familiar with the Green Book, it was an annual guide published from 1936 to 1966 by Harlem postal … Continue reading When much of Route 66 was segregated
Owners of Summit Inn say they will rebuild
Amid the bad news about the historic Summit Inn restaurant burning down, a sliver of good news emerged Wednesday night -- its owners plan to rebuild. The San Bernardino County Sun reported: But new owners Katherine Juarez and her brother Otto Recinos, who recently purchased the restaurant, want to bring it back. “We plan to rebuild it … Continue reading Owners of Summit Inn say they will rebuild
Wildfire destroys landmark Summit Inn
A fast-moving wildfire in Cajon Pass in Southern California destroyed the Route 66 landmark Summit Inn restaurant on Tuesday night, confirmed several media outlets in the Los Angeles region. The Los Angeles Times posted video from the scene as flames consumed the historic cafe. The Facebook page for the Oak Hills restaurant posted this message late … Continue reading Wildfire destroys landmark Summit Inn
Springfield, Missouri, releases “story maps” website
Ahead of the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival this weekend, the city of Springfield, Missouri, launched an interactive "story map" website detailing about 80 Route 66 businesses that once stood or still exist in the city and its outskirts. According to KSMU radio, the city's Geographic Information Systems division used mapping software Esri to create the … Continue reading Springfield, Missouri, releases “story maps” website
Former Cafe on the Route is up for sale
The historic building in Baxter Springs, Kansas, best-known as the former home of Cafe on the Route, apparently has been put up for sale, based on a slick video and website touting the property. The website's name uses property's address, 1101 Military Ave. Moment Media, based in nearby Miami, Oklahoma, produced this well-made video, including drone … Continue reading Former Cafe on the Route is up for sale
Is the Big Texan Steak Ranch on Route 66?
The answer: Yes. It sits on an obscure and short-lived alignment of Route 66 from the 1920s. More on this later. While recently reporting the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, likely will begin building a bigger complex soon, I wrote this bit: Although the Big Texan no longer sits on Route 66, it began on Amarillo Boulevard … Continue reading Is the Big Texan Steak Ranch on Route 66?
La Paloma marks 50th anniversary
La Paloma restaurant along Route 66 in La Verne, California, is marking its 50th year this week. But according to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, the Mexican restaurant's roots go back even further, to the 1920s: That’s when the property was an orange grove. Farmhands would pull up to the grove manager’s home for breakfast … Continue reading La Paloma marks 50th anniversary