Jim Hinckley, an author and roadie in Kingman, Ariz., recently sent me Route 66 updates regarding his town. Demolition has begun on a block of several moribund and closed businesses on Route 66, including the City Cafe, the Imperial Motel and a Texaco gas station that dated to the 1940s. A Walgreens drug store is … Continue reading Updates from Kingman
Category: Signs
Mark your calendars
An e-mailed update from the City of Tulsa today says that Claude Neon Federal Signs will begin re-erecting the neon-festooned letters of the historic Meadow Gold sign at 11th Street and Quaker Avenue in Tulsa on April 6. Claude estimates it will take about a week to completely install those letters. So, in about a … Continue reading Mark your calendars
Meadow Gold sign update
It looks like the main structure for the re-erection of the historic Meadow Gold sign in Tulsa is nearly complete. I e-mailed Dennis Whitaker in the City of Tulsa's Planning Department and asked about the status of the sign. This is a partial reply I received Wednesday: Yes, the structure is pretty much done. There … Continue reading Meadow Gold sign update
Route 66 association re-formed in Kingman
MohaveBusiness.com has details about the newly formed Kingman Route 66 Association, based in Kingman, Ariz. And it's interesting what the association's president has to say: One of our primary goals is to create attractions for people instead of just being a stopover,” association president Tim McDonnell said. “Our motel occupancy is off the chart, but … Continue reading Route 66 association re-formed in Kingman
A Route 66 shield made of Legos
Here's a time-lapse video of Bricks 2 Pics making an image of a Route 66 shield entirely from Lego pieces. Most impressive. According to the video, more than 4,000 pieces were used to make the shield. The Route 66 piece can be purchased on eBay; starting bid is $100, with a reserve. Bricks 2 Pics … Continue reading A Route 66 shield made of Legos
Photo exhibit includes Route 66 images
Artist Laura Smetak will host an exhibit of her recent photography, including old signs on Route 66, at the McKinney Performing Arts Center in McKinney, Texas, on Jan. 31, reports Pegasus News. The show, titled "At Work and On The Road, A Collection of Photos Taken on America's Backroads and in McKinney's Backyard," presents a … Continue reading Photo exhibit includes Route 66 images
“Life Ain’t Always Beautiful”
Check out the neon sign during this video by Gary Allan. It's from the Holiday Motel on the Strip in Las Vegas -- one of the last survivors of vintage motels there. The song itself has a interesting history. Allan recorded it shortly after his wife committed suicide. Several of the songs from the excellent … Continue reading “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful”
Getting there
Construction on the new home of the historic Meadow Gold sign on Route 66 in Tulsa is progressing nicely. According to a release from the city, the support pavilion and metal truss system are scheduled to be completed by the end of the month. Re-erection of the Meadow Gold sign's restored neon letters will begin … Continue reading Getting there
Cyrus Avery Plaza signs will return next year
The Route 66 signs at Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza in Tulsa soon will return to their spots after being vandalized a few months ago, reports the Tulsa World. Not long after the Vision 2025-funded plaza on Southwest Boulevard was dedicated in August, the city got several reports from residents that the LED tubing on the … Continue reading Cyrus Avery Plaza signs will return next year
Meadow Gold sign will be re-erected next month
The Tulsa World today posted an update about the historic Meadow Gold sign on Route 66 in Tulsa, which was dismantled and put into storage several years ago after a local car dealership threatened to raze it. The new, brick pedestal on which the sign will sit is nearly done, and the re-erection of the … Continue reading Meadow Gold sign will be re-erected next month