Hundreds of volunteer labor-union members descended on the historic Joliet Correctional Center in Joliet, Illinois, last weekend to help clean up the long-neglected property. The Joliet Patch estimated 200 to 300 skilled tradesmen were at the 160-year-old prison over the two days, along with volunteer labor from Homer Tree Care to remove trees and brush. … Continue reading Hundreds of volunteers help clean up Joliet prison
Route 66 sculpture created by students erected in Riverton
A steel Route 66 shield sculpture created by high-school students went up Thursday along Route 66 on the west side of Riverton, Kansas. KSNF-TV filed this story about it: The sculpture is 20 feet tall and required about two years of work from Riverton FFA students, with guidance from FFA adviser Jacob Larison. Cherokee County contributed … Continue reading Route 66 sculpture created by students erected in Riverton
Adam the Woo travels Route 66
Popular video blogger Adam the Woo and colleague Jacob the Carpetbagger recently completed a west-to-east trip on Route 66. Adam uploaded a dozen videos from his journey, totaling more than 2 1/2 hours of footage from the Mother Road. Video blogs are a dime a dozen on YouTube, but Adam logs tens of thousands of … Continue reading Adam the Woo travels Route 66
National Trust seeking roadies for Route 66 trip in July
The National Trust for Historic Preservation in July will launch a major cross-country campaign to promote and preserve Route 66, and it wants enthusiasts of the Mother Road to help. In essence, it's a way for Route 66 fans to travel the road for free. The organization said in its announcement: We’re looking for a … Continue reading National Trust seeking roadies for Route 66 trip in July
Oklahoma marks 90th anniversary of Bunion Derby
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association last weekend marked the 90th anniversary of the transcontinental Bunion Derby footrace, with several descendants of winner Andy Payne at the commemoration. The association marked the 1928 footrace that traversed Los Angeles to New York City, including a fledgling U.S. 66, by carrying a commemorative plaque during a motorized relay … Continue reading Oklahoma marks 90th anniversary of Bunion Derby
Anniversary celebration of The Mill’s reopening set for April 29
The first anniversary of the reopening of The Mill in Lincoln, Illinois, into a local museum will be celebrated Sunday, April 29, with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. that day. The weekend also will feature the fifth annual Bike Blessing at 1 p.m. April 28 at the VFW/Foxhole Pub & Grub at … Continue reading Anniversary celebration of The Mill’s reopening set for April 29
Olde Keg building in Joliet to become Mexican restaurant
The long-closed and historic Olde Keg building in downtown Joliet, Illinois, will reopen as a Mexican restaurant in a few weeks. The Herald-News reports Amy Montiel of nearby Lockport, Illinois, plans to rechristen the building at 20 W. Jackson St. as Catrina’s Mex in May. Montiel told the newspaper she wanted to open a restaurant that … Continue reading Olde Keg building in Joliet to become Mexican restaurant
Water project may endanger Bonanza Springs in Mojave Desert
For years, Cadiz Inc. has sought to pump tens of billions of gallons of underground water from the Mojave Desert and pipe it to thirsty Southern Californians. Given the desert's arid landscape, people may shrug and say "So what?" to that piece of news. But experts now have told The Desert Sun in Palm Springs … Continue reading Water project may endanger Bonanza Springs in Mojave Desert
Wilder’s rooftop neon sign glows again
The rooftop neon sign for Wilder's Steakhouse in Joplin, Missouri, glowed again for the first time in at least 25 years during a relighting ceremony Saturday night. Brad Nickson, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, posted this short video of the relighting of the animated neon sign on Instagram: A post shared by Brad … Continue reading Wilder’s rooftop neon sign glows again
Many changes come to El Rey in Santa Fe
When we last heard about El Rey Inn in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a Texas company in summer 2016 had bought the historic Route 66 property from longtime owner Terrell White. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Jay and Alison Carroll of Joshua Tree, California, were hired as design consultants to oversee renovations and other changes. … Continue reading Many changes come to El Rey in Santa Fe