An award-winning cyclist from Great Britain in September will try to set a world record by cycling nearly 2,500 miles of Route 66 in just 11 days. Pav Bryan is training for the journey now. He also plans to uses his quest to raise money for two-mental-health charities -- Mind and National Alliance for Mental … Continue reading British man to attempt record for cycling Route 66
Mel’s Drive-In opens at Route 66 western terminus
The newest site of Mel's Drive-In restaurant opened Tuesday, and it happens to be at the official western terminus of Route 66 in Santa Monica, California. The iconic 1950s-themed restaurant already has locations at Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, West Hollywood and Los Angeles, and countless movies and television shows were shot there. The long-anticipated latest site stands … Continue reading Mel’s Drive-In opens at Route 66 western terminus
National Trust places Route 66 on its endangered list
The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Tuesday included Route 66 among its annual 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list and urged Congress to name it as a national historic trail. It was the second time Route 66 made the National Trust's most-endangered list. A smaller part of the Mother Road made the list in … Continue reading National Trust places Route 66 on its endangered list
Route 66 Wedding Chapel, two related businesses close
The co-owner of Route 66 Wedding Chapel, Mother Road Old Time Photos and Christmas Shop of Tucumcari in Tucumcari, New Mexico, announced Monday those shops closed and possibly will move to Tennessee because of health issues and family obligations. The three businesses were housed in one storefront across the street from the historic Blue Swallow … Continue reading Route 66 Wedding Chapel, two related businesses close
Music documentary about Springfield premieres this week
"The Center of Nowhere," a full-length documentary produced by roadie Dave Hoekstra about the rich musical history of Springfield, Missouri, will premiere at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Fox Theatre in downtown Springfield. Hoekstra, a former writer at the Chicago Sun-Times who's traveled and written about Route 66 extensively, told Ozarks Alive that Springfield's central location, relative … Continue reading Music documentary about Springfield premieres this week
The Tropics sign relighted for the first time in 15 years
The restored neon sign for the now-defunct The Tropics restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, was relighted Sunday evening in front of a crowd of hundreds of people. The Lincoln Courier newspaper posted this short video of the countdown to the relighting: Here's what the sign looked like in the daytime, a few hours before the ceremony. … Continue reading The Tropics sign relighted for the first time in 15 years
Ariston Cafe likely will have new owners by mid-July
The historic Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois, is under contract to have new owners by mid-July after the Route 66 establishment belonged to the same family for more than 90 years. Marty and Kara Steffens, co-owners of the Maverick Steaks & Spirits restaurant in Litchfield, are scheduled to take over the reins of the Ariston by … Continue reading Ariston Cafe likely will have new owners by mid-July
Couple goes missing near Amboy Crater; man’s body found
A couple from Virginia that went missing at Amboy Crater near Amboy, California, in recent weeks is feared dead after the remains of a man's body was found near the site last weekend. Another search for the missing woman will begin this weekend. It would be the fifth fatality at Amboy Crater in less than … Continue reading Couple goes missing near Amboy Crater; man’s body found
Route 66 neon sign park in Tulsa planned for late 2019
The Route 66 Commission in Tulsa announced Wednesday a small neon-sign park is planned on the southwest side of Avery Centennial Plaza, also known as the historic 11th Street Bridge that once carried Route 66. In a Facebook post late Wednesday, the commission stated it would install three re-created neon signs in Tulsa that were … Continue reading Route 66 neon sign park in Tulsa planned for late 2019
Spivey Building in East St. Louis may be doomed
Residents are running out of patience with the historic but long-abandoned Spivey Building of East St. Louis -- the tallest skyscraper in the metro-east -- and it seems demolition will come sooner than later. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch filed a report last week about failed attempts to rehabilitate the 12-story skyscraper and how bricks and … Continue reading Spivey Building in East St. Louis may be doomed