The Missouri Department of Transportation on Wednesday night in Lebanon, Missouri, presented its options during a public hearing for the now-closed Gasconade River Bridge that carried Route 66 near Hazelgreen. MoDOT posted a series of documents on its website here. KOLR-TV also summarized the five options for the bridge, which was closed for two years ago because … Continue reading MoDOT lays out options for Gasconade River Bridge
Appeals court clears ART project; city still hasn’t received grant
An appeals court this week affirmed a lower court's ruling the massive Albuquerque Rapid Transit project along Central Avenue (aka Route 66) can proceed. However, the city still hasn't received a crucial $69 million grant to fund the mass-transit bus project, more than 10 months after it was recommended by the Federal Transportation Administration. The fact the 10th … Continue reading Appeals court clears ART project; city still hasn’t received grant
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard’s other business
Many Route 66 travelers may not know Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis runs a side business that has nothing to do with dessert. For about a month during the holiday season, it sells Christmas trees and other greenery harvested from Nova Scotia. Here's more about it in a recent report from KTVI-TV in St. Louis: … Continue reading Ted Drewes Frozen Custard’s other business
A 2,400-mile performance of “Route 66”
Music teacher Andy Jarema, thanks to some slick editing, performs Bobby Troup's "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" on trumpet on the 10 locations mentioned in the song -- plus Santa Monica as a bonus. https://youtu.be/FhLZ1Su64Ts Jarema wrote about his journey in a series of posts here. Many photos from the trip also are posted at … Continue reading A 2,400-mile performance of “Route 66”
Amarillo officially declared a cultural district
Amarillo officially recently was designated a cultural district by the Texas Commission on the Arts. Amarillo was one of 35 cities receiving the cultural-district tag, according to a story in the Amarillo Globe-News. It took two years for the city to get that designation. The Amarillo Cultural District encompasses five areas, including Historic Route 66 "with its … Continue reading Amarillo officially declared a cultural district
New firearms store / gun range using pieces of Hawkins Mill
A new firearms store and gun range is being built along Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, at the old Hawkins Mill site and using pieces of it in its design. Cherokee Firearms of Springfield is building a new facility at Kansas Expressway and College Street (aka Route 66). The new place's resemblance to the historic … Continue reading New firearms store / gun range using pieces of Hawkins Mill
Tulsa’s Route 66 Experience more than halfway to funding goal
A key official behind the proposed Route 66 Experience in Tulsa said fundraising for the multi-use museum complex is more than halfway to its $23 million goal. Ken Busby, CEO and executive director of the nonprofit Route 66 Alliance, told KJRH-TV in Tulsa about $13 million has been raised so far. Because of the site's … Continue reading Tulsa’s Route 66 Experience more than halfway to funding goal
Should Albuquerque set up a Route 66 state park?
Jon Knudsen, a longtime resident of Albuquerque and a University of New Mexico instructor, posited an intriguing idea during an op-ed piece in the New Mexico Market Place: Placing a Route 66 state park in the middle of the city to help draw visitors with RVs or large trailers. He writes: What about a place … Continue reading Should Albuquerque set up a Route 66 state park?
Route 66 Gateways in Tulsa win architectural design award
The Route 66 Gateways that grace the Mother Road at the eastern and western edges of Tulsa recently won an architectural design award. The gateways, designed Dewberry Architects, received a People's Choice Award at the American Institute of Architects Eastern Oklahoma 2016 Design Excellence Awards Banquet. Steve Vogt described Dewberry's design in this way: … Continue reading Route 66 Gateways in Tulsa win architectural design award
Memories of Times Beach persist more than 30 years later
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently published a story about Marilyn Leistner, who was the last mayor of Times Beach, Missouri, before the Route 66 town was deserted for good in 1983 because of dioxin contamination. Road contractor Russell Bliss used dioxin-laced oil to spread on dirt roads throughout the town. When the Meramec River flooded, … Continue reading Memories of Times Beach persist more than 30 years later