Remember the Oklahoma Route 66 Passport created by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism a couple of years ago? It turns out the agency distributed that little booklet by the truckload. The department this week sent out a news release about the 2020 tourism season, during the first part of the COVID-19 pandemic. It contained this … Continue reading 29,000 Oklahoma Route 66 Passports distributed in just a few months in 2020
Route 66 travelers get sticker shock from recent car-rental rates
One interesting thread on the HIstoric Route 66 page on Facebook has been by prospective Route 66 travelers -- especially foreigners -- who nearly had a heart attack when seeing the prices on rental vehicles. Lee Thurston in a recent post on the group stated he made a reservation a year ago for an SUV … Continue reading Route 66 travelers get sticker shock from recent car-rental rates
‘Goth Home’ in Lincoln no longer is on the market
An octagon home in Lincoln, Illinois, that earned internet fame with its nearly all-black interior and exterior no longer is on the market. The Lincoln Courier reported in late December the house at 110 Edgar St. that the property is in the process of being sold to an out-of-town buyer, sight unseen. The prospective buyer … Continue reading ‘Goth Home’ in Lincoln no longer is on the market
First Avenue Bridge in Barstow closed indefinitely after an accident
The First Avenue Bridge that leads to a Route 66 museum in Barstow, California, was closed to traffic after an accident last week and will remain off-limits indefinitely. The Victorville Daily Press reports the city is keeping the historic span closed as it assesses damage from a head-on crash that occurred Wednesday afternoon. It left … Continue reading First Avenue Bridge in Barstow closed indefinitely after an accident
Joe Sonderman’s “Route 66 Then and Now” book finds an unexpected second life
Thanks to an out-of-the-blue feature by a British newspaper, Joe Sonderman's "Route 66 Then and Now" book suddenly has found new interest nearly four years after its publication. Sonderman's "Route 66 Then and Now" (Amazon link) was published by London-based Pavilion Books in May 2018. The book compares old images of Route 66 to what … Continue reading Joe Sonderman’s “Route 66 Then and Now” book finds an unexpected second life
Kearney Street redevelopment includes tearing down Springfield Inn motel
It looks like the city fathers of Springfield, Missouri, are pretty earnest in redeveloping the moribund Kearney Street corridor: They're tearing down the closed Springfield Inn motel to make way for it. According to KY3 in Springfield, bulldozers soon will raze that property to bring in new construction of retail stores to revitalize the area, … Continue reading Kearney Street redevelopment includes tearing down Springfield Inn motel
Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities
A forthcoming exhibit at Northern Arizona University's Cline Library in Flagstaff will undertake a deeper dive into the minority communities that have populated and affected the highway. "The Shades of Route 66 in Arizona: Celebrating Diversity along Arizona’s Historic Route 66" exhibit, according to a news release from the university, "will explore, document and share … Continue reading Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities
First Buc-ee’s travel center along Route 66 planned in Springfield, Missouri
The Route 66 corridor appears to finally be getting a Buc-ee's convenience store, and it's coming to Springfield, Missouri. The Springfield News-Leader reported the huge travel center will be built at Mulroy Road and Interstate 44 on the city's northeast edge. Mulroy Road intersects with old Route 66 on the south side of the interstate. … Continue reading First Buc-ee’s travel center along Route 66 planned in Springfield, Missouri
Ozark Court motel sign to be restored, planned for Route 66 exhibit in 2025
A recent Instagram post answered a question: What happened to the Ozark Court motel sign in St. Clair, Missouri, that disappeared from Route 66 almost 20 years ago? A collector with extensive historical ties to the St. Louis region procured the sign, which he plans to include in a Route 66 exhibit at the National … Continue reading Ozark Court motel sign to be restored, planned for Route 66 exhibit in 2025
Clinton agency completes deal for Glancy Motel, Pop Hicks development
The director of the Clinton Economic Development Authority confirmed Tuesday it had completed the deal to buy the Glancy Motel and Pop Hicks properties in Clinton, Oklahoma, and turn it over to a local developer to renovate or rebuild them. The Clinton Daily News (subscription required) reported the finalization of the acquisition from CEDA director … Continue reading Clinton agency completes deal for Glancy Motel, Pop Hicks development