I doubt you'll find a more candid or heartbreaking film about Harley Russell, one-half of the Mediocre Music Makers in Erick, Oklahoma, than this one. A description of the film: Despite living in the small town of Erick, Oklahoma and bordering on the edge of insanity, a self-proclaimed ‘mediocre music maker’ attracts visitors from around … Continue reading A film portrait of Harley Russell
Restored Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign is dedicated
The newly restored neon sign for Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket restaurant along old Route 66 in Willowbrook, Illinois, was dedicated Monday afternoon with a relighting ceremony. About 200 people attended the event, which included a car show, live music and commemorative T-shirts. Below is an image of the restored sign at night: The ceremony … Continue reading Restored Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign is dedicated
Restoration of Boots Court architectural neon to begin soon
Repairs to the hail-damaged architectural neon lighting at the Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, will begin by mid-July after Route 66 enthusiasts donated more than $4,100 for the project. Ron Hart of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce on Friday presented a check for $4,113.41, representing the proceeds of a GoFundMe campaign after a … Continue reading Restoration of Boots Court architectural neon to begin soon
Prominent New Mexico Route 66 historian dies
New Mexico historian David Kammer, who documented landmarks and buildings on Route 66 for decades, died Thursday after a five-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Kammer's death was reported at the end of a profile in the Albuquerque Journal, written before he died. He recently received the New Mexico Preservation Division’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts. … Continue reading Prominent New Mexico Route 66 historian dies
Grand Canyon Cafe in Flagstaff reopens
The historic Grand Canyon Cafe in downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, reopened this weekend after a lengthy renovation following an ownership change. Here's a post on Instagram on Friday: A post shared by Alissa Marquess (@alissamarquess) on Jun 30, 2017 at 10:54am PDT Alissa Marquess wrote in the photograph: The Wong Family had this restaurant for over … Continue reading Grand Canyon Cafe in Flagstaff reopens
Restoration begins on The Tropics sign
The fabled neon sign for the now-closed The Tropics restaurant in Lincoln, Illinois, this week was moved to a shop for restoration work for the next six months. The Lincoln Courier reported the sign was moved Tuesday to Ace Sign Co. in nearby Springfield, where the company will undergo restoration work on it through late … Continue reading Restoration begins on The Tropics sign
Pueblo blocks access to La Bajada Hill
The Cochiti Pueblo has blocked access to La Bajada Hill, an area where a 1920s alignment of Route 66 zigzagged down the mesa south of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The pueblo is blocking the historic site to prevent further abuse from visitors, reported the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper. At the base of the 600-foot … Continue reading Pueblo blocks access to La Bajada Hill
New owner takes over Motel Safari in Tucumcari
Larry Smith, formerly of Knoxville, Tennessee, this week took over ownership of Motel Safari in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Motel Safari posted this Thursday on its Facebook page of now-former owners Richard and Gail Talley, right, doing the ceremonial turning over the motel keys to Smith: The Talleys officially announced the motel was for sale earlier … Continue reading New owner takes over Motel Safari in Tucumcari
Seeing Route 66 from a covered wagon
Ray Hascall of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, dreamed for decades of riding horseback hundreds of miles to visit the area where he grew up in southwestern Missouri. But when the time finally came to do so, Hascall, now 72, compromised a bit and made the round-trip journey of more than 700 miles by horse-drawn covered wagon -- … Continue reading Seeing Route 66 from a covered wagon
More about the reopening of Wrinks Market in Lebanon
KY3 in Springfield, Missouri, recently produced a story about the reopening of the long-closed Wrinks Market along Route 66 in Lebanon, Missouri. The general store closed in 2005 after the death of its founder, Glenn "Wrink" Wrinkle, at age 83. His son, Terry, reopened it for about two years in 2007, but it shuttered again … Continue reading More about the reopening of Wrinks Market in Lebanon