The California Historic Route 66 Association put out a call Monday requesting donations to Andrea Pruett, longtime owner of the Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs, California, after a series of personal and business setbacks in the past 18 months. Tere Frank Stamoulis, posting a call-to-action on behalf of the association in a Facebook post, and … Continue reading Vandalism, misfortunes wreak havoc on Bagdad Cafe and its owner
Renovations begin on long-closed TeePee Drive-In theater in Sapulpa
The new owners of the historic TeePee Drive-In theater in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, have started renovations on the property and hope to reopen it by spring. Joni Rogers-Kante of the Kante Group, which bought the property earlier this year, told News on 6 that her brother used to work in the ticket booth before the theater … Continue reading Renovations begin on long-closed TeePee Drive-In theater in Sapulpa
Barfield Hotel reopens in downtown Amarillo for the first time in 30 years
Officials on Thursday held a grand opening for the Barfield Hotel in the historic Barfield building in downtown Amarillo, the first time the hotel had been open in three decades. The Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and Center City of Amarillo hosted a ribbon-cutting at the site at 600 S. Polk St., according to the Amarillo … Continue reading Barfield Hotel reopens in downtown Amarillo for the first time in 30 years
Newest cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Six projects, including four historic sites, will receive more than $103,000 in cost-share grants from the Route 66 Corridon Preservation Program under the auspices of the National Park Service. The awards first were revealed Thursday in a social media post for the Road Runner's Retreat complex, which received a grant, near Chambless, California. Here are … Continue reading Newest cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
City of Amarillo advances measure to paint Route 66 emblem on water tower
The Amarillo City Council recently approved a first reading of an ordinance that would allow three groups to paint a Route 66 emblem on a water tower off Sixth Avenue (aka Route 66). According to the Globe-News newspaper, the measure would amend a portion of the city code concerning the regulation of emblems on city-owned … Continue reading City of Amarillo advances measure to paint Route 66 emblem on water tower
Roadrunner Lodge Motel owner begins restoration on La Plaza Court in Tucumcari
The owner of the Roadrunner Lodger Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, this week began a project he's been wanting to do for seven years -- restore the neighboring and long-closed La Plaza Court. According to a story I wrote for the Quay County Sun, David Brenner and his now-former wife brought the Route 66 property … Continue reading Roadrunner Lodge Motel owner begins restoration on La Plaza Court in Tucumcari
Renovations of Route 66’s Sidewalk Highway in Oklahoma to begin in 2023
A long-awaited renovation of a 9-foot-wide, century-old section of Route 66 -- better known as the Sidewalk Highway -- in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, is slated to begin sometime in 2023. According to KSNF-TV, the project is in the planning stage: “What we got is a 1920 Federal Highway which is now a national trail, and … Continue reading Renovations of Route 66’s Sidewalk Highway in Oklahoma to begin in 2023
Take a look at ABC’s “Nightline” feature on Route 66 in 1992
While looking for something else, I stumbled upon this 20-minute feature about Route 66 that aired July 3, 1992, on ABC News "Nightline" program. It's a wonderful segment. You'll see a number of businesses and people who've since departed almost 30 years later. You'll also see a younger-looking Michael Wallis, Angel Delgadillo and Delbert Trew. … Continue reading Take a look at ABC’s “Nightline” feature on Route 66 in 1992
Book review: “A Sports Fan’s Guide to Route 66”
Here's a new guidebook that takes on a previously unexplored aspect of Route 66 -- local sports teams that help unite those communities. Ron Clements' "A Sports Fan's Guide to Route 66" (Amazon link; Imbrifex Books, paperback, 352 pages, Kindle version available) takes the traditional east-to-west path on the eight states that Route 66 traverses … Continue reading Book review: “A Sports Fan’s Guide to Route 66”
Jubelt’s Bakery and Restaurant named Litchfield Business of the Year on eve of its centennial
Jubelt's Bakery and Restaurant in Litchfield, Illinois, has been named Business of the Year by that city's chamber of commerce, one year from Jubelt's 100th anniversary. Jeanmarie Jubelt, owner of Jubelt’s, told The Journal-News she was "shocked" by the honor and noted it wasn't easy staying in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The newspaper had … Continue reading Jubelt’s Bakery and Restaurant named Litchfield Business of the Year on eve of its centennial