In a historic reversal, the city council of Springfield, Missouri, earlier this week voted unanimously to promote car cruising along Kearney Street -- a prominent Route 66 alignment -- on certain Friday nights this summer. The city now will encourage motorists to cruise on Kearney Street from 6 to 10 p.m. the second Friday of each … Continue reading City of Springfield to promote car cruising on Kearney Street
Congressman takes road trip to promote Route 66 legislation
Illinois congressman Rodney Davis on Tuesday toured Route 66 in Illinois to drum up support for his bills for a Route 66 centennial commission and a National Historic Trail for the Mother Road. Davis and state Rep. Avery Bourne, who introduced state legislation on Route 66's centennial in 2026, made stops along Route 66. According to … Continue reading Congressman takes road trip to promote Route 66 legislation
Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign comes down — temporarily
The famous and historic neon sign for Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, Illinois, recently was taken down. But don't panic -- it will be gone only a few weeks so it can be fixed and renovated so it looks new again. WBBM-TV reports that owner Patrick Rhea said he didn't look forward to his … Continue reading Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign comes down — temporarily
The Tropics building in Lincoln torn down
Residents of Lincoln, Illinois, saw the end of an era Saturday when the long-closed building for The Tropics restaurant was torn down. The razing of the building had been planned for months to make way for a McDonald's restaurant. However, the Lincoln Courier reports that the demolition crew let Tami Goodrich, daughter of longtime The … Continue reading The Tropics building in Lincoln torn down
Contents of Granny’s Closet restaurant in Flagstaff to be auctioned
Almost all the memorabilia and contents inside the closed Granny's Closet restaurant and bar in Flagstaff, Arizona, will be auctioned April 28. Flagstaff Auctions will begin the auction at 10 a.m. that day for the Route 66 landmark at 218 S. Milton Road, reported the Arizona Daily Sun. However, the old tractor and lumberjack statue near the … Continue reading Contents of Granny’s Closet restaurant in Flagstaff to be auctioned
Old Station in Williamsville has a new owner
The Old Station on old Route 66 in Williamsville, Illinois, changed hands a few months ago, and the new caretaker plans to keep much of the building's old look. Keith A. Sculle wrote in The 66 News, published by the Illinois Route 66 Association, that Jason L. Hayward bought The Old Station at 117 N. … Continue reading Old Station in Williamsville has a new owner
Route 66 bills in Congress need co-sponsors
The Route 66: The Road Ahead Initiative is seeking to have Route 66 advocates lobby their local U.S. representative and senator to co-sponsor two bills working their way through Congress. The bills are HR 801, which would name Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, and HR 66, which would set up a Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 bills in Congress need co-sponsors
Fort Reno loses state funding, cuts hours deeply
Oklahoma state government's dire financial situation apparently forced it to halt funding for Fort Reno near El Reno, Oklahoma, just off old Route 66. According to a report by KOCO in Oklahoma City, the historic fort -- which dates to the 1870s -- that once was open daily but Christmas and Thanksgiving now is greeting tourists only three … Continue reading Fort Reno loses state funding, cuts hours deeply
Revamped finale at Meramec Caverns
A few days ago, a friend of mine commented on Facebook she and her children took a tour of Meramec Caverns in Stanton, Missouri, including the big light-show-and-music finale in the caverns' Theatre Room. She mentioned Celine Dion sang "God Bless America" during the finale. Not Kate Smith's version? It had been a mainstay of … Continue reading Revamped finale at Meramec Caverns
Fundraiser for Route 66 license-plate wall exceeds goal
An online fundraiser to build a huge Route 66 map made of New Mexico license plates near Edgewood, New Mexico, recently exceeded its goal by more than $1,000. According to the FundRazr campaign launched by Roger Holden of RETRO — Relive the Route, it had generated $5,500 in pledges -- well above the goal of … Continue reading Fundraiser for Route 66 license-plate wall exceeds goal