The recently restored Crestwood Bowl neon sign was relighted Saturday evening in a well-attended ceremony at the bowling facility, on the Watson Road alignment of Route 66 in the St. Louis suburb of Crestwood, Mo. Jim Thole, in a news release, noted the temperature coincidentally was 66 degrees when the switch was thrown on the … Continue reading Crestwood Bowl sign glows again
Category: Signs
The imminent loss of a Route 66 motel that isn’t
KOAM-TV reports that the 60-year-old Capri Motel -- known for its huge and distinctive neon sign -- on Route 66 in Joplin, Mo., has been sold, and its residents are being evicted by its new owners this week. One problem with the report -- research reveals that the Capri never was on Route 66. This … Continue reading The imminent loss of a Route 66 motel that isn’t
Early owner of 66 Bowl dies
Wiley Bell, one of the founders of the now-closed 66 Bowl in Oklahoma City, died at age 95 about a week ago, according to an obituary in The Oklahoman newspaper. The bowling alley sat along original Route 66, which is now known as NW 39 Expressway. Bell was manager of 66 Bowl from 1964 through … Continue reading Early owner of 66 Bowl dies
Joliet bridge repairs will be done by Thanksgiving
https://youtu.be/V5qE1wAf480 Repairs to the historic Ruby Street Bridge that carried Route 66 over the Des Plaines River in Joliet, Ill., will be completed by the Thanksgiving holiday, reported the Romeoville Patch news site. The Patch, talking to an Illinois Department of Transportation engineer, said: The bridge closed in mid-July, and it was expected the work would take four … Continue reading Joliet bridge repairs will be done by Thanksgiving
Relighting ceremony set for Crestwood Bowl sign
Work has begun in restoring the Crestwood Bowl neon sign along Route 66 in Crestwood, Mo., a southwest suburb of St. Louis. The official relighting ceremony for the sign will be Saturday, Oct. 20, at dusk. According to climate data, sunset on that date will be 6:14 p.m., although darkness could come earlier if it's … Continue reading Relighting ceremony set for Crestwood Bowl sign
Coney Island restaurant moves into Springfield’s Sonrise Donuts building
The historic Coney Island restaurant in Springfield, Ill., has reopened in the equally historic Sonrise Donuts building, according to the Springfield State Journal-Register. Both restaurants boasted long tenures on Route 66. Emilio and Rosa Lomeli reopened The New Coney Island this month at Sonrise Donut at 1101 S. Ninth St. (aka Route 66). It is … Continue reading Coney Island restaurant moves into Springfield’s Sonrise Donuts building
A glimpse of the Boots Motel’s past
One of the pleasures of a Route 66 restoration or preservation project is you occasionally get a look at the long-ago past. We had that unique opportunity over the Labor Day weekend when Emily (aka Redforkhippie), Ron Hart of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce, and I embarked on a repainting of the historic Boots … Continue reading A glimpse of the Boots Motel’s past
Resident wants big Route 66 design on Joplin intersection
A Joplin, Mo., resident wants to embed a large Route 66 design onto the roadway of the intersection of St. Louis Avenue and Broadway in Joplin, according to the Joplin Globe. Retired firefighter Steve Lea is leading the effort, and says residents have offered to contribute money for it. An assistant Public Works director and … Continue reading Resident wants big Route 66 design on Joplin intersection
New sign is up at Lile Art Gallery
Longtime Route 66 enthusiast Bob "Crocodile" Lile had the sign on his Lile Art Gallery painted on his building in recent days, culminating the move of his business from Sunset Art Galleries to Amarillo's Historic San Jacinto District, aka Route 66. The area also is known as the Sixth Street Historic District. Doug Quarles, an artist … Continue reading New sign is up at Lile Art Gallery
Springfield may have erroneously marked Route 66
A researcher says a 1926-30 alignment of Route 66 in Springfield, Ill., is erroneously marked in part of the city, according to a recent article in the Illinois Times. Carl Johnson, a land surveyor who's written several articles in the newsletter for the Illinois Route 66 Association, told the newspaper about the alleged error. Here's … Continue reading Springfield may have erroneously marked Route 66