The Cities Service Station in southwest Tulsa this week became the sixth recipient of the city's Route 66 neon-sign grant program to light the darkness. The gas station at 1648 Southwest Blvd. (aka Route 66), now home to Studio 45 Architects, was built in 1926, the same year U.S. 66 was designated. The Cities Service … Continue reading Sixth neon-sign grant recipient comes to light in Tulsa
Category: Signs
New Mexico Route 66 Association hands out three Heritage Awards
The New Mexico Route 66 Association recently gave out Heritage Awards to Glenn's Bakery in Gallup, May Cafe in Albuquerque and Pecos Theatre in Santa Rosa for their efforts at revitalization. The Pecos Theatre at 219 S. Fourth St. (aka Route 66) was honored for renovating the oldest theater on Route 66, built in 1917. … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association hands out three Heritage Awards
New Interparts of Tulsa neon sign is unveiled
The Interparts of Tulsa shop unveiled its revamped neon sign Friday evening at 3615 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66), one of several neon signs created or restored via the city's burgeoning Route 66 neon-sign grant program. The Interparts sign dates to the 1950s, according to the Tulsa Route 66 Commission. It's the fifth sign … Continue reading New Interparts of Tulsa neon sign is unveiled
Road Runner’s Retreat mulls full sign restoration after brief and partial relighting
A whim on the night Roy's neon sign in Amboy, California, was relighted led a successful partial relighting a portion of the nearby Road Runner's Retreat sign and considering a full restoration. The Facebook page for the long-closed Route 66 restaurant posted this Wednesday: I asked Ryan Anderson, owner of the property and administrator of … Continue reading Road Runner’s Retreat mulls full sign restoration after brief and partial relighting
Tucumcari commissioners reject landmark ordinance for historic neon signs
The Tucumcari City Commission last week by a 3-2 vote rejected a landmark ordinance that would have added a layer of protection for historic neon signs -- a sign of how property rights make such proposals a tough sell. One of the commissioners who rejected the plan, Todd Duplantis, owns two Route 66 restaurants in … Continue reading Tucumcari commissioners reject landmark ordinance for historic neon signs
Route 66 stakeholders trade ideas at Oklahoma’s first Route 66 Convention
A bunch of Route 66 business owners or advocates of that historic highway gathered this week at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City for the first Route 66 Convention in that state. The event was shepherded by Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who also runs the state's tourism department and has made boosting visitorship in … Continue reading Route 66 stakeholders trade ideas at Oklahoma’s first Route 66 Convention
Fourth new or restored neon sign lighted via Route 66 grant in Tulsa
A fourth neon sign that's new or restored along Route 66 in Tulsa came to life last week, this time at U.S. Studio 66. U.S. Studio 66 is at 5202 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66), just west of the historic Desert Hills Motel. Other signs that are new or have been restored are Billy … Continue reading Fourth new or restored neon sign lighted via Route 66 grant in Tulsa
Artist does her own form of preserving Route 66 neon signs by painting them
In a time when Route 66 advocates are discussing the disappearance of historic neon signs, an Albuquerque artist has taken note of that issue and is doing her own small bit of preservation -- painting images of those signs in case they vanish. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reports about self-proclaimed "painter of history" Cheryl Godin: “My … Continue reading Artist does her own form of preserving Route 66 neon signs by painting them
Roy’s sign in Amboy glows again for the first time in 30 years
The iconic Roy's Motel & Cafe neon sign in Amboy, California, glowed for the first time in at least 30 years during a relighting ceremony Saturday night. The event coincided with the Great Amboy Fly-In, Part 2, where private planes use Amboy's nearby airstrip. Here a video of the countdown to the relighting at twilight … Continue reading Roy’s sign in Amboy glows again for the first time in 30 years
Neon sign at Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge taken down for safekeeping
A collector of advertising, including neon signs, reported Wednesday the neon letters and other elements from the sign of the long-closed Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge, Missouri, had been removed, leaving nothing but stone frame and foundation. However, the president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri reported the sign was taken down "for its … Continue reading Neon sign at Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge taken down for safekeeping