The neon sign for the long-gone Ko Ko Motel along Route 66 in Joplin, Missouri, is being restored. The Ko Ko, built in 1955 at 3102 E. 7th St. (aka Route 66), was demolished in 2007. Jeremy Morris, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, stated on a Facebook post that the sign, after … Continue reading Neon sign for the defunct Ko Ko Motel in Joplin is being restored
Category: Route 66 Associations
New Mexico Route 66 Association lawsuit against president scheduled to be tried in June
An Albuquerque district judge this week scheduled a bench trial for June for a lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Route 66 Association and one of its longtime officers, Johnnie Meier, against purported former association president Melissa Beasley-Lee. The complaint, filed in January, accuses Beasley-Lee of fraudulently seizing control of the association's assets -- including … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association lawsuit against president scheduled to be tried in June
Skip Curtis archives given to Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society
The Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society, based in Lebanon, Missouri, announced last week that it received the archives of late Missouri Route 66 author and researcher Skip Curtis. Curtis, who wrote the seminal but long-out-of-print "The Missouri U.S. 66 Tour Book" (Amazon affiliate link) in 1994, died of cancer in 2007 at age 63. He … Continue reading Skip Curtis archives given to Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society
25-foot neon corndog erected at Route 66 Experience at Illinois State Fairgrounds
A 25-foot-long neon corndog -- condiments included -- was erected Monday at the Route 66 Experience park near the southeast entrance of the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The big corndog serves as a salute to the landmark Cozy Dog Drive-In restaurant along Route 66 in Springfield. More from the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway: … Continue reading 25-foot neon corndog erected at Route 66 Experience at Illinois State Fairgrounds
Restored Ozark Court neon sign will soon be moved to Joplin Expo site
The recently restored neon sign for the long-closed Ozark Court motel near St. Clair, Missouri, will soon be moved to the Joplin Expo in Joplin, Missouri. KSHB-TV in Kansas City recently paid a visit to Fossil Forge sign company in nearby Lee's Summit, Missouri, that was restoring the sign. Rich Dinkela, past president of the … Continue reading Restored Ozark Court neon sign will soon be moved to Joplin Expo site
Partnership helps neon sign glow again at Odeon Theatre in Tucumcari
For nearly 90 years, the Odeon Theatre in Tucumcari, New Mexico, has welcomed local moviegoers and Route 66 travelers. Thanks to a collaborative effort, that theater's neon is again lighting the streets of downtown Tucumcari. The restoration of the Odeon's historic neon sign was made possible through a grant from the National Trust for Historic … Continue reading Partnership helps neon sign glow again at Odeon Theatre in Tucumcari
Rhys Martin, Matt Pinnell inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin and Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell were inducted Saturday into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Frisco Center in Clinton. The third inductee was the late Charles Tompkins of El Reno, the third director for the U.S. 66 Highway Association and a … Continue reading Rhys Martin, Matt Pinnell inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Road Ahead Partnership, S&H Green Stamps launch free loyalty program membership to aid Route 66 businesses
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and S&H Green Stamps launched a collaboration designed to strengthen small businesses and tourism along historic Route 66. Through the initiative, eligible businesses along the Route 66 corridor will receive one year of free membership in the S&H Green Stamps Community Program, a digital loyalty platform rooted in one of … Continue reading Road Ahead Partnership, S&H Green Stamps launch free loyalty program membership to aid Route 66 businesses
Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership launches Preservation and Economic Development Grant Program
Applications for the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership's 2026 Preservation and Economic Development Grant Program will be accepted in July. The grant program is an official Route 66 Centennial Activity, as designated by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. The program assists businesses and attractions along historic Route 66 seeking to remain in operation, reopen, preserve … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership launches Preservation and Economic Development Grant Program
Students mostly finish repairing Bob Waldmire’s Route 66-themed U-Haul truck
Students from Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City recently finished most of its work on a long-inoperable U-Haul truck that had been painted by late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. According to KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City, it took about three months to make the 1989 Toyota truck roadworthy again. "It wouldn't even run when … Continue reading Students mostly finish repairing Bob Waldmire’s Route 66-themed U-Haul truck