These photos show why Illinois Route 66 preservationists John and Lenore Weiss won a prestigious Steinbeck Award a few years ago during the annual Route 66 awards dinner. This is a "before" shot of the long-neglected Art's Motel and Restaurant sign on Route 66 in Farmersville, Ill. This is a shot after the Illinois Route … Continue reading Now, THIS is restoration
Category: Signs
Tucumcari at night
The images aren't high quality, sometimes objects fade out of focus, and many of the neon lights remain out of commission after a severe hailstorm in late March. But this recent video from the seminal Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., made me exclaim: "I wish I'd thought of that." Brian, aka bkdurham, on a … Continue reading Tucumcari at night
Bel-Air sign sits waiting — for now
Wally Spiers of the Belleville News-Democrat talks to the owner of the Bel-Air Drive-In sign on old Route 66 near Mitchell, Ill. The drive-in theater has been closed for 20 years, but the marquee still stands. Owner Larry Manns hasn't done much to shore it up, but also he seems reluctant to part with it. … Continue reading Bel-Air sign sits waiting — for now
Palms Grill sign relighted
The old neon sign of the Palms Grill in downtown Atlanta, Ill., was relighted in a ceremony this week, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. The sign was restored in part with a grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. The newspaper didn't have any photos of the new sign, but here's an artist's rendering. The … Continue reading Palms Grill sign relighted
High winds knock off part of Rialto Theatre sign
Nasty wind gusts Sunday afternoon knocked off part of the decorative scrollwork of the main sign of the Rialto Square Theatre, located on Route 66 in Joliet, Ill., reported the Herald-News. Fortunately, no one was hurt when the sign chunk came crashing down, although an adjacent street was closed. Workers were already busy repairing the … Continue reading High winds knock off part of Rialto Theatre sign
Uranium Cafe closes
The Uranium Cafe, a Route 66 landmark in Grants, N.M., with a classic neon sign, closed about a month ago, according to a Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman. The latest incarnation of the restaurant lasted about a year. It called itself Five Brothers Uranium Cafe. The previous owner for a number of years sold … Continue reading Uranium Cafe closes
Albuquerque waters down proposed sign rules
Last fall, we reported that the City of Albuquerque was considering a strict new sign ordinance that would essentially outlaw most of the Duke City's fabulous neon signs along Route 66. The Route 66 and business community greeted the proposal with such alarm that a Sign Defense Group was formed, complete with a Web site. … Continue reading Albuquerque waters down proposed sign rules
Tucumcari’s neon damaged
Severe thunderstorms struck the border lands of Texas and New Mexico on Friday, resulting in tornadoes in Logan and Clovis, N.M., and hailstorms in the Route 66 town Tucumcari, N.M., that knocked out many of the famed neon signs in town, according to the Quay County Sun. Bill Kinder, co-owner of the Blue Swallow Motel … Continue reading Tucumcari’s neon damaged
Restoration of Meadow Gold sign completed
OK, the refurbishing of the historic Meadow Gold sign on Route 66 in Tulsa isn't 100 percent done. After all, the sign still has to be re-erected at its new site at 11th Street (Route 66) and Quaker Avenue. But the repairs on the massive letters and new neon tubing were recently finished by Claude … Continue reading Restoration of Meadow Gold sign completed
Storm blows down “Rattlesnakes” sign
Bob "Crocodile" Lile, president of the Texas Old Route 66 Association, reported that a severe storm blew down the historic "Rattlesnakes -- Exit Now" sign which stood for decades off old Route 66 near the Lela exit of Interstate 40. The sign advertised the Regal Reptile Ranch, which has been in ruins for many years … Continue reading Storm blows down “Rattlesnakes” sign