Glaida Funk, the longtime matriarch of the landmark Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup near Funks Grove, Illinois, died Friday. She was 94. The Bloomington Pantagraph in nearby Bloomington posted a death notice, but arrangements were incomplete Sunday night at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington. We'll post more information when it becomes available. Terri … Continue reading Glaida Funk, the matriarch at Funks Grove Maple Sirup, dies at age 94
Nonprofit turning parking lot into a teardrop trailer campground called Revive 66
The Gathering Tree, a nonprofit organization that runs the Eden Village tiny home communities for the homeless in Springfield, Missouri, has opened a Revive 66 Campground in that city stocked with tiny teardrop trailers available for rent. Nate Schlueter of the Gathering Tree said the organization bought the property in the spring and accelerated its plans to … Continue reading Nonprofit turning parking lot into a teardrop trailer campground called Revive 66
Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis shuts down again
The historic Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis has closed permanently for a second time in a little more than three years. Longtime Route 66 enthusiast Joe Sonderman reported the closing in a Facebook post on Friday evening, with the owners citing crime, violence and COVID-19 regulations. KSDK-TV in St. Louis confirmed the closure with the … Continue reading Eat-Rite Diner in St. Louis shuts down again
Yahoo! deletes Route 66 group; members mostly migrate to MeWe platform
An image of the homepage of the now-deleted Route 66 group on Yahoo! The end of an era quietly occurred Thursday when Yahoo! deleted the 20-year-old Route 66 group and hundreds of other Yahoo Groups, a day later than the announced deletion date of Dec. 15. However, it appears the once-influential group is rising like … Continue reading Yahoo! deletes Route 66 group; members mostly migrate to MeWe platform
Oklahoma Tourism claims 163-to-1 return on RoadTripOK video series
The Oklahoma Department of Tourism said its recently completed 52-episode RoadTripOK video series generated nearly $11.8 million in projected lodging revenue and a 163-to-1 return on investment. The Retrospec Films crew visited attractions, accommodations and events in 67 cities and towns around the state, with a several-month break because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They featured … Continue reading Oklahoma Tourism claims 163-to-1 return on RoadTripOK video series
Pony Bridge near Bridgeport added to National Register of Historic Places
The William H. Murray Bridge, better known as the iconic Pony Bridge along Route 66 near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, recently was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The act became official Dec. 4, according to a weekly email from the National Park Service. I had assumed the 3,990-foot span, which opened in 1934 over … Continue reading Pony Bridge near Bridgeport added to National Register of Historic Places
Missouri Route 66 association may offer special license plate next year
The Route 66 Association of Missouri sometime next year hopes to offer its own personalized license plate through the state so the organization can raise more funding for historic preservation. The association stated it was inspired by the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, which started its own specialized license-plate program and earned $230,000 its … Continue reading Missouri Route 66 association may offer special license plate next year
New initiative aims to help women business owners on Route 66
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership over the weekend announced the launch of its Route 66 Extraordinary Women Initiative that seeks to aid women business owners on the historic highway in the run-up to Route 66's centennial in 2026. According to a news release from the partnership: The Route 66 Extraordinary Women Initiative empowers women … Continue reading New initiative aims to help women business owners on Route 66
More details emerge about Two Guns Resort project during zoning hearing
A lot of interesting details were revealed about the elaborate Two Guns Resort proposal at Two Guns, Arizona, at a Coconino County Board of Supervisors zoning meeting last week. We previously reported in August about John D. Gunderman's 247-acre project through his 2 Guns Luxury Glamping Resort website. Gunderman, who hails from Indiana, declined to … Continue reading More details emerge about Two Guns Resort project during zoning hearing
Country music legend Charley Pride dies at 86
Charley Pride, the first black superstar in country music, died in Dallas of COVID-19 complications Saturday, his publicist reported. He was 86. We'll let others write obituaries -- including this excellent one from Music City -- about Pride's wonderful and groundbreaking career. But longtime Route 66 fans undoubtedly know that one of his biggest hits, … Continue reading Country music legend Charley Pride dies at 86