Andrew McCrea of "American Countryside" takes in a visit to the Route 66 town of Holbrook, Arizona, and explores the links that inspired the fictional town of Radiator Springs in the 2006 Disney-Pixar movie "Cars." The segment focuses on the Wigwam Motel and Joe & Aggie's restaurant. Other sites and towns inspired the creation of … Continue reading “American Countryside” visits Holbrook
Category: Towns
Joplin buys old Route 66 garage
The city of Joplin, Missouri, recently bought a long-abandoned 1920s garage building that it plans to convert into a Route 66 attraction -- most likely a visitors center, reported the Joplin Globe. Patrick Tuttle, director of the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, told the newspaper the city had purchased the garage at 1109 Broadway (also … Continue reading Joplin buys old Route 66 garage
Baxter Springs theater nominated to National Register
The Ritz Theater, a former movie house on Route 66 in Baxter Springs, Kansas, has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, according to a news release from the Kansas Historical Society. The building is at 1145 N. Military Ave. (aka Route 66). The theater's inclusion is all but assured, because the National … Continue reading Baxter Springs theater nominated to National Register
Route 66 — a jobs creator
During a formal introduction Wednesday of the logo for the new Route 66 Visitors Center in Bloomington, Illinois -- which we already reported months ago -- local officials revealed some eyebrow-raising statistics about the economic value of the Mother Road. Bloomington, which long seemed indifferent to Route 66 for years, suddenly has embraced it. And … Continue reading Route 66 — a jobs creator
Cuba adds five sites to National Historic Register
The town of Cuba, Missouri, recently had big news to announce -- five sites were added in one week to the National Register of Historic Places, including two on Route 66. Cuba's new additions to the National Register were revealed in an email from the National Park Service on Thursday. The National Register listings were … Continue reading Cuba adds five sites to National Historic Register
City of Pacific may buy scenic lookout
The City of Pacific, Missouri, moved to enter into a contract to buy the Lookout on Jensen's Point off Route 66, reported the Washington Missourian. The owner, Wayne Winchester, has set a price of $300,000 for the iconic stone structure of the lookout, 2 1/2 acres and a nearby parking lot. The city hopes to … Continue reading City of Pacific may buy scenic lookout
Albuquerque adopts Route 66 Action Plan
The Albuquerque City Council unanimously ratified Mayor Richard Berry's Route 66 Action Plan for a 15-mile stretch of Central Avenue in the city, reported the Associated Press and other media outlets. The plan comes with infrastructure improvements, tourism additions and historical preservation, among other things. You can read a summary of the plan here, but … Continue reading Albuquerque adopts Route 66 Action Plan
Los Angeles station gives major time to Route 66
KABC, the major affiliate of ABC in Los Angeles, in recent days gave a lot of time examining Route 66 in the region in its "Eye on L.A." show. Here is the San Bernardino to San Gabriel Valley segment: Monrovia to South Pasadena: The Arroyo Seco to downtown segment: West Hollywood to the end of … Continue reading Los Angeles station gives major time to Route 66
Evidence of criminal activity in Cuervo?
A man whose hobby is exploring abandoned buildings found evidence in the Route 66 ghost town of Cuervo, New Mexico, that someone might be engaging in sex crimes. As it turns out, that evidence turned up at another site off Route 66 several miles west at another abandoned structure. According to a special report by … Continue reading Evidence of criminal activity in Cuervo?
West gateway in Tulsa going up
Yesterday, I received this photo from "Route 66: The Mother Road" author and Route 66 Alliance co-founder Michael Wallis. Apparently the Route 66 gateway on Southwest Boulevard (aka Route 66) on the west side of Tulsa, near Crystal City Shopping Center, was being built. The east Route 66 gateway on 11th Street just east of … Continue reading West gateway in Tulsa going up