A developer proposed building of a giant cashew near downtown Springfield, Missouri. It's not a joke. The Springfield News-Leader reported Mat Burton of the Vecino Group recently made the pitch for the art installation at Idea Commons, an area between downtown, which carried an early alignment of 66, and Chestnut Expressway. Missouri State University, the … Continue reading Giant cashew among the proposals for downtown Springfield
Trail of Tears Memorial in Missouri to reopen April 22
The Trail of Tears Memorial and Herbal Garden near Jerome, Missouri, will hold its grand reopening at 1 p.m. April 22, which is Earth Day. The Facebook page for the garden announced the event Tuesday. A ribbon-cutting will occur in front of the grounds' famed entrance arch that day, before the artwork-festooned trail opens to … Continue reading Trail of Tears Memorial in Missouri to reopen April 22
A drive on Route 66 in Texas
West Texas A&M University marketing professor and Route 66 enthusiast Nick Gerlich and his daughter, Becca, produced this 15-minute video about Route 66 in the Lone Star State. The footage and Gerlich's narration weave travelogue, history, and modern-day observations of about 180 miles of Route 66 into the video. You'll even see obscure alignments such … Continue reading A drive on Route 66 in Texas
What to do about less foreign tourism?
Route 66 author Jim Hinckley observed that foreign tourism to the United States -- a key driver to the Mother Road economy -- began to decline in the past a year and a half. Hinckley said the downward trend began about 20 months ago. It's not just anecdotal evidence, either. The U.S. Department of Commerce … Continue reading What to do about less foreign tourism?
Desert Sands Motel sign in Albuquerque comes down
Work crews last week removed the sign of the now-defunct Desert Sands Motel in Albuquerque, bringing a sad end to a property used in a scene of the Oscar-winning film "No Country for Old Men." The New Mexico Route 66 Association posted several photos Thursday on its Facebook page of the sign being taken down, … Continue reading Desert Sands Motel sign in Albuquerque comes down
Pump stolen from historic gas station in Miami
A nearly 100-year-old gas pump worth $5,000 recently was stolen from the historic Marathon Oil Co. gas station along old Route 66 in Miami, Oklahoma. The theft prompted the station's owner to remove the other two gas pumps for safekeeping, reported the Miami News-Record. According to the police report, an unknown suspect removed one of … Continue reading Pump stolen from historic gas station in Miami
Tall tales spun around long-closed gas station
KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City recently produced a story about Sam "Mr. Sam" Gillaspy and the story he told about a long-closed Route 66 gas station between Arcadia and Luther, Oklahoma. Gillaspy, known as a longtime host at the Round Barn in nearby Arcadia, told the TV crew a secret back room in the Depression-era gas … Continue reading Tall tales spun around long-closed gas station
Old book provides a look back at Quay County, New Mexico
In the last few days, I've perused a book titled "Quay County, New Mexico, 1903-1985." It contains hundreds of stories and photos from the region, including the Route 66 towns of Endee, Bard, San Jon, Tucumcari, Polomas and Montoya. The book, edited by Mary Lynn Moncus and Marian Farmer Knapp, contains nearly 800 pages of … Continue reading Old book provides a look back at Quay County, New Mexico
El Vado Motel restoration ‘a few weeks’ from completion
The long process of restoring the historic El Vado Motel in Albuquerque is just a few weeks from reaching the finish line, according to the president of the project's developer. Last year, officials hoped for a late summer opening. That date got pushed to December. KOB-TV in Albuquerque found out why the project took longer … Continue reading El Vado Motel restoration ‘a few weeks’ from completion
Signs at Paradise Motel in Tucumcari removed
The signs at the Paradise Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, were removed this week after the long-abandoned property suffered two fires in less than six months -- including one in February. Vanessa Miller, service manager the Clovis Sign Services in Clovis, New Mexico, confirmed by phone Wednesday she had possession of both signs, including the … Continue reading Signs at Paradise Motel in Tucumcari removed