Don't anticipate the primitive La Bajada Hill alignment of Route 66 southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico, to be reopened to off-roaders or hikers anytime soon. A pueblo group recently accused the U.S. Bureau of Land Management of not doing enough to protect sacred sites in the Caja del Rio Plateau area (aka La Bajada) … Continue reading Desecration of petroglyphs probably means La Bajada access won’t be reopened anytime soon
Category: Route 66 Associations
Cost-share grant season opens for Route 66 Corrodor Preservation Program
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced Wednesday the season for its annual cost-share grant program has opened. "Grants can assist with preservation planning, National Register nominations, preservation and rehabilitation work on eligible historic sites, and/or research and educational outreach initiatives," said program director Kaisa Barthuli. Last year, the program awarded about $103,000 worth of … Continue reading Cost-share grant season opens for Route 66 Corrodor Preservation Program
Native-owned Southwest Trading Company opens on Route 66 in Tulsa
Southwest Trading Company opened a few weeks ago along the 11th Street alignment of Route 66 that not only sells Native American-made goods, but is owned by a father-and-daughter team with Native heritage. MVSKOKEMedia recently published a profile on owners David Bible and daughter Ashley, citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe in Oklahoma and of … Continue reading Native-owned Southwest Trading Company opens on Route 66 in Tulsa
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $4,000 in grants for varying projects
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway this week announced it awarded a total of $4,000 in grants to four byway members, including one that has created the Largest Tire on Route 66. It is the second round of grant awards from the byway. According to a news release: Byway Project Funds are to support events, … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $4,000 in grants for varying projects
Reconstruction of Pony Bridge near Bridgeport won’t start until June
Those traveling Route 66 during the first half of 2022 have good news: The reconstruction project that will close the Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, for at least two years won't begin until June. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association on Facebook passed along the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's updated word about the bridge project this … Continue reading Reconstruction of Pony Bridge near Bridgeport won’t start until June
Route 66 Experience may become part of a $35 million hotel project in Tulsa
The long-planned Route 66 Experience interactive museum by the nonprofit Route 66 Alliance appears to have new life as part of a proposed $35 million hotel complex on the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa. KTUL-TV in Tulsa reported the developers hope to break ground on the project later this year. It's described as … Continue reading Route 66 Experience may become part of a $35 million hotel project in Tulsa
Tulsa Route 66 group offering facade grants for businesses
The Tulsa Route 66 Main Street organization is offering grants of up to $1,000 for businesses for facade upgrades. According to KJRH-TV in Tulsa, just two of the grants are left, and the deadline to apply is Dec. 31. “It could be replacement of windows. It could be planter boxes," Christine Hamner, Route 66 Main … Continue reading Tulsa Route 66 group offering facade grants for businesses
Oklahoma Route 66 Association received nearly $15,000 in federal COVID-19 funds
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently received nearly $15,000 from the federal coronavirus relief funds from American Rescue Plan. The association's current newsletter, distributed this month, stated: In August, Oklahoma Humanities (OH) reported that almost $700,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funding would be distributed to over 50 cultural and educational organizations statewide. Grants … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association received nearly $15,000 in federal COVID-19 funds
Doc’s Soda Fountain in Girard lands new owners
The 130-year-old Doc's Soda Fountain site in downtown Girard, Illinois, has landed new owners, and one of them has ties to the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway. Steve and Casey Claypool of nearby Chatham, Illinois, closed on the purchase Friday. They plan to reopen it sometime in April after some interior renovations. Casey also is … Continue reading Doc’s Soda Fountain in Girard lands new owners
Route 66 campaign, Joliet Area Historical Museum win Illinois tourism awards
The Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau earlier this month won an Illinois Excellence in Tourism award for Best International Marketing for its Route 66 campaign. The extensive Route 66 section of its website can be found here. Great Rivers and Routes Tourism concentrates on attractions in southwest Illinois. Great Rivers and Routes was honored … Continue reading Route 66 campaign, Joliet Area Historical Museum win Illinois tourism awards