After much brouhaha and controversy last year, it appears a proposed biofuels plant along Route 66 north of Kingman, Ariz., isn't going to happen, according to the Kingman Daily Miner. [County] Supervisor Gary Watson said he was not surprised that the plant, which was slated to be built about 2 miles from Valle Vista, failed. … Continue reading Biofuels plant near Kingman appears kaput
Category: Towns
Wildfires surround much of Flagstaff
Many residents of Flagstaff, Ariz., are on edge Sunday evening because of wildfires around the city that closed a major highway and caused evacuations, according to varying news reports. A 3,000-acre fire north of town has forced the closure of U.S. Highway 89 north of town, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. Another fire Saturday … Continue reading Wildfires surround much of Flagstaff
What’s next for closed Route 66 in McCook?
Berkeley (Ill.) Suburban Life published a follow-up story about the $40 million settlement between the Illinois Department of Transportation and Vulcan Materials over the closing of a one-mile stretch of Joliet Road (aka Route 66) in McCook. The state alleged that Vulcan, which operated two nearby quarry pits, dangerously destabilized the road by undermining it. … Continue reading What’s next for closed Route 66 in McCook?
Vulcan Materials settles lawsuit with Illinois
Vulcan Materials, which was accused in a lawsuit of damaging a now-closed one-mile stretch of Joliet Road (aka Route 66) in McCook, Ill., settled with the state of Illinois for $40 million, according to a news release today. The company, which supplies asphalt and gravel, said it will pay $20 million to the Illinois Department … Continue reading Vulcan Materials settles lawsuit with Illinois
A closer look at Williams
M.G. Hauck III made several visits to the Route 66 town of Williams, Ariz., and compiled this slideshow, with the music of Nat King Cole figuring prominently in it. The Williams Chamber of Commerce could do much, much worse than this video.
“Rawhide” was once filmed in Tucumcari area
"Rawhide," the TV western that helped launch the long career of Clint Eastwood, used the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., as a base to film five episodes in 1959, according to a story in the Quay County Sun. If you have fuzzy memories of "Rawhide," this might jolt your brain: The Sun reports: Actors … Continue reading “Rawhide” was once filmed in Tucumcari area
A new welcome
Here's a new mural that greets eastbound travelers on the big sweeping curve of Oklahoma Highway 66 in Davenport, Okla. The mural was completed just a few days ago by a local artist. (Photo by Emily Priddy)
Reviving downtown Los Angeles — for real
Los Angeles Downtown News has published a comprehensive article about efforts to revitalize downtown Los Angeles, which includes the original western terminus of Route 66. Unlike previous efforts to boost downtown, Councilman Jose Huizar and the 10-year Bringing Back Broadway initiative seem to actually be making some headway. Among the initiatives quests is to establish a … Continue reading Reviving downtown Los Angeles — for real
Sign project gets going again in Miami
A bunch of Route 66-related sign projects for Miami, Okla., are on the front burner again after an environmental review was completed and other agreements were signed two weeks ago, according to a report in the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. Here's what's slated: --- The reconstruction of a historic 40-foot wide “Miami, Oklahoma — The Gateway” … Continue reading Sign project gets going again in Miami
Two Guns as a movie location
Billy and Anais Yeager spent some months in the Route 66 ghost town of Two Guns, Ariz., to film footage for their forthcoming independent film, "Jesus of Malibu." Here's an edited section of a report by the Bravo Television about the Yeagers' experience in Two Guns. (Warning: one brief scene near the end of the … Continue reading Two Guns as a movie location