Johnnie Meier last week publicly voiced his frustrations with delays over establishing a Route 66 museum in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and later said alternate sites for the museum likely "are on the table." The Ilfeld-Johnson Warehouse in Santa Rosa. Meier, who owns the Classical Gas Museum in Embudo, New Mexico, and is a former … Continue reading Johnnie Meier frustrated with delays over Santa Rosa Route 66 museum
Category: Towns
Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month
Bob Russell, the mayor of Pontiac, Illinois, known for greeting arriving busloads of Route 66 tourists in his city's downtown, will voluntarily step down from his position on July 31. Russell, nicknamed by some as the "Mayor of Route 66," announced his impending departure during a city council meeting this week. According to the Bloomington … Continue reading Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month
Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa
Several area officials, including Oklahoma's lieutenant governor and Tulsa's mayor, helped dedicate the enormous Route 66 Rising sculpture Tuesday at Avery Traffic Circle in Tulsa. The $682,000 sculpture, paid for with Vision 2025 sales-tax money in Tulsa County, is about 70 feet long and 30 feet tall. It sits at Mingo Road and Admiral Place, … Continue reading Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa
New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena
A new, huge and vintage-style Coca-Cola mural, complete with a Route 66 shield, recently was painted onto a prominent building in downtown Galena, Kansas, where two Route 66 alignments meet. The century-old building sits at Kansas Route 66 (the newer alignment) and Main Street (aka old Route 66). A local television station recently reported about … Continue reading New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena
State awards $2 million for Route 66 Visitors Center in Albuquerque
The New Mexico Legislature's capital-outlays package includes $2 million for Albuquerque's proposed Route 66 Visitors Center and another $50,000 for Route 66 signage in the city. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque listed more than 100 projects approved by the Legislature and governor, including the two Route 66 items. The Route 66 Visitors Center on Nine Mile Hill … Continue reading State awards $2 million for Route 66 Visitors Center in Albuquerque
Improvements may come to Albuquerque’s west side of Route 66
The city of Albuquerque is considering improvements to its stretch of Route 66 on the west side of town. The stretch in question is from Unser Boulevard to 98th Street along Central Avenue (aka Route 66), according to KRQE-TV in Albuquerque. It's about 1.5 miles. The station explained: That strip of Central doesn't look like … Continue reading Improvements may come to Albuquerque’s west side of Route 66
Springfield, Illinois, seeks better marketing plan for Route 66
Business, county and city officials are seeking a better plan to market Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois, after acknowledging other cities on the route "increased their game.” A lengthy story in the Springfield State Journal-Register states the city is trying to reposition itself to Route 66 travelers at the highway's centennial looms in 2026. According … Continue reading Springfield, Illinois, seeks better marketing plan for Route 66
Motel in El Reno destroyed by tornado; at least 2 dead
A tornado flattened the Budget Inn Motel along Route 66 in El Reno, Oklahoma, and killed at least two people. The twister also hit a trailer park and several businesses along the U.S. 81 (aka Route 66) corridor in the city about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, The Oklahoman reported. “I think El Reno Oklahoma needs a … Continue reading Motel in El Reno destroyed by tornado; at least 2 dead
Classical Gas Museum owner makes new pitch for Route 66 museum in Santa Rosa
Johnnie Meier, owner of the Classical Gas Museum and a longtime Route 66 advocate, presented a new set of ideas for establishing a Route 66 museum in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. According to the May 16 print edition of The Communicator newspaper in Santa Rosa, the city recently took control of the refurbished and century-old … Continue reading Classical Gas Museum owner makes new pitch for Route 66 museum in Santa Rosa
Tulsa County to spend up to $2M to upgrade Golden Driller site
Tulsa County plans to spend $1.25 million to $2 million to improve the historic Golden Driller site at Expo Square in Tulsa. And Route 66 is an impetus for the upgrades, an official said. According to the Tulsa World, which talked to Expo Square President and CEO Mark Andrus: The new plaza is intended to … Continue reading Tulsa County to spend up to $2M to upgrade Golden Driller site