On Thursday, the owners of Bev's Country Kettle restaurant in Strafford, Mo., served wine and beer with its usual fare of hamburgers, pork chops and tenderloin. This shouldn't sound like a big deal. But it was the first time that an eating establishment in the Route 66 town had served alcohol with meals in 53 … Continue reading A toast to Strafford restaurant
Category: Towns
Tornado strikes Williamsville
A tornado ravaged the Route 66 town of Williamsville, Ill., on Wednesday afternoon, destroying or damaging at least two dozen homes and businesses. No loss of life has been reported so far. One of the casualties is the Route 66 Antique Mall (photo of the damage is here). According to the Springfield Journal-Register: Jack Caldwell, … Continue reading Tornado strikes Williamsville
Biofuels plant decision may be today
The Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner has a pretty good overview about a proposed biofuels plant that would be located near the Valle Vista subdivision off Route 66 north of town. The county's Planning and Zoning Commission may decide today whether to allow a permit for the plant. Proponents say the plant will create jobs and … Continue reading Biofuels plant decision may be today
A day in a ghost town on Route 66
Here's a very atmospheric video about the Route 66 desert hamlet of Amboy, Calif., by F.C. Howard. Fortunately, the town's most visible business, Roy's, has improved considerably since this video was made. Roy's now sells drinks, snacks and even gasoline again, thanks to the dogged efforts of Juan Pollo restaurant chain owner Albert Okura to … Continue reading A day in a ghost town on Route 66
“Our Town”
I've been told that this video is played in 4 Women on the Route in Galena, Kan., and that it moves a lot of Route 66 visitors. I'll let the creator, Jim DeGraff, explain it: My family has lived in or near Galena, KS, for over 100 years. Main Street of Galena is also the … Continue reading “Our Town”
Tulsa to bid for 2020 Olympics?
I've been digesting this for the past day since the story was first reported by the Tulsa World. Here's the gist, in case you missed it: The Tulsa 2020 Committee on Tuesday presented the City Council with the idea of the city making a bid to host the 2020 summer Olympic games. [...] Such a … Continue reading Tulsa to bid for 2020 Olympics?
Kingman logos expand Route 66 role
Deep into this Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner about the City Council is this item: Elsewhere on the agenda, councilmembers will review a series of logos designed by Joshua Noble of the Kingman Area Chamber of Commerce to be used in future tourism and economic development efforts. Chamber president Beverly Liles will present the four recently-redesigned … Continue reading Kingman logos expand Route 66 role
Don’t bypass me by
The towns of Holbrook and Winslow, Ariz., like a lot of towns on Route 66, saw a big decrease in traffic when they were bypassed by Interstate 40. Now, according to AzJournal.com, there is a transportation plan afoot that would bypass even more traffic from those towns onto I-40. In Holbrook, a proposal has been … Continue reading Don’t bypass me by
Portrait of a Route 66 advocate
The Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner has a good story about Route 66 aficionado Jim Hinckley and his efforts to kick-start more Route 66 tourism in Kingman -- efforts which seem to be finally bearing fruit. The Kingman Route 66 Association recently reformed, and Kingman's historic downtown is being revitalized. He's been doing his part by … Continue reading Portrait of a Route 66 advocate
Not in my Valle Vista
I recently received e-mails from a group, Concerned Citizens of Valle Vista & Surrounding Areas, that is opposing a proposed biodiesel plant near the subdivision of Valle Vista, about 15 miles northeast of Kingman, Ariz. The group said the plant would "potentially degrade a nice stretch of historic Route 66," and advocated relocating it "more … Continue reading Not in my Valle Vista