The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, recently showed off a new neon sign. The sign was designed by LekTron Branding Solutions of nearby Tulsa. Here are some images of the sign, along with its older sign and its 66-foot-tall faux gas pump, posted on the museum's Facebook page: The museum, which … Continue reading Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa gets a new neon sign
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway soon will publish a special-edition magazine
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway recently announced it was about to publish its first-ever magazine, Illinois Route 66 Special Edition. The byway also will publish a 2022 Illinois Route 66 Visitor Guide. The cover of the magazine, as you can see above, features the Gemini Giant at the Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway soon will publish a special-edition magazine
Elkhart Station General Store shop and tasting room to open March 4
Conn's Hospitality Group on March 4 plans to open the Elkhart Station General Store along Route 66 in Elkhart, Illinois, that will feature Illinois-made products and tasting room for Illinois-based beer, wine and spirits. Conn's has a variety of business ventures in central Illinois, including the Obed & Isaac's brewery, Inn at 835 boutique hotel, … Continue reading Elkhart Station General Store shop and tasting room to open March 4
Full restoration of Boots Court motel in Carthage begins
The federally certified nonprofit Boots Court Foundation, in cooperation with CTown LLC, announced Wednesday they have begun a full restoration of the historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri. An emailed news release noted the Route 66 motel's flat roof and some of its rooms were restored in the last decade by the previous owners. … Continue reading Full restoration of Boots Court motel in Carthage begins
Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque projected to open by summer
One year after groundbreaking, construction of the $12 million Route 66 Visitor Center on Albuquerque's west side remains largely on schedule and likely will open by June or July. KRQE-TV checked into the progress of the project on Nine Mile Hill: Despite concerns over potential delays in construction caused by the pandemic, crews are right … Continue reading Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque projected to open by summer
Florence’s Restaurant in Oklahoma City is state’s first James Beard Award winner
The 70-year-old Florence's Restaurant just east of the state capitol in Oklahoma City last week was named the first James Beard Award winner in Oklahoma history. According to The Oklahoman newspaper, Florence's was among six winners of the Beard foundation’s 2022 America’s Classics Award, given to locally-owned restaurants with “timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for … Continue reading Florence’s Restaurant in Oklahoma City is state’s first James Beard Award winner
Wildfires near Route 66 corridor in west Amarillo destroy four homes, burn nearly 150 acres
A wind-whipped grass fire Monday afternoon on the west side of Amarillo, Texas, burned nearly 150 acres and destroyed four homes and 11 outbuildings. The fire occurred mostly in the Indian Hills neighborhood in west Amarillo, where an old alignment of Route 66 runs. Update: the #CadillacFire in Potter County is 128.8 acres and 60% … Continue reading Wildfires near Route 66 corridor in west Amarillo destroy four homes, burn nearly 150 acres
Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
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