The Pacific, Missouri, board of aldermen voted last week to award a $2.2 million contract to rehabilitate the closed Red Cedar Inn restaurant into a visitors center. According to a report by the Washington Missourian, the board unanimously gave the deal to St. Louis-based Legacy Contracting Group to remake the Route 66 landmark into a … Continue reading Pacific awards $2.2M contract to convert Red Cedar Inn into a visitors center
Volunteers complete next-to-last work phase on Painted Desert Trading Post
A group of volunteers a few days ago finished the penultimate work session to shore up the historic but long-closed Painted Desert Trading Post in eastern Arizona. Chaz Baldwin on Sunday posted several photos of the just-completed work, including vintage images: Mike Ward, one of the members of the Route 66 Co-op that owns the … Continue reading Volunteers complete next-to-last work phase on Painted Desert Trading Post
Victorville city council approves renovation to 7th Street Archway over Route 66
The archway that greets Route 66 travelers to the Old Town area of Victorville, California, soon will undergo a face-lift. The Victorville City Council earlier this month approved a bid from Inland Signs Inc. to renovate the archway near the corner of 7th and D streets. Artist's rendering of the refurbished archway at night According … Continue reading Victorville city council approves renovation to 7th Street Archway over Route 66
Festival in September will pay tribute to Red Oak II’s late founder Lowell Davis
The Red Oak II complex near Carthage, Missouri, will hold a Red Oak II Festival on Sept. 11 to pay tribute to the faux town's creator, artist Lowell Davis, who died at age 83 in November. The Red Oak II Festival, according to a post on Facebook, will feature hayrides, Dutch oven cooking, children's games, … Continue reading Festival in September will pay tribute to Red Oak II’s late founder Lowell Davis
City of Albuquerque budgets $300,000 for Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026
The Albuquerque City Council is budgeting $300,000 to begin planning for a Route 66 centennial event in 2026. KRQE-TV quoted city councilor Klarissa Pena, who summarized why she thought the celebration would be important: “Communities throughout the nation suffered a decline of the historic route when highways were built, so what do we do to … Continue reading City of Albuquerque budgets $300,000 for Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026
20th sign installed as part of Tulsa’s Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program
The Vault restaurant in downtown Tulsa recently became the 20th recipient of the city's Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program. The Tulsa Route 66 Commission trumpeted the latest neon sign in a Facebook post: It seems particularly appropriate The Vault would benefit from the program. The restaurant occupies a former National Auto Bank building constructed … Continue reading 20th sign installed as part of Tulsa’s Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program
Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa to mark 70th year with “The Outsiders” screening
The Admiral Twin Drive-In theater in Tulsa will celebrate its 70th anniversary this weekend with special screenings of "The Outsiders," part of which was shot at the historic Route 66 theater. The 1983 movie, based on the classic novel by Tulsa-area resident S.E. Hinton, will be shown Friday, Saturday and Sunday, reported the Tulsa World. … Continue reading Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa to mark 70th year with “The Outsiders” screening
U-Drop Inn in Shamrock will reopen its restaurant for the first time in decades
The historic U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas, will reopen its diner later this summer for the first time more than a quarter century. Longtime Shamrock resident Baldo de Leon in a telephone interview Wednesday said he's leasing the restaurant space for one year from the city, which owns the Route 66 landmark, to run the … Continue reading U-Drop Inn in Shamrock will reopen its restaurant for the first time in decades
Oklahoma bucked travel slump during COVID-19 pandemic
The state of Oklahoma did better than the U.S. in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Route 66 playing a major role. The Center Square, which specializes in state- and local-level government and economic reporting, talked to David White, legislative liaison for Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. White said the Sooner State's tourism industry did … Continue reading Oklahoma bucked travel slump during COVID-19 pandemic
Stuckey’s heiress aims to revive her family’s brand
Stephanie Stuckey, the granddaughter of the man who founded the famous Stuckey's convenience store chain, recently purchased back her family's business and wants to return the diminished brand to national prominence. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published a profile of Stuckey, who purchased the remaining shares of the Georgia-based Stuckey's company about 18 months ago. Stephanie Stuckey … Continue reading Stuckey’s heiress aims to revive her family’s brand