The annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration in Shamrock, Texas, has been canceled this year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It's the first time in almost 70 years that's happened. The festival's board and steering committee voted Tuesday to cancel the event scheduled for March 18-21 and announced it would concentrate its energies on the … Continue reading Shamrock cancels St. Patrick’s Day Celebration due to COVID-19
Motel Safari in Tucumcari to receive New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Award
Motel Safari in Tucumcari, New Mexico, later today will receive the 2020 New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Award because of its historic-friendly preservation. The association stated in a news release Wednesday the award comes "in recognition of numerous renovations to the Classic Googie Style Motel, a New Mexico Route 66 landmark." The award ceremony … Continue reading Motel Safari in Tucumcari to receive New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Award
Historic Gordon’s Clock resurfaces in Las Vegas after its restoration
The historic Gordon's Jewelry Clock recently was restored and reinstalled at its old location in downtown Las Vegas, New Mexico. The jewelry store it touted is gone, but the clock stood sentinel in the 600 block of Douglas Avenue (map here) for about 75 years until it was auctioned in 2013. A local, Bob Mishler, … Continue reading Historic Gordon’s Clock resurfaces in Las Vegas after its restoration
Programming note
It's a typically slow period for news, so I've spent that time instead doing an annual freshening up of many of the main pages on the Route 66 News site. The pages listing Attractions, Restaurants, Motels, Campgrounds, Bars and Events have had their URLs checked and, if they're bad, replaced with new ones. A few … Continue reading Programming note
The story behind the many graffiti murals at Mad Dog Liquor in Tulsa
For about 15 years, the Mad Dog Liquor store along Route 66 in east Tulsa has given a canvas to varying graffiti artists for their work. The Tulsa World talked to the store's owner, Jackie Dutton, who said the building originally was a drab gray but opened it up to local graffiti artists after gaining … Continue reading The story behind the many graffiti murals at Mad Dog Liquor in Tulsa
Jim Livingston’s Route 66 art featured at Amarillo’s airport
Amarillo photographer Jim Livingston, known for his "I Am Route 66" project, recently installed his Route 66 artwork at Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport. According to KAMR-TV in Amarillo, images from popular points along Route 66 are located before the security check and next to the Husband statue. The Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council features … Continue reading Jim Livingston’s Route 66 art featured at Amarillo’s airport
Praying Hands Monument in Webb City to undergo extensive renovations
The nearly 50-year-old Praying Hands Monument in King Jack Park in Webb City, Missouri, will undergo extensive stabilization work later this month. According to the Joplin Globe, the Dawson Heritage Foundation has hired Midland Enterprises to work on the substructure of the sculpture, which was built in 1973: The contractor will place a new reinforced concrete … Continue reading Praying Hands Monument in Webb City to undergo extensive renovations
Shop-local initiative helps Route 66 businesses in Albuquerque during holiday
Two initiatives by the City of Albuquerque reportedly have helped businesses along the Central Avenue (aka Route 66) corridor during the holiday season. Craig Turpin of Empire Board Game Library told KOB-TV the city's Route 66 Shop & Glow, which featured light sculptures, helped keep his sales the same as last year, if not higher. … Continue reading Shop-local initiative helps Route 66 businesses in Albuquerque during holiday
Museum Club of Flagstaff to go on indefinite hiatus starting Monday
Citing hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic Museum Club of Flagstaff, Arizona, will go on at least an indefinite hiatus starting Monday. The storied bar and music club on Flagstaff's east side along Route 66 made this announcement Monday on its Facebook page: This is our last week open. It's been a fun … Continue reading Museum Club of Flagstaff to go on indefinite hiatus starting Monday
Woody’s Wood-Fire Pizza in Joplin reopens as a much bigger location after fire
Woody's Wood-Fire Pizza, a stalwart along Route 66 on the west side of Joplin, Missouri, recently reopened after a fire a year ago prompted the owners to make big improvements to the restaurant. Wally Kennedy, the business columnist for the Joplin Globe, stated Woody's once was "the tiniest restaurant in Joplin." However, the rebuild by … Continue reading Woody’s Wood-Fire Pizza in Joplin reopens as a much bigger location after fire