Here's a story from The Oklahoman about the Saturday opening of the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, Okla. Choice excerpt: Anthony McDermid, principal designer at Tap Architecture of Oklahoma City, said they didn't want the center to be a morgue for old memorabilia. It was designed to complement other Route 66 stops, but be … Continue reading Not just a “morgue”
Same as it ever was
One time, while dining at a dairy bar on Route 66 in Commerce, Okla., I chatted with this older gentleman who was traveling through the region. We started talking about vintage businesses along the Mother Road. "Just down the street, there's a place that when I walked in, it was like being in my hometown's … Continue reading Same as it ever was
Preservation — $2 at a time
There's been a lot of discussion on the Internet about the Associated Press story about neglected historic motels along Route 66. Yesterday came this plea on the Route 66 yahoogroup from Bob Kelley, owner of the Grand Motel in Williams, Ariz.: I have seen the same problems others have that own older Route 66 motels. … Continue reading Preservation — $2 at a time
Riding for charity
Mark Schultz is a platinum-selling and Dove Award-winning Christian musician. Right now, he is undertaking a bicycle tour across America -- part of it on Route 66 -- to raise money for the James Fund to help orphans and widows. The Gallup (N.M.) Independent caught up with him over the weekend. Apparently the bicycle trip … Continue reading Riding for charity
Pedal power
The publicity machine is gearing up for the Route 66 Trail-Breaking along the Route 66 bicycle trail in Illinois on June 2. Here's a story from the Edwardsville Intelligencer about the event. Edwardsville is one of the six gathering points along the route. Here's another one from the Pontiac Daily Leader. Pontiac also is a … Continue reading Pedal power
Route 66 Interpretive Center opens
The Daily Oklahoman has a story about the new Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, which opened Saturday in an old National Guard Armory. For more on the Armory restoration, check out our earlier sneak preview.
Route 66 Motels
A Dallas-based CBS affiliate filed a nice report today on Oklahoma's Route 66 motels, which recently made Preservation Oklahoma's 2007 Most Endangered Places List. The piece -- which mentions the Riviera Courts in Miamia, the Chelsea Motel and Chelsea Motor Inn in Chelsea, Elm's Motel in Claremore, the Cotton Boll Motel in Canute, and the … Continue reading Route 66 Motels
Light posting
Posts on Route 66 News will be light in the next few days because I'm traveling, and connections will be erratic at best. I do have someone checking the Internet periodically to make sure no big stories are being missed. In the meantime, I recommend the Route 66 Revisited blog by two Reuters correspondents. They … Continue reading Light posting
Tourist center opens in San Bernardino
The new California Welcome Center for San Bernardino, one of just 13 in the state of California, opened today, reported the San Bernardino County Sun. It's expecting 100,000 visitors a year and a $6.5 million boost to the local economy. The center's opening may be a benchmark in the city's progress. After two consecutive years … Continue reading Tourist center opens in San Bernardino
37 Miles of Smiles
That's that the organizer is calling the garage sale along Route 66 in Logan County, Ill., reports the Lincoln Courier. The event will be on June 9-10. Just look for the "Route 66 Garage Sale" signs along various alignments of the route. The towns participating are Atlanta, Lawndale, Lincoln, Broadwell and Elkhart. Vendors spaces are … Continue reading 37 Miles of Smiles