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
Owner of The Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa to open an Airbnb across the street
The owner of the Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa soon will open a similarly themed Airbnb across the street so tourists can stay in the neighborhood overnight. Danny Boy O'Connor, owner of the house and museum, will call the Airbnb site at 728 N. St. Louis Ave. the Greaser Hideout, a reference to where Ponyboy … Continue reading Owner of The Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa to open an Airbnb across the street
Lebanon Parks moves forward with a feasibility study on moving parts of Gasconade River Bridge
The Lebanon (Missouri) Parks Department officially is moving forward with a feasibility study to see whether it can move part of Route 66's endangered Gasconade River Bridge to Boswell Park, though it remains unclear whether the span will be torn down. According to a report by KRMS radio, the cost to move the bridge isn’t … Continue reading Lebanon Parks moves forward with a feasibility study on moving parts of Gasconade River Bridge
1939 newspaper article shows one big reason Tucumcari became a neon-sign haven
Tucumcari, New Mexico, never was a huge town. Its population never surpassed 9,000, according to the U.S. Census records. Regardless, Tucumcari during its heyday was home to dozens of neon signs, especially along its Route 66 corridor. Even now, about 25 neon signs still exist along the historic highway, in various states of repair. Several … Continue reading 1939 newspaper article shows one big reason Tucumcari became a neon-sign haven