Lincoln Motel sign gets face-lift next weekend

Volunteers with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association will put a new coat of paint on the historic Lincoln Motel's neon sign in Chandler, Okla., on Sept. 11-12, and you're invited to join the effort. Repainting will begin from about 8 a.m. and end at dark each day, weather permitting, at the motel at 740 E. … Continue reading Lincoln Motel sign gets face-lift next weekend

Route 66 cost-share grants announced

The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program on Friday announced in its quarterly newsletter its annual cost-share grants for historic Route 66 businesses and landmarks. Most of the information comes from the newsletter or news release, except where I added links and other information. The recipients are: Historic Seligman Sundries, Seligman, Ariz. -- With its distinct false front, … Continue reading Route 66 cost-share grants announced

Auction set for Tuesday of 66 Bowl’s contents

A big auction to sell off the contents of the historic 66 Bowl in Oklahoma City has been set for Tuesday, according to KWTV. The list of items on the block will include the bowling alley's iconic neon sign. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at 66 Bowl, and will include online bidding … Continue reading Auction set for Tuesday of 66 Bowl’s contents

El Vado finally safeguarded by city of Albuquerque

The city of Albuquerque finally has gained ownership of the historic El Vado Motel along Route 66, and city officials are exploring ideas on what to do with it now, reports the Albuquerque Journal. Among the ideas are converting the property to a Route 66 neon museum, an artists' colony space, or even as a … Continue reading El Vado finally safeguarded by city of Albuquerque

The neon road

Well, this is a neat project. The city of West Hollywood, Calif., and the Museum of Neon Art in Los Angeles have installed a new art installation of four neon signs along Route 66, according to The LAist. The display began Thursday. "We were looking at projects that would sort of help our history, even … Continue reading The neon road

66 Bowl will get a big twist-off

The 66 Bowl in Oklahoma City will be sold to an India grocer in a matter of days. To give the historic bowling alley a proper farewell party, it will host the annual Okie Twist-Off hot rod and music festival next weekend. According to the Daily Oklahoman: The annual event has drawn some of the … Continue reading 66 Bowl will get a big twist-off

Fair-food restaurant to open in historic Springfield eatery

Remember the Sonrise Donuts building and its distinctive neon sign on its roof on Route 66 in Springfield, Ill.? The long-closed business now will be the home Monday of a Gibby's Orbits restaurant, reported the Springfield State Journal-Register. Jack Gibbons had served mini-doughnuts, corn dogs, lemon shake-ups and other favorites at area county fairs  since … Continue reading Fair-food restaurant to open in historic Springfield eatery

Found: the Texola monument

A few days ago, Corkey Mayberry of Park Hills, Mo., wondered what happened to a Texas-shaped monument that greeted Route 66 travelers in the border town of Texola, Okla. Mayberry and his wife had their picture taken at the monument in 1955. On a Route 66 trip a few weeks ago, Mayberry tried to find … Continue reading Found: the Texola monument

What happened to the Texola monument?

A few days ago, I received an e-mail from Corkey Mayberry of Park Hills, Mo., asking me to solve a mystery. In September 1955, he and his wife were on a Route 66 trip. The couple stopped to have their picture taken at a sizable stone monument in Texola, Okla., marking the spot of the … Continue reading What happened to the Texola monument?

New plant sign touts Webb City’s Route 66 heritage

Cardinal Scale Manufacturing Co. in Webb City, Mo., is marking its 60th anniversary and just opened a new building in town, according to the Joplin Globe. That's certainly noteworthy, but the real point of interest for Route 66 enthusiasts lurks in the plans for the land near the Cardinal Scale plant: Mayor John Biggs said … Continue reading New plant sign touts Webb City’s Route 66 heritage