KOLR-TV in Springfield, Missouri, recently produced a segment about the amazing history of Alberta's Hotel, an establishment in that Route 66 city that catered to African Americans during the Jim Crow era. Alberta's Hotel was listed in the annual Negro Motorist Green Book travel guide. Both perished during the mid-1960s, about the time the United … Continue reading The remarkable story of Alberta’s Hotel in Springfield, Missouri
Lawmakers seek to designate Oklahoma Route 66 as U.S. Bicycle Route
An Oklahoma state legislator has introduced a bill that would designate all of Route 66 in the Sooner State as a U.S. Bicycle Route. State Rep. John Talley (R-Stillwater) listed in the Stillwater News Press a bunch of bills he has introduced for the legislative session that begins Feb. 1. This one caught my eye: … Continue reading Lawmakers seek to designate Oklahoma Route 66 as U.S. Bicycle Route
Gearhead Curios in Galena plans to add neon lighting by April
The owners of Gearhead Curios along Route 66 in Galena, Kansas, said on social media Thursday they plan to install neon lighting at their former gas station by April 21. The social media post included a rendering of the neon added to an existing photo of the site: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1124595541308380&id=550734662027807 Gearhead Curios said anyone who wants … Continue reading Gearhead Curios in Galena plans to add neon lighting by April
Apache Motel in Tucumcari slated to reopen in mid-March
The operator of the long-closed Apache Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, anticipates he'll reopen the Route 66 business to overnight travelers by early spring. I wrote a story in the Quay County Sun in Tucumcari: Wade Dirr said in a telephone interview that electricians and plumbers were working on getting the lobby at least eight … Continue reading Apache Motel in Tucumcari slated to reopen in mid-March
Lease on historic Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta now available for applicants
The interior of the Palms Grill Cafe in 2014 The historic Palms Grill Cafe along Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Illinois, is available to lease for prospective restaurateurs. According to a news release Wednesday from the Atlanta Public Library, which owns the property: The Palms Grill Café is a turnkey operation. It is fully equipped … Continue reading Lease on historic Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta now available for applicants
Teardown begins of Cactus Motor Lodge in Tucumcari
Workers on Tuesday began tearing down the long-closed Cactus Motor Lodge, aka Cactus RV Park, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, to make way for an auto parts store. O'Reilly Auto Parts, based in Springfield, Missouri, plans to build a store there later this year. O'Reilly purchased the property in late 2018 but was delayed in developing … Continue reading Teardown begins of Cactus Motor Lodge in Tucumcari
Additional elaborate neon signs planned at Uranus Missouri complex
Louie Keen, the self-proclaimed "mayor" of the Uranus Missouri complex near St. Robert, Missouri, said he's planning to commission additional and elaborate neon signs there and is soliciting contractors for those projects. The signs would be on the west wall of the fudge factory, plus the miniature golf course and the hamburger and ice cream … Continue reading Additional elaborate neon signs planned at Uranus Missouri complex
Billboard Museum picks up pink Cadillac from closed Ann’s Chicken Fry House
The Billboard Museum Association on Sunday picked up the pink Cadillac that long was on display in front of the now-closed Ann's Chicken Fry House in Oklahoma City and plans to restore it at its future museum home. KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City reported: “We’re going to pull out the ’59 pink Cadi, and that’s been … Continue reading Billboard Museum picks up pink Cadillac from closed Ann’s Chicken Fry House
Liam Neeson film “The Marksman” takes place on Route 66 (allegedly)
I'd seen some online chatter the latest Liam Neeson thriller "The Marksman" takes place rather prominently on Route 66. Here's the trailer: https://youtu.be/lEBPNi4bEbc I haven't seen the movie yet, since it just came out Friday and New Mexico theaters aren't open yet because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Wikipedia lists Route 66 in the plot: … Continue reading Liam Neeson film “The Marksman” takes place on Route 66 (allegedly)
POPS in Arcadia undergoes a change in ownership
The POPS convenience store and restaurant, renowned worldwide for offering more than 500 types of soda and its 66-foot-tall LED soda bottle that stands along Route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma, quietly changed owners several weeks ago. US Star Properties LLC of nearby Edmond, Oklahoma, purchased the property on Nov. 19 for $2.22 million, according to … Continue reading POPS in Arcadia undergoes a change in ownership