The city of Joliet, Ill., wants to draw more tourists into its suburban Chicago town. One of the ways it hopes to do this is by building a fiberglass statue of the Blues Brothers on Route 66, according to United Press International. The Blues Brothers was a "Saturday Night Live" routine by the Dan Aykroyd … Continue reading Blues Brothers statue may greet Route 66 travelers
Category: Towns
Edwardsville planning for Route 66 festival
The Edwardsville Intelligencer reports that the city of Edwardsville, Ill., has begun preparations for its 11th annual Route 66 festival on June 8-9 in City Park. According to Edwardsville and Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman Kim Stevens, the group planning the event wants to add some new attractions. She said a new walk and … Continue reading Edwardsville planning for Route 66 festival
Another story about Oatman
This is the second story about the Route 66 town of Oatman, Ariz., in about three days, and it's a good one. The story by Jerry Rice for InsideBayArea.com contains a lot of local color and history. It even has some stuff I was unaware of, including horseback riding through the mountains, and Burro Biscuit … Continue reading Another story about Oatman
“Watch out for their teeth”
Greg Aragon of Burbank (Calif.) Weekly paid a visit Oatman, the isolated Route 66 town in Arizona's Black Mountains. The former gold-mining town is known as a place for those who want a taste of the Old West. But Oatman's biggest claim to fame is the wild burros that wander the streets. “Give them a … Continue reading “Watch out for their teeth”
Winslow, such a fine sight to see
The New York Times has an excellent article about the rebirth of the Route 66 town of Winslow, Ariz. When my wife and I first visited the town in 2001, it seemed a bit down on its luck. But the story indicates that things are looking up after a long decline. Empty storefronts still dot … Continue reading Winslow, such a fine sight to see
A visit to Nob Hill in Albuquerque
The folks at TurnHere.com, a travel site about "cool places," have produced a three-minute video about the Nob Hill district along Route 66 in Albuquerque that captures the neighborhood's funkiness, eclecticism and home-grown vibe as well as anything I can think of. Check it out:
Kicks in Amarillo
This recent story in the entertainment section of the Amarillo Globe-News does a decent job of summing up the Route 66 attractions in the Texas Panhandle's largest city.
New book tells the history of Amarillo
There's a new book about that windy, dusty Route 66 town on the Plains that is Amarillo, Texas. The Mexia (Texas) Daily News reports that Texas Tech University has published "Amarillo -- The Story of a Western Town" by professor Paul H. Carlson. The newspaper says: Amarillo is the first comprehensive history of the “Queen … Continue reading New book tells the history of Amarillo
A Riverwalk — in Grants
The Gallup (N.M.) Independent has an interesting story about Riverwalk in the nearby Route 66 town of Grants, N.M. San Antonio has the best-known Riverwalk; it appears Grants decided to have one of its own. The Riverwalk in Grants is a greenbelt along the Rio San Jose that in the midst of a three-stage development. … Continue reading A Riverwalk — in Grants
Glenrio, Odeon added to National Register
According to an e-mail from the director of the National Park Service, Glenrio's historic district -- which comprises most of the Route 66 community straddling the border between Texas and New Mexico -- was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 17. Glenrio's location in two states (and two counties) at … Continue reading Glenrio, Odeon added to National Register