The Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2482 will apply for a grant to restore the tower and its "neon scene" of the former Skylark Motel in west St. Clair, Mo., according to an article by The Missourian. The VFW post, which uses the motel at 1087 North Service Road West as its headquarters now, is applying … Continue reading VFW wants to restore Skylark Motel tower and neon
Category: Signs
U-Drop Inn neon lights are back on — in LED
The Facebook account of the historic U-Drop Inn gas station in Shamrock, Texas, recently announced the long-awaited installation of LED neon has been completed and the lights are on. According to the page, the neon will be on from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. nightly, although I'm certain the "lights on" time will be adjusted … Continue reading U-Drop Inn neon lights are back on — in LED
Another sign painter with a long history on Route 66
A few years ago, I tracked down Rudy Gonzales of Tucumcari, N.M., who hand-painted signs along the Route 66 corridor in the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico for five decades. Another sign painter has operated along Route 66 for about as long in eastern Arizona. According to an article in the Arizona Journal, Severo Barela of … Continue reading Another sign painter with a long history on Route 66
Atlanta begins second Route 66 Reinterpreted art contest
The Route 66 town of Atlanta, Ill., is calling for submissions for its second annual Route 66 Reinterpreted art project, where contestants re-imagine the iconic Route 66 shield sign. According to a news release from Atlanta: Participating artists will be provided a blank, 2-by-2-foot wooden cutout of the Route 66 highway shield, painted white, which … Continue reading Atlanta begins second Route 66 Reinterpreted art contest
The neon at the Blue Swallow Motel
Many things make the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., distinctive. One of the big things is its neon lighting. Co-owner Kevin Mueller talks about the motel's neon in this new video from KC Keefer's "Genuine Route 66 Life" series. https://youtu.be/WqZeqixWA1Y (Night image of the Blue Swallow Motel's neon sign by Nancy L. Stockdale via … Continue reading The neon at the Blue Swallow Motel
Oklahoma senator again criticizes Route 66 preservation program
U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) again targets the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program with his "Wastebook," an annual publication released Tuesday that cites alleged government waste. In the publication, Coburn criticized the $81,224 the program awarded in cost-share grants to restore the roof of the historic DeCamp Junction near Staunton, Ill., the climate-control system of … Continue reading Oklahoma senator again criticizes Route 66 preservation program
Work day set for Nov. 16 at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Volunteers have scheduled a short work day on Nov. 16, to spruce up the area around the Stanley Cour-Tel signs at Henry's Rabbit Ranch on old Route 66 in Staunton, Ill. The Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs were salvaged from a Route 66 motel in west St. Louis. The signs were moved before the motel was razed … Continue reading Work day set for Nov. 16 at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Vic Suhling / Gas For Less sign glows again after 40-plus years
The restoration of the historic Vic Suhling / Gas For Less neon sign was unveiled Saturday evening next to the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Ill. According to a news release, up to 200 people attended the event, including two of Suhling's daughters Bonnie and Bernice, one who traveled from Portland, … Continue reading Vic Suhling / Gas For Less sign glows again after 40-plus years
McCook’s curiously familiar welcome sign
The village of McCook, Ill., recently erected a new welcome sign along its stretch of Route 66, next to the '50s-themed Steak N Egger restaurant that once was Snuffy's 24-Hour Grill. The sign does feature a Route 66 shield prominently, but the rest of its design strongly reminds one of the iconic "Welcome to Las … Continue reading McCook’s curiously familiar welcome sign
Carthage unveils new welcome sign
The City of Carthage, Mo., on Friday unveiled a new welcome sign that features a Route 66 shield and a symbol of the city, a maple leaf, according to a news release from the city. Local artist Rachel Wilson designed the sign, which is on the Carthage Memorial Hall lawn at 407 S. Garrison St. … Continue reading Carthage unveils new welcome sign