The Illinois Office of Tourism and the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau this week honored Taylor's Mexican Chili Parlor in Carlinville as an “Illinois Maker” for emphasizing a visitor experience and inspiring travel. Taylor's beat 18 other contenders for the title this year, reported the Macoupin County Enquirer-Democrat. A total of 146 businesses are … Continue reading Illinois Tourism honors Taylor’s Mexican Chili Parlor of Carlinville
Caretakers of Road Runner’s Retreat organizing another work session Oct. 18-20
The caretakers for the long-closed Road Runner's Retreat restaurant near Chambless, California, have organized another work session Oct. 18-20 and are offering commemorative T-shirts to fund it. The T-shirts designed by Minnesota-based graphic artist Gina Hoelscher, who has lent her skills to other Route 66 events and preservation projects, can be yours by donating $30 … Continue reading Caretakers of Road Runner’s Retreat organizing another work session Oct. 18-20
Drive-through demolished at Gold Dome of Oklahoma City
Work crews this week razed the drive-through portion of the historic Gold Dome in Oklahoma City, but the situation is not as grave as you might think. Several media outlets reported the drive-through part of the former bank along Route 66 is not historic and actually was hampering efforts to secure and market the property. … Continue reading Drive-through demolished at Gold Dome of Oklahoma City
One episode of “Hairy Bikers Route 66” lands online
Folks in Europe the United Kingdom have been watching this six-part series at it aired, but we yanks didn't get a look at the BBC2's "Hairy Bikers Route 66" until one kind soul uploaded the second episode a few days ago. The episode begins in mid-Missouri and goes west to Tulsa and Cherokee Nation country … Continue reading One episode of “Hairy Bikers Route 66” lands online
Book review: “Drive-Ins of Route 66: Yesterday and Today”
It's hard to believe now, but more than 100 drive-in theaters once existed on or near Route 66. The number now is seven. That factoid and many more are found in Michael Kilgore's well-researched and brisk-reading "Drive-Ins of Route 66: Yesterday and Today" (Neon Jukebox, 176 pages, illustrated, e-book available). Kilgore is the big kahuna … Continue reading Book review: “Drive-Ins of Route 66: Yesterday and Today”
Route 66 Restaurant in Santa Rosa closes
The stalwart Route 66 Restaurant along that historic highway in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, closed Sept. 14, according to the local newspaper. The Sept. 19 print edition of The Communicator showed a photograph of the restaurant on an inside page with this caption: An empty building along Historic Route 66 now stands after the old … Continue reading Route 66 Restaurant in Santa Rosa closes
Another Route 66 sign disappears from Grants
I received word Friday from a reader that another sign from a long-defunct Route 66 motel was taken down and hauled away. Here's the email I received from Keith Kofford: Grants lost another Route 66 sign last week (9-10-19) when the Los Alamitos Motel sign was taken. A crew with large equipment was spotted by … Continue reading Another Route 66 sign disappears from Grants
Replica of toll building proposed for Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis
One of several redevelopment proposals for the west side of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis contains a replica of the long-gone toll house that stood on that site. The Great Rivers Greenway, which controls the bridge as a vital link over the Mississippi River to a series of pedestrian and cycling … Continue reading Replica of toll building proposed for Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis
Lake Overholser Bridge in OKC closed to traffic after problem found
The Lake Overholser Bridge in Oklahoma City recently was closed to vehicular traffic after an inspector found a problem in the historic Route 66 span. Longtime Route 66 advocate Kathy Anderson posted this message on Facebook from Melvena Heisch, a recently retired Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Officer: All, just heard back from the City Planning … Continue reading Lake Overholser Bridge in OKC closed to traffic after problem found
Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln will try to break world record of Abe lookalikes
This weekend's 49th annual Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln, Illinois, will attempt to break a world record for the most people dressed as Honest Abe in one place. According to a news release about the Sept. 21-22 festival: The public is invited by the Logan County Tourism Bureau to help break the World … Continue reading Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln will try to break world record of Abe lookalikes