Volunteers and plenty of cash earlier this week helped put on a new and much-needed roof on the long-closed Shamrock Court motel along Route 66 in Sullivan, Missouri. Rich Dinkela, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri and owner of the property, posted some photos Tuesday after the work was completed: Dinkela wrote he … Continue reading Volunteers help put a new roof on Shamrock Court in Sullivan
Tom Willis, owner of 66 Diner in Albuquerque, dies at 71
Tom Willis, owner of the landmark 66 Diner in Albuquerque and charter member of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, died Wednesday. He was 71. Sue Montgomery, vice president of the association, stated by email that "from my understanding" Willis died of COVID-19 and "had some underlying conditions that didn't help." Willis would be the … Continue reading Tom Willis, owner of 66 Diner in Albuquerque, dies at 71
Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City marks 75 years by relighting its tower with LED
The Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City on Tuesday marked its 75th anniversary by relighting its iconic, art deco marquee with new LED tubing. The Billboard Museum posted a video of a countdown of the relighting ceremony: The museum also recently posted several vintage images of the theater in a preview of the ceremony: G&S … Continue reading Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City marks 75 years by relighting its tower with LED
Volunteers give a fresh look to Allen’s Fillin’ Station in Commerce
After two weather-related delays, volunteers with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association on Saturday put a new coat of paint on the Allen's Fillin' Station in Commerce, Oklahoma. Here are before-and-after images and other photos of the historic gas station on an old alignment of Route 66 through town. The owner, Bobby Allen, posted more photos … Continue reading Volunteers give a fresh look to Allen’s Fillin’ Station in Commerce
Rooftop letters taken down from Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge
The large rooftop letters at the closed and increasingly dilapidated Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge, Missouri, were removed Monday and eventually will be displayed at the forthcoming museum and visitor center at the Red Cedar Inn in nearby Pacific, Missouri. Longtime Route 66 enthusiast Joe Sonderman posted photos on Facebook of workers removing the large … Continue reading Rooftop letters taken down from Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge
Memorial Hall in Joplin added to National Register of Historic Places
The nearly century-old Memorial Hall in Joplin, Missouri, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to a recent email from the National Park Service that administers the program. The listing was effective Oct. 7. Memorial Hall sits one block south of Seventh Street, aka Route 66, in the city. Memorial Hall … Continue reading Memorial Hall in Joplin added to National Register of Historic Places
Howdy Burger is 31st sign to benefit from Tulsa’s Route 66 neon sign grant program
The Howdy Burger restaurant on the 11th Street alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa is the 31st sign to be created or renovated through the city's Route 66 neon sign grant program. The sign is an animated design, with its main character tossing a lasso. Howdy Burger is at 1516 E. 11th St. (aka Route … Continue reading Howdy Burger is 31st sign to benefit from Tulsa’s Route 66 neon sign grant program
Tulsa Route 66 Commission recommends moving concrete planters to the east side
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission has recommended moving about one-third of the city's concrete Route 66 planters to the 11th Street and Mingo Road area to better identify the Mother Road there. According to Public Radio Tulsa, 46 of the 48 original planters purchased nearly 20 years ago still are around (two were destroyed in … Continue reading Tulsa Route 66 Commission recommends moving concrete planters to the east side
Few in Doolittle remember once-famous namesake who visited 75 years ago
Seventy-five years ago this month, Army Lt. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle visited the little Route 66 town in central Missouri that was named after him just two years before. Thousands attended the event. Today, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter went to Doolittle (population 648) but found few people who knew about the origin of the town's … Continue reading Few in Doolittle remember once-famous namesake who visited 75 years ago
Creator of Giganticus Headicus to unveil 16-foot art creation on Nov. 6
Gregg Arnold, who created the 14-foot-tall Giganticus Headicus tiki sculpture nearly two decades ago, will unveil a 16-foot-tall art creation at the grand opening on Nov. 6 at the Antares Point visitor center and gift shop northeast of Kingman, Arizona. The grand opening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Antares Point, at mile marker … Continue reading Creator of Giganticus Headicus to unveil 16-foot art creation on Nov. 6