The owner of the closed Road Runner's Retreat restaurant near Chambless, California, began work last week on restoring its long-dark neon sign. The work was detailed in an Instagram post: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Road Runner’s Retreat (@roadrunnersretreatroute66) High winds forced an early end to the day's work, but "we’ll … Continue reading Road Runner’s Retreat begins restoration work on its long-dark neon sign
Category: Signs
Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa gets a new neon sign
The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, recently showed off a new neon sign. The sign was designed by LekTron Branding Solutions of nearby Tulsa. Here are some images of the sign, along with its older sign and its 66-foot-tall faux gas pump, posted on the museum's Facebook page: The museum, which … Continue reading Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa gets a new neon sign
Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
The Bristow (Oklahoma) Historical Society has compiled a wish list of landmarks along or near Route 66 it wants to beautify and restore, including the Chrysler Plymouth tower. According to the Sapulpa Times, the society has placed these landmarks on the renovation list before Route 66's centennial in 2026: The 100-foot-tall Chrysler Plymouth tower just … Continue reading Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
Yet another neon sign erected along Tulsa’s Route 66 corridor
Tulsa Time Dental Design at East 11th Street (aka Route 66) and New Haven Avenue was the latest beneficiary of the city's Route 66 neon sign grant program. The Tulsa Route 66 Commission posted an image of the new neon sign a few days ago: Dennis Whitaker, who is part of the city's planning office, … Continue reading Yet another neon sign erected along Tulsa’s Route 66 corridor
1939 newspaper article shows one big reason Tucumcari became a neon-sign haven
Tucumcari, New Mexico, never was a huge town. Its population never surpassed 9,000, according to the U.S. Census records. Regardless, Tucumcari during its heyday was home to dozens of neon signs, especially along its Route 66 corridor. Even now, about 25 neon signs still exist along the historic highway, in various states of repair. Several … Continue reading 1939 newspaper article shows one big reason Tucumcari became a neon-sign haven
Illinois announces $4 million grant program for Route 66
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on Thursday announced the creation of a $4 million grant program "for the development of tourism, education, preservation, and promotion of the 100th Anniversary of Route 66" in 2026. According to a news release from the state government: This funding opportunity supports … Continue reading Illinois announces $4 million grant program for Route 66
Amarillo group gives Braceros Downtown a $20,000 grant to restore neon sign
The Braceros Downtown restaurant in Amarillo recently received a $20,000 grant from Center City of Amarillo to help restore its big neon sign. The Amarillo Globe-News reported last week the nonprofit organization presented Jaime Santillá, owner of the restaurant, with the grant after he completed extensive interior and exterior work on the 1927 structure at … Continue reading Amarillo group gives Braceros Downtown a $20,000 grant to restore neon sign
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
Ozark Court motel sign to be restored, planned for Route 66 exhibit in 2025
A recent Instagram post answered a question: What happened to the Ozark Court motel sign in St. Clair, Missouri, that disappeared from Route 66 almost 20 years ago? A collector with extensive historical ties to the St. Louis region procured the sign, which he plans to include in a Route 66 exhibit at the National … Continue reading Ozark Court motel sign to be restored, planned for Route 66 exhibit in 2025
Artist shows how he brings dead neon signs to life with ‘augmented restoration’
A television station in Las Vegas shows how an artist with the Neon Museum has brought old neon signs seemingly to life, using what he calls "augmented restoration." The technology holds huge implications for the scores of inoperative neon signs along Route 66. Here's the report from KTNV: https://youtu.be/OX-9GL5y0qg The report explains how reviving old … Continue reading Artist shows how he brings dead neon signs to life with ‘augmented restoration’