Jon Knudsen, a longtime resident of Albuquerque and a University of New Mexico instructor, posited an intriguing idea during an op-ed piece in the New Mexico Market Place: Placing a Route 66 state park in the middle of the city to help draw visitors with RVs or large trailers. He writes: What about a place … Continue reading Should Albuquerque set up a Route 66 state park?
Category: Towns
Route 66 Gateways in Tulsa win architectural design award
The Route 66 Gateways that grace the Mother Road at the eastern and western edges of Tulsa recently won an architectural design award. The gateways, designed Dewberry Architects, received a People's Choice Award at the American Institute of Architects Eastern Oklahoma 2016 Design Excellence Awards Banquet. Steve Vogt described Dewberry's design in this way: … Continue reading Route 66 Gateways in Tulsa win architectural design award
Memories of Times Beach persist more than 30 years later
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently published a story about Marilyn Leistner, who was the last mayor of Times Beach, Missouri, before the Route 66 town was deserted for good in 1983 because of dioxin contamination. Road contractor Russell Bliss used dioxin-laced oil to spread on dirt roads throughout the town. When the Meramec River flooded, … Continue reading Memories of Times Beach persist more than 30 years later
Michael Wallis’ voice now greets visitors at Tulsa airport
Starting today, visitors to Tulsa International Airport will receive a new recorded greeting from none other than best-selling Route 66 author, Radiator Springs sheriff and longtime Tulsa resident Michael Wallis. And, yes, Wallis touts Route 66 as part of the greeting. You can listen here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40977225/New%20Recording%203.m4a Newly elected Tulsa mayor G.T. Bynum made the announcement … Continue reading Michael Wallis’ voice now greets visitors at Tulsa airport
Zettlers Route 66 store in Ash Fork put up for sale
The owners of the Zettlers Route 66 store in Ash Fork, Arizona, have put the business up for sale less than a year after opening it. Kirk and Yvette Slack finished about 15 months of cleaning and renovations to the historic building on Route 66 and reopened it as a crafts and collectibles business April 1. The Slacks … Continue reading Zettlers Route 66 store in Ash Fork put up for sale
Memories of Leon Russell
A lot of Tulsa residents are glum today. That's because songwriter and session musician Leon Russell died in his sleep at age 74, it was announced Sunday. Russell was Tulsa's favorite musical son. He certainly became the city's most prominent musician during the rock era. The only Tulsa music artist who rivaled him was western-swing … Continue reading Memories of Leon Russell
Signs to be added to downtown Route 66 alignment in Lincoln
The city of Lincoln, Illinois, soon will add signs to direct travelers to a more-obscure 1926-1930 alignment through downtown. The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announced this week it worked with the city and the Illinois Department of Transportation to update Route 66 signs in Lincoln, including the 1926-1930 alignment through its historic downtown that … Continue reading Signs to be added to downtown Route 66 alignment in Lincoln
Cubs win first World Series in 108 years
The Cubs no longer are a punchline. For decades, the Chicago Cubs baseball team served as an ultimate example of sports futility. After winning a World Series title in 1908 -- one of several during a very successful decade -- the Cubs and their fan base endured a series of bad trades, bad ownership and bad … Continue reading Cubs win first World Series in 108 years
Construction of Barstow Route 66 signs to begin next month
Construction of eight classic-car-themed Route 66 signs will begin within the next two weeks in Barstow, California. The Desert Dispatch newspaper reported the signs will place vehicles popular on Route 66 during the 1950s through the 1970s on a masonry base. The seven-foot-tall signs will light at night, using solar energy. The newspaper reported: "We are hoping that this … Continue reading Construction of Barstow Route 66 signs to begin next month
Highway plan concerns Catoosa officials, businesses
An Interstate 44 widening plan concerns officials in Catoosa, Oklahoma, because it may turn tourists away from the town and Route 66. The plan would close the exit to northbound Oklahoma Route 66 from westbound I-44. Instead, westbound drivers would have to exit at 193rd Street, do a U-turn on the Texas-style interchange, drive on eastbound … Continue reading Highway plan concerns Catoosa officials, businesses