A group of Marines from nearby Fort Leonard Wood repainted the Waynesville Frog, aka W.H. Croaker, rock outcropping in Waynesville, Mo., just before the Frog Fest this weekend, reported the Daily Guide. The big frog overlooks Route 66. To see the soldiers repainting the frog, click here.
Mother Road inspiration
Not long ago, artist Gerald "Maestro" Gaxiola took a road trip down Route 66. You can read about his experiences here. Inspired by what he saw, he redecorated the outside of his bunkhouse studio in Albany, Calif., with a Route 66 ceramic mural. The photo above is just a taste; you can see the entire … Continue reading Mother Road inspiration
Mother Road news and notes
A lot has been going on lately. I'll try to summarize the goings-on as best as I can: A tentative opening date of May 20 has been set for the Boothill Saloon and Grill in Vega, Texas. That's the new restaurant owned by Rory Schepisi, a runner-up in CMT's "Popularity Contest" reality show. She's also … Continue reading Mother Road news and notes
Roll out the Red Carpet
Coming up fast is the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor weekend, which is 90 miles of activities along about a dozen towns in northern and central Illinois. The Pontiac Daily Leader has a pretty good rundown of what's going on. You can click on the event's Web site above, too, to find out more. … Continue reading Roll out the Red Carpet
New lodging in Lincoln
Route 66 travelers soon will have a new option for overnight sleeping in Lincoln, Ill. It's the Windswept Manor bed-and-breakfast, and it opens for business on Friday, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. The Windswept Manor is at 227 N. Logan in Lincoln (map here). It's on a 1926-40 alignment of Route 66, which goes more through … Continue reading New lodging in Lincoln
Arizona kicks
Mike Di Paola of Bloomberg News drives down Route 66 in Arizona, focusing on the vintage 150-mile stretch of the Mother Road in the western third of the state and the town of Seligman. Check it out.
Blue Whale changes owners
The Blue Whale in Catoosa, Okla., a Route 66 landmark for over 35 years, changes owners effective today. Owner and caretaker Blaine Davis has transferred ownership to his brother-in-law, Dick Belt. "He intends to leave everything as it is," Davis said of his brother-in-law. "It's just a transfer of the estate. I'm not getting any … Continue reading Blue Whale changes owners
Bel-Air sign sits waiting — for now
Wally Spiers of the Belleville News-Democrat talks to the owner of the Bel-Air Drive-In sign on old Route 66 near Mitchell, Ill. The drive-in theater has been closed for 20 years, but the marquee still stands. Owner Larry Manns hasn't done much to shore it up, but also he seems reluctant to part with it. … Continue reading Bel-Air sign sits waiting — for now
Seat belts … yum
This very strange story from the Associated Press tells how the Cadillac Ranch west of Amarillo, Texas, was supposed to be used for a photo shoot by the Texas Department of Transportation to promote the use of seat-belt use. But a llama on the premises chewed up part of the Styrofoam seat belt that was … Continue reading Seat belts … yum
Bowling for peace
Richard Branaman has a vision. He wants to build a 21-foot-tall pyramid made of 8,400 bowling balls, set atop a 77-foot-tall concrete quasi-tripod. It's called the World Peace Monument, and he wants it in the middle of a traffic circle at Mingo Road and Admiral Place (aka Route 66) in Tulsa, reports the Tulsa World. … Continue reading Bowling for peace