A couple from Springfield, Illinois, purchased the historic Gillett Mansion that sits atop of prominent hill just east of the Route 66 town of Elkhart, Illinois. The couple plans to keep the mansion open to the public, including for events. According to a report several days ago in the Springfield State Journal-Register: Court and Karen … Continue reading Couple buys historic Gillett Mansion in Elkhart
El Vado Motel in Albuquerque to begin taking overnight guests Monday
After almost a 13-year hiatus, the historic and redeveloped El Vado Motel in Albuquerque will begin accepting overnight guests Monday. KOB-TV reported the latest development with the Route 66 landmark. For now, prospective overnight guests can use this link at Booking.com get a room. A perusal of the site shows El Vado has rooms priced … Continue reading El Vado Motel in Albuquerque to begin taking overnight guests Monday
Route 66 group soon will survey foreign travelers
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announced this week its International Advisory Group will undertake a comprehensive International Route 66 Travelers Survey, with its first test at next month's European Route 66 Festival in Zlin, Czech Republic. The festival in the Czech Republic will take place Aug. 10-12. The inaugural European Route 66 Festival took … Continue reading Route 66 group soon will survey foreign travelers
Owners, caretaker of Blue Whale named to Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
The deceased former owners and a longtime caretaker of the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, were inducted into the 2018 Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. The inductees were the Hugh and Zelta Davis, who owned the Route 66 landmark for years, and their son, Blaine Davis, a caretaker for the whale. The Oklahoma Route … Continue reading Owners, caretaker of Blue Whale named to Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Lebanon considers community improvement district for Route 66
The city administrator of Lebanon, Missouri, suggested to the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society it form a community improvement district to collect taxes for promotion and preservation of Route 66. The city also is gathering pricing proposals for signs to name Lebanon's Elm Street as "Historic Route 66." City administrator Mike Schumacher made several suggestions about funding … Continue reading Lebanon considers community improvement district for Route 66
Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe soon will be closed for remodeling
The 400-year-old Palace of the Governors site in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, soon will be closed for six months for remodeling. The Albuquerque Journal reported: The renovations beginning Aug. 1 will include the installation of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system as well as fire safety construction. No information on the cost of … Continue reading Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe soon will be closed for remodeling
Rockin’ Route 66 replaces Rockabilly on the Route festival in Tucumcari
A new organization announced a Rockin' Route 66 rockabilly-themed festival in June 2019 in Tucumcari, New Mexico -- two years after the town's Rockabilly on the Route event went on hiatus. Representatives from Garage 71 and Grease Inc. made the announcement in late June about the new festival, but news of it surfaced on Facebook this … Continue reading Rockin’ Route 66 replaces Rockabilly on the Route festival in Tucumcari
Joliet may use $50,000 for old prison, reopen this month
The city of Joliet, Illinois, proposed an allocation of $50,000 to the Joliet Area Historical Museum to help cover expenses in reopening the historic Joliet prison. If funding goes through as expected, Greg Peerbolte, the museum's executive director, said it could start tours inside the old Joliet Correctional Center later this month. The Herald-News reported: The … Continue reading Joliet may use $50,000 for old prison, reopen this month
Researcher of Negro Motorist Green Book lands publishing deal
Candacy Taylor, who for years has researched properties listed in a long-defunct annual publication called the Negro Motorist Green Book, announced over the weekend three books about it will be published by Abrams Books. The central book in the deal is titled "Overground Railroad: The Green Book and Roots of Mobility in Black America." It … Continue reading Researcher of Negro Motorist Green Book lands publishing deal
Texas Route 66 license plates may not happen after all
A proposed Texas Route 66 license plate may not become reality after the company making them announced pre-orders are "well short" of the 200 needed for the project. According to a news release last week from MyPlates.com: The proposed design by My Plates.com was submitted to the TxDMV board last February and was approved pending … Continue reading Texas Route 66 license plates may not happen after all