I missed the beginning of this event, but Kit-Kat Klocks is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a Route 66 tour, joining with the Great All-American Road Show, from Los Angeles to Chicago. The tour includes a display of the world's largest Kit-Kat Klock, which is 75 inches tall (shown above). The group stopped by Thursday … Continue reading Kit-Kat Klocks marks 75th anniversary with tour
Saving Old Two Spot
The Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff tells about how Malcolm Mackey and others saved a 1911 steam engine locomotive, nicknamed Old Two Spot, that now sits at the town's historic railroad depot. "It was kind of the town mascot because it had a whistle that was recognizable," said Mackey, 80, who still lives in the … Continue reading Saving Old Two Spot
Lightning meets Mater
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe published a story about four women who are refurbishing a former gas station on Route 66 in nearby Galena, Kan., into a tourism center. On Thursday, a family from Texas with a 1995 Mustang Cobra decked out to resemble Lightning McQueen from the 2006 animated movie "Cars" stopped by to visit … Continue reading Lightning meets Mater
‘I am being discriminated against’
Charlie Elliott wants to hold biker rallies off Route 66 near Depew, Okla., but Creek County won't let him because Elliott's property is not zoned properly for such events. Elliott tells the Sapulpa Daily Herald that "I am being discriminated against." Elliott formed a Route 66 Biker Church and has held toy rallies for charity. … Continue reading ‘I am being discriminated against’
Back to the beginning for El Vado
After a court ruling struck down the city landmark designation for El Vado Motel in Albuquerque, the matter is back before the Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission on July 11 on whether to make the historic Route 66 motel a city landmark to protect it from redevelopment. A judge ruled that the commission didn't adequately … Continue reading Back to the beginning for El Vado
Route 66 stencils being painted on road in New Mexico
To identify Route 66, the New Mexico Department of Transportation is painting Route 66 stencils directly on the road's shoulder in the western part of the state, reports the Gallup Independent. Delane Barros, spokeswoman for the state highway department, District 6, said 30 of the logos will be stenciled in using white paint this summer … Continue reading Route 66 stencils being painted on road in New Mexico
The sad state of Twin Arrows
The Route 66 truck stop known as Twin Arrows outside of Flagstaff, Ariz., is abandoned and has been deteriorating for years. One of the two giant arrows stuck into the ground has shed its plywood tail. Garbage is littered all over the site. The Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff reports that because the Valentine diner … Continue reading The sad state of Twin Arrows
Too much rain
A travel advisory for roadies planning on driving through Oklahoma: an abundance of rainy weather is causing flooding in eastern Oklahoma County, which is part of the Oklahoma City metro area. According to KOCO-TV: This large square area and many of the roads within it, including Route 66, are currently affected by high water. The … Continue reading Too much rain
Illinois sees rise in tourism revenues
The state of Illinois broke records for tourism revenue during 2006, reports the Pontiac Daily Leader. Livingston County saw an 8.8 percent increase. The reason? "I think part of the increase in numbers for our county are related to the Route 66 phenomena," Ellie Alexander, Pontiac's tourism director, said about the Illinois figures. "The cooperation … Continue reading Illinois sees rise in tourism revenues
Preservation in action
Emily, who is in charge of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association's preservation committee, supervised the preservation project during the past weekend's National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla. The mission: To pretty up the long-closed Ray's Motel in Clinton over a three-day period. More than two dozen volunteers showed up. Emily has more details and … Continue reading Preservation in action