Traffic lanes on much of Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, would be reduced from four lanes to two as one aspect of a revitalization plan proposed by a consultant. Planning consultant Sarah Ijadi presented the ideas for the Downtown Santa Rosa Revitalization Plan in the city-county government complex in Santa Rosa, according to … Continue reading Santa Rosa revitalization plan would reduce Route 66 from four lanes to two
Category: Towns
Axl Rose wears Coral Court Motel shirt during St. Louis show
Among the many fascinating things that occurred during the Guns N' Roses concert Thursday in St. Louis was frontman Axl Rose wearing a Coral Court Motel T-shirt. For those unfamiliar, the Coral Court Motel was one of the most distinctive Art Deco motels along Route 66. It stood on the southwest side of St. Louis … Continue reading Axl Rose wears Coral Court Motel shirt during St. Louis show
Route 66 featured on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Saturday”
National Public Radio's "Weekend Edition Saturday" program spent about four minutes on Route 66 and the uncertain fate of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, which expires in 2019. The segment by NPR affiliate KNAU focuses on Holbrook, Arizona, which features Joe and Aggie's Cafe and the Wigwam Motel, both along the Mother Road. The … Continue reading Route 66 featured on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Saturday”
Funny or Die’s Overly Excited Tourist visits Victorville
Ryan O'Flanagan, known as the Overly Excited Tourist for Funny or Die, recently visited the Route 66 town of Victorville, California, and produced a video of his misadventures. As you'll find, the Overly Excited Tourist not only is excitable, but astonishingly ignorant. Note: It would be PG-rated for language. https://youtu.be/7yUN-Jik5Jk O'Flanagan briefly visited Mother Road … Continue reading Funny or Die’s Overly Excited Tourist visits Victorville
Springfield’s north side inches closer to TIF district
The city of Springfield, Illinois, seems more likely to implement at tax-increment financing district on its declining north side -- which features a prominent alignment of Route 66 -- after a hearing on the matter last week. TIF districts are where taxes from rising property-tax values are used to pay part of renovation costs or infrastructure improvements. … Continue reading Springfield’s north side inches closer to TIF district
New owner takes over Motel Safari in Tucumcari
Larry Smith, formerly of Knoxville, Tennessee, this week took over ownership of Motel Safari in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Motel Safari posted this Thursday on its Facebook page of now-former owners Richard and Gail Talley, right, doing the ceremonial turning over the motel keys to Smith: The Talleys officially announced the motel was for sale earlier … Continue reading New owner takes over Motel Safari in Tucumcari
‘Blight’ designation may boost Springfield’s Kearney Street
It sounds counter-intuitive, but the city of Springfield, Missouri, is considering declaring Kearney Street blighted so it can improve it in the future. Kearney remains a prominent Route 66 alignment once known as a car-cruising corridor during the 1970s and '80s, until city fathers cracked down on it. Since then, Kearney has declined into a … Continue reading ‘Blight’ designation may boost Springfield’s Kearney Street
Scenes from the Holbrook Route 66 Festival
Frank Kocevar, the former co-owner of Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, went to the just-completed Holbook Route 66 Festival and Route 66 Gearhead car show in Holbrook, Arizona, and shot some video. Here's the finished product: https://vimeo.com/221205304 Kocevar wrote in an email: The center of town was blocked off for the festival. It was … Continue reading Scenes from the Holbrook Route 66 Festival
Old Gillett Farm on Elkhart Hill to be auctioned in August
The historic and enormous Old Gillett Farm on top of Elkhart Hill just east of Elkhart, Illinois, will be sold at auction in August. The house isn't on Route 66. But driving down the Mother Road, it's hard to miss Elkhart Hill. It rises 200 feet above the surrounding prairie and reportedly is the tallest hill between … Continue reading Old Gillett Farm on Elkhart Hill to be auctioned in August
Tulsa will add markers to historic Route 66 sites
The city of Tulsa recently issued a request for a proposal from prospective contractors to place historical markers or plaques near Route 66 sites. The request by the city is here; the proposal must be submitted by June 14. In summary, the RFP says: The City of Tulsa seeking professionally qualified individuals and firms to … Continue reading Tulsa will add markers to historic Route 66 sites