This past weekend, volunteers in Tucumcari, N.M., started their latest repainting effort on an abandoned gas station in town. The station, shown above, will be the seventh gas station in Tucumcari that's been repainted in a nostalgic color scheme on the Route 66 corridor. This station will be repainted to resemble a Magnolia station; area … Continue reading Tucumcari’s newest repainting effort … and more
Category: Signs
Lights on at the Luna Cafe
A vintage neon sign -- plus architectural neon -- of the historic Luna Cafe on Route 66 in Mitchell, Ill., were relighted Saturday night during a ceremony attended by about 200 people. Jim Thole of the Route 66 Association of Missouri's Neon Preservation Committee reported that the neon was turned on at 6:44 p.m. Saturday, with … Continue reading Lights on at the Luna Cafe
Roller rink reopens in Sapulpa
When we last checked with the closed Starlite Skate Rink on old Route 66 near Sapulpa, Okla., about 18 months ago, it was being converted into a church. Now the Sapulpa Daily Herald says the roller-skating facility is going back to its old ways. It's been rechristened as the Route 66 Roller Dome, and its … Continue reading Roller rink reopens in Sapulpa
A possible solution to a unique problem
The city of Miami, Okla., observed an unusual problem regarding Route 66 tourism. Instead of complaining, officials took the initiative and tried to do something about it. I'll let the news release from the city (via KOAM-TV) explain: Route 66 attracts tourists from all over the world. International travelers consider Route 66 to be Classic America. … Continue reading A possible solution to a unique problem
Artist takes inspiration from Arizona 66
Angela Carlsen, an artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, used a trip on Arizona's Route 66 to help end her artist's block. The result of that journey is her latest art show, "Arizona Neon," at Argyle Fine Art in Halifax, starting tonight. The exhibit runs through Oct. 30. According to The Chronicle-Herald of Halifax: "I … Continue reading Artist takes inspiration from Arizona 66
Snuffy’s Grill will become a Steak N Egger cafe
Snuffy's 24-Hour Grill, a restaurant in McCook, Ill., and an Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame member, was purchased a few weeks ago and will be converted into the newest member of the small, 24-hour Steak N Egger restaurant group. Snuffy's was put up for sale a few months ago. Steak N Egger bought the … Continue reading Snuffy’s Grill will become a Steak N Egger cafe
Former Firestone station will be reborn
The Bristow Firestone Service Station that dates to 1930 on Route 66 in Bristow, Okla., is being restored and soon will reopen as a body shop. The building once was owned by Bolin Ford Inc., but recently sold to Jack Longacre to expand his body-shop business. Longacre has been diligently restoring the building at 321 … Continue reading Former Firestone station will be reborn
Bolin Ford adds new with the old
Completion remains weeks away, but the rebuilding of Bolin Ford Inc. in Bristow, Okla., is far enough along that I decided to take a tour of the facilities on Saturday before an open house in early December. A fire heavily damaged Bolin Ford in December 2008. The owners could have rebuilt in a mundane way. … Continue reading Bolin Ford adds new with the old
Why OKC installed more Route 66 signs
This clip serves mainly as a publicity blurb for Oklahoma Sen. David Holt and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett. But it turns interesting when the two reveal why Oklahoma City recently decided to install more Route 66 signs to guide travelers. The primary impetus, it turns out, was Paul McCartney's journey on Route 66 in … Continue reading Why OKC installed more Route 66 signs
Relighting date of Luna Cafe sign announced
The official relighting ceremony of a refurbished Luna Cafe neon sign in Mitchell, Ill., will be about 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 22, according to organizers. That time is approximate, depending on how cloudy it is at dusk. According to data from sunrisesunset.com, sunset in nearby Granite City on that date is 6:14 p.m. So plan accordingly. From … Continue reading Relighting date of Luna Cafe sign announced