Billy Corgan, best-known as the singer and songwriter for the 1990s band Smashing Pumpkins, recently meandered across America, including parts of Route 66 in Arizona and California. There's no real point to the video, except Corgan does like the old Mother Road. https://youtu.be/bkfBFh4Uu_s Corgan also traveled Route 66 about a year ago from Missouri to at … Continue reading Smashing Pumpkins frontman takes Route 66 again
Westport Lodge in Joplin to hold grand reopening as Enlight Inn on Monday
The Westport Lodge motel, built in 1947 along Route 66 in Joplin, Missouri, will hold its grand reopening Monday as an Enlight Inn wellness center, motel and cafe. Joplin Globe business writer Wally Kennedy reports the motel at the corner of North Main Street and Fountain Road is the last surviving motor court in Joplin. It … Continue reading Westport Lodge in Joplin to hold grand reopening as Enlight Inn on Monday
Deep background on the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook
The Arizona Republic newspaper recently published several articles about the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, and revealed details about the Route 66 landmark even longtime roadies may not know. It's worth reading the articles in full, starting here. But a few things stood out, plus a couple of observations from me: --- The motel closed … Continue reading Deep background on the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook
Norwegian Supreme Court nixes trademark for “ROUTE 66”
The Norwegian Supreme Court rejected a claim of trademark for "ROUTE 66" involving certain goods and services linked to tourism. The court issued its ruling in November, but it came to light this week from a report by World Trademark Review. The high court overturned rulings by a Norwegian district court and appeals court that … Continue reading Norwegian Supreme Court nixes trademark for “ROUTE 66”
Motel Safari in Tucumcari is up for sale
The owners of the historic and nicely restored Motel Safari in Tucumcari, New Mexico, announced they have put the Route 66 property up for sale. Co-owner Richard Talley put the word out with a message on the Route 66 World website Wednesday: “As we open for the 2017 season and approach our 10th year since … Continue reading Motel Safari in Tucumcari is up for sale
Part of Route 66 in Mojave Desert to be closed until mid-September
A portion of Route 66 that runs through the Mojave Desert just east of Amboy, California, will be closed through mid-September because of bridge construction. San Bernardino County published a news release Monday in the Desert Dispatch newspaper, based in Barstow, California: San Bernardino County Public Works will be constructing two new bridges and road … Continue reading Part of Route 66 in Mojave Desert to be closed until mid-September
Route 66 license-plate wall planned near Edgewood
The folks at RETRO -- Relive the Route plan to build a massive wall along Route 66 near Edgewood, New Mexico, made of New Mexico license plates in the form of a New Mexico Route 66 map. The wall will measure 40 feet long by 12 feet high and be made primarily of 960 yellow … Continue reading Route 66 license-plate wall planned near Edgewood
A look back at the Rock Cafe, Pop Hicks restaurants
Anthony Reichardt recently uploaded a couple of more videos from his videotaped road trips on Route 66 in a 1959 Cadillac during the 1990s. The first is from the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma, in 1994 and 1995. https://youtu.be/zhaj-mo_g5M The first segment of the video shows a couple of neon signs along Route 66 that … Continue reading A look back at the Rock Cafe, Pop Hicks restaurants
An interview with Jim Conkle
Those who ever have spent any time with longtime Route 66 aficionado Jim Conkle will recognize many of the things he says about the Mother Road in this interview. The 25-minute interview was done by host Joan Rudder-Ward on the "Silver Sage" program, a weekly 30-minute cable-television show geared towards the age-50-and-older crowd. It's a … Continue reading An interview with Jim Conkle
“Route 66: In Search of Ghosts and Treasures” contains major revisions, additions
A few weeks ago, author Phyllis Chandler Grey informed me by email she was publishing a revised paperback version of her 2016 children's book "Route 66: In Search of Ghosts and Treasures." I said the new volume probably didn't warrant a story, because minor revisions are made to books all the time. It's routine in … Continue reading “Route 66: In Search of Ghosts and Treasures” contains major revisions, additions