The big Pony Soldier Motel sign, the last vestige of a Route 66 motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, demolished years ago, was dismantled this week for a new business project on the site. A photo of the sign's dismantling was posted Thursday on the Tucumcari and Quay County Then and Now page on Facebook. Several readers on … Continue reading Pony Soldier Motel sign in Tucumcari removed
Category: Signs
“Route 66 in Illinois”
The "Route 66 in Illinois" presentation by Joe Sonderman and Cheryl Eichar Jett -- who co-wrote a book by the same name -- during the Miles of Possibility conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, contained a few tidbits of information even veteran roadies might not have known, such as: An explosion in 1942 at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant … Continue reading “Route 66 in Illinois”
Restored neon sign installed at Kingman dealership
A neon sign for OK Used Cars that dates to about 1960 recently was restored and re-installed at Dunton Motors Dream Machines along Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona. Route 66 author Jim Hinckley reports the sign was relighted Friday. A recent news release from the Route 66 Association of Kingman says an official relighting ceremony is … Continue reading Restored neon sign installed at Kingman dealership
Albuquerque installs new Route 66-inspired directional signs
It took longer than expected, but the city of Albuquerque last week began installing its new directional tourism signs inspired by a Route 66 shield and a roadrunner, New Mexico's state bird. According to KRQE-TV in Albuquerque, the sign installed in the Nob Hill section of town is one of six that will be installed … Continue reading Albuquerque installs new Route 66-inspired directional signs
Company offers to fix Albuquerque signs for free
A company has offered the City of Albuquerque a way to repair its malfunctioning neon archway lights on Central Avenue, aka Route 66, at no cost, according to a report by KOAT-TV. Other media outlets in Albuquerque reported last week the city was looking at replacing its troublesome or burned-out neon with LED lighting, which is … Continue reading Company offers to fix Albuquerque signs for free
Albuquerque plans to upgrade city neon signs to LED
Deep in a KRQE-TV story about the City of Albuquerque's Route 66-themed signs -- including the archways over Central Avenue -- is this item -- the city eventually will upgrade them to LED. Apparently neon owned by the city has been experiencing trouble staying lighted for extended periods -- to the chagrin of residents and … Continue reading Albuquerque plans to upgrade city neon signs to LED
Brooks Building in Arcadia soon will have a Route 66-friendly tenant
Joel Rayburn, owner of the Route 66-related GlassBoy Studios and Tourist Trap Tees, soon will move into the historic Brooks Building just a stone's throw from the Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma. Rayburn told me in a text he should be ready to open the doors to those businesses there by early October. According to … Continue reading Brooks Building in Arcadia soon will have a Route 66-friendly tenant
Rail Haven hotel installs replica of classic sign
The Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven hotel in Springfield, Missouri, on Friday installed a replica of a classic neon sign that came down in 1994 when the hotel was rebranded, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Part of the reason the original sign was taken down was because it was "in bad shape," said Jennifer … Continue reading Rail Haven hotel installs replica of classic sign
One way to repurpose an old sign
Steve Paulken, city manager for Winslow, Arizona, sent these photos of the old Moore's Pawn & Trading sign along Route 66 in town being refurbished, thanks in part to a city program. Paulken wrote in an email: This sign has been here for over 30 years, but in recent years has been unused and totally faded out. … Continue reading One way to repurpose an old sign
Kingman building ‘welcome arch’ to its downtown
Kingman, Arizona, is building a "welcome arch" across its downtown Beale Street, according to the Kingman Daily Miner. The arch would be installed as part of Kingman's participation as a quarterfinalist in the America's Best Communities contest in which $10 million is at stake, city manager John Dougherty said. Dougherty said the ABC team, which … Continue reading Kingman building ‘welcome arch’ to its downtown