The Bristow (Oklahoma) Historical Society has compiled a wish list of landmarks along or near Route 66 it wants to beautify and restore, including the Chrysler Plymouth tower. According to the Sapulpa Times, the society has placed these landmarks on the renovation list before Route 66's centennial in 2026: The 100-foot-tall Chrysler Plymouth tower just … Continue reading Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
Two grant opportunities are available through National Trust for Historic Preservation
Kaisa Barthuli, program director for the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, recently sent out an email to alert people about two grant opportunities through the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Don't procrastinate, though. Applications for both grants are due March 1. One is the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors. It assists in the … Continue reading Two grant opportunities are available through National Trust for Historic Preservation
Fire destroys Dan’s Bar-B-Que Pit in Davenport
A blaze on Friday morning destroyed Dan's Bar-B-Que Pit restaurant, a Route 66 stalwart in Davenport, Oklahoma, for almost 50 years. KFOR-TV in nearby Oklahoma City reported the fire started about 10 a.m.: When firefighters arrived, they said the flames had already spread to the building’s ceiling and were moving quickly.“It just moved so fast,” … Continue reading Fire destroys Dan’s Bar-B-Que Pit in Davenport
Tickets go on sale for Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa and Oklahoma City in June
The organizers of the Route 66 Road Fest scheduled on consecutive weekends in June in Oklahoma City and Tulsa announced this week they have placed tickets on sale. The festival was scheduled for mid-2021 but postponed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact tickets now are available shows the growing confidence the pandemic … Continue reading Tickets go on sale for Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa and Oklahoma City in June
New video gives a good overview of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville
If you have about 45 minutes to kill, I encourage you to watch this new video about the known history of the massive Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville, Illinois. https://youtu.be/iciOvaIm51M The Ancient Americas channel on YouTube produced the video, which was uploaded just a few weeks ago. It's as good of an encapsulation … Continue reading New video gives a good overview of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup undergoing $6 million in renovations
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, is getting a $6 million makeover where the establishment's owner is carefully considering how well the face-lift work matches the hotel's historic character. Details of the work being done on the historic Route 66 hotel are in the current print issue of New Mexico Magazine. (The story should … Continue reading El Rancho Hotel in Gallup undergoing $6 million in renovations
Longtime Illinois Route 66 advocate Marty Blitstein dies
Marty Blitstein, a longtime officer with the Route 66 Association of Illinois, died in a hospice Sunday after a short illness. He was 80. The association's website announced his death this week. It described his effects on the organization: Among the highlights were revitalizing its membership and Treasury. He collaborated with Betty Estes to facilitate the moving of … Continue reading Longtime Illinois Route 66 advocate Marty Blitstein dies
Fire reported at abandoned Morning Star Motel, aka Ranchotel, in Amarillo
Firefighters put out a blaze at the abandoned Morning Star Motel in Amarillo, Texas, that was believed to have been started by homeless people. The motel also is known as the Ranchotel or Ranch-O-Tel. According to several local media outlets, including the Amarillo Globe-News, fire from one of the rooms of the motel at 2501 … Continue reading Fire reported at abandoned Morning Star Motel, aka Ranchotel, in Amarillo
Coffee shop, gift shop and possible motel planned at Longhorn Cafe and Motel in Glenrio
The Route 66 ghost town of Glenrio at the Texas-New Mexico border suddenly is showing life again for the first time in more than 40 years. Glenrio Properties bought land on both sides of the border in the town and plan to build a coffee shop, gift shop, RV park and possibly a motel using … Continue reading Coffee shop, gift shop and possible motel planned at Longhorn Cafe and Motel in Glenrio
Yet another neon sign erected along Tulsa’s Route 66 corridor
Tulsa Time Dental Design at East 11th Street (aka Route 66) and New Haven Avenue was the latest beneficiary of the city's Route 66 neon sign grant program. The Tulsa Route 66 Commission posted an image of the new neon sign a few days ago: Dennis Whitaker, who is part of the city's planning office, … Continue reading Yet another neon sign erected along Tulsa’s Route 66 corridor