Folks in Erick, Oklahoma, held a relighting ceremony on Friday for the previously long-dark neon sign at the closed West Winds Motel. The sign had been restored and has been operating nightly since April. The ceremony last week served as more of a celebration. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, was there … Continue reading Ceremonial relighting held for West Winds Motel’s neon sign in Erick
Category: Route 66 Associations
Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas to headline Route 66 Centennial Celebration at Route 66 Motorheads
Legendary rock band Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas will go knee deep in the hoopla and headline the Route 66 Centennial Celebration on Nov. 11 at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, Museum & Entertainment Complex in Springfield, Illinois. As part of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Statewide Conference and Route 66 Centennial Celebration, the day will culminate in an evening concert inside the Motordome, bringing arena-level rock to the heart … Continue reading Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas to headline Route 66 Centennial Celebration at Route 66 Motorheads
Oklahoma Route 66 centennial license plate now available, will help with association’s efforts
A new Oklahoma Route 66 centennial license plate is available to reserve, and proceeds will go toward the Oklahoma Route 66 Association's preservation and tourism efforts. One hundred prepaid signups for the plate are required before they are produced. If interested, you should fill this form, print it and mail it to Service Oklahoma with … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 centennial license plate now available, will help with association’s efforts
Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s official centennial T-shirt features Bob Waldmire artwork
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced that its 2026 Route 66 centennial T-shirt features artwork from late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. Waldmire, a well-traveled hippie whose intricate pen-and-ink drawings were beloved by the Route 66 community, was also the inspiration for Fillmore the Volkswagen minibus in Disney-Pixar’s 2006 "Cars" film. He was also … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s official centennial T-shirt features Bob Waldmire artwork
Touch Media launches Centennial Passport project that supports Route 66 entities
Touch Media recently launched “You Are the Last Missing Piece of Route 66, Fellow Traveler,” a community-focused initiative built around The Route 66 Centennial Passport. The project celebrates the Route 66 centennial by giving travelers a simple way to support the people and organizations that preserve America’s most famous road. The idea is clear: Every … Continue reading Touch Media launches Centennial Passport project that supports Route 66 entities
Route 66 Motorheads to host Centennial Cultural Program honoring journey of ultramarathoner
As part of celebrating Route 66's centennial, Route 66 Motorheads in Springfield, Illinois, will host a centennial cultural gathering on June 6 centered around the journey of endurance runner Tomasz Sobania. The day begins with the independently organized Route 66 Centennial 5K Footrace at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and continues at Motorheads with an invitation-only … Continue reading Route 66 Motorheads to host Centennial Cultural Program honoring journey of ultramarathoner
Doc’s Just Off 66 in Girard put up for sale; restaurant will remain open in the interim
The owners of Doc's Just Off 66 restaurant in downtown Girard, Illinois, announced the restaurant is being put on the market. Co-owner Casey Claypool, who is also the executive director of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, stated in a Facebook post that it was a "difficult" decision to put the restaurant for sale. We … Continue reading Doc’s Just Off 66 in Girard put up for sale; restaurant will remain open in the interim
Lighting ceremony set for May 1 for three historic Route 66 neon signs in Williams
Margaret Hangan, chairwoman of the Historic Preservation Commission for the City of Williams, Arizona, announced a lighting ceremony scheduled for 7:15 p.m. local time on May 1 for three historic neon signs along the city's Route 66 corridor. The neon signs that were restored belong to the Turquoise Teepee, Canyon Club, and the World Famous Sultana Bar. The … Continue reading Lighting ceremony set for May 1 for three historic Route 66 neon signs in Williams
Michael Wallis, Rhys Martin, Ken Busby to be part of latest Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series
"Route 66: The Mother Road" author Michael Wallis, Route 66 Alliance Executive Director and CEO Ken Busby and Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and National Preserve Route 66 manager with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will preside over this month's edition of the Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series. The livestream … Continue reading Michael Wallis, Rhys Martin, Ken Busby to be part of latest Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series
Elm Street in Lebanon renamed Route 66 as part of highway’s centennial
Elm Street in Lebanon, Missouri, officially was renamed Route 66 on April 1 -- and it's not an April Fool's Day joke. The city's Street Department on that day began installing the new Route 66 signs along that corridor. "This project honors Lebanon’s history while helping visitors and travelers better follow the historic Route 66 … Continue reading Elm Street in Lebanon renamed Route 66 as part of highway’s centennial