The closed Sun 'n Sand Motel in Santa Rosa, New Mexico -- best known for its huge, orange neon sign -- has a new owner who hopes to reopen the Route 66 establishment sometime in 2017. The Feb. 2 print edition of The Communicator newspaper, based in Santa Rosa, reports the new owner is Dipak Shah of Kadam … Continue reading Sun ‘n Sand Motel may reopen later this year
Congressman introduces bill to make Route 66 a National Historic Trail
A congressman from Illinois has introduced a bill that would designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail under the auspices of the National Park Service. U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) recently introduced bill H.R. 801 to amend the National Trails System Act to create a Route 66 National Historic Trail. U.S. Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-Calif.), a senior … Continue reading Congressman introduces bill to make Route 66 a National Historic Trail
Trash a chronic problem under Tulsa’s 11th Street Bridge
A chronic problem with garbage under Tulsa's historic 11th Street Bridge and the nearby Interstate 244 bridge has festered for weeks, apparently because the city isn't sure what department is responsible for cleanup. Local physician Vicki C. Baker emailed me last week: The area under the 11th street/I-244 bridge sorely needs attention. RiverParks tells me … Continue reading Trash a chronic problem under Tulsa’s 11th Street Bridge
Rockabilly on the Route festival to take a hiatus in 2018
Organizers of Rockabilly on the Route in Tucumcari, New Mexico, will take an indefinite break from the music festival starting in 2018 to reassess its future -- including the possibility of taking it on the road. Organizers on the Rockabilly on the Route official Facebook page posted Monday the 2017 festival on June 1-4 would be the … Continue reading Rockabilly on the Route festival to take a hiatus in 2018
Tulsa flower shop still going after 82 years
A flower shop along Route 66 in Tulsa has operated there since 1935, and apparently it will for at least a while longer. Burnett's Flowers and Gifts at 4322 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) recently changed hands, and the new owner thinks he's found a new way to sell flowers and keep the business … Continue reading Tulsa flower shop still going after 82 years
Readers vote Nat King Cole as recording the best version of “Route 66”
A little more than a year ago, I posted a story and online readers poll about the many versions of "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" over the decades. I promised a follow-up on the top vote-getter within a week or so. Then, I promptly forgot about it ... for more than a year. The … Continue reading Readers vote Nat King Cole as recording the best version of “Route 66”
Midwest Terminal Building in St. Louis added to National Register
The Midwest Terminal Building in St. Louis, better known as the Globe-Democrat Building or the Globe Building, was added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to an email Friday from the National Park Service. The National Register listing was effective Jan. 23, according to the email. The building sits at 700-720 N. Tucker Blvd. … Continue reading Midwest Terminal Building in St. Louis added to National Register
TLC airing reality show about tattoo parlor in Springfield, Missouri
TLC is airing a reality-television show, "Tattoo Girls," about an all-woman tattoo parlor along near Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri. In the program's trailer about the Ink Ink business, Route 66 and its role in Springfield get a few mentions: https://youtu.be/5_fE6qaRRgU The first thing I thought while viewing the trailer -- I wonder whether Ron "Tattoo … Continue reading TLC airing reality show about tattoo parlor in Springfield, Missouri
A note to readers
If you have noticed periodic outages at Route 66 News in the past few weeks -- especially this morning for nearly an hour -- it's because the website was subject to what appears to be brute-force attacks by other computers trying to hack into the site. If I felt inclined to be humorous about it, … Continue reading A note to readers
Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods” to feature Route 66 episode
Andrew Zimmern, host of the Travel Channel show "Bizarre Foods," said the show has produced a Route 66 episode for its ninth season. The new season of "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern" began Tuesday night, but that was with the "Lewis and Clark Trail" episode. But Zimmern gave this news about the upcoming season on … Continue reading Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods” to feature Route 66 episode