David Wickline plans to eventually build replica of the 66 Courts motel and attached Magnolia gas station that once stood on Route 66 in Groom, Texas. Wickline, who lives in Ohio, announced it late Tuesday with a Facebook post linking to a GoFundMe page for the project. He hopes to raise $50,000. Wickline said in … Continue reading Long-term plan: Build a replica of 66 Courts
Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series
The Illinois Office of Tourism features Funks Grove Maple Sirup near Shirley, Illinois, as one of eight businesses in a new Illinois Made series. According to an article in the Bloomington Pantagraph, Illinois Office of Tourism director Cory Jobe said Illinois Made contains videos, exclusive web content and travel ideas. “Travelers really want to travel to a destination or … Continue reading Funks Grove Maple Sirup featured on Illinois Made series
Fire damages historic dance hall in Amarillo
A fire Saturday heavily damaged the Soul Town nightclub along old Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas, and the longtime owner is assessing how to rebuild it. Jimmy Dunn, 77, owns Soul Town, which before was the Crystal Pistol strip club, at 907 E. Amarillo Blvd., aka Route 66. The Amarillo Globe News reported: At 6:38 … Continue reading Fire damages historic dance hall in Amarillo
Is the Big Texan Steak Ranch on Route 66?
The answer: Yes. It sits on an obscure and short-lived alignment of Route 66 from the 1920s. More on this later. While recently reporting the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, likely will begin building a bigger complex soon, I wrote this bit: Although the Big Texan no longer sits on Route 66, it began on Amarillo Boulevard … Continue reading Is the Big Texan Steak Ranch on Route 66?
“Boomtown” documentary wins an Emmy
The Tulsa history film "Boomtown: An American Journey" won a regional Emmy Award on Saturday night in the historical documentary group in the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. "Boomtown" was the first movie made by Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions. Here's a photo of executive producers Andy Kinslow and Russ Kirkpatrick right after … Continue reading “Boomtown” documentary wins an Emmy
Route 66 businesses worry about effect of bridge projects
Detours for upcoming replacement of two bridges in Carthage, Missouri, has Route 66 businesses fretting that tourists will bypass their town. The Missouri Department of Transportation will start to replace two bridges on Highway 96 (aka Route 66) on the northeast side of town next spring. The projects won't be finished until fall 2017. The official detour when the … Continue reading Route 66 businesses worry about effect of bridge projects
Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites
A Minnesota-based artist recently launched Explore and Preserve, an apparel and gift website that aims to give part of its profits to endangered Route 66 sites, including the Meramec River Bridge in Missouri. The historic Meramec River Bridge near Eureka, Missouri, requires more than a half-million dollars by the end of the year or the Missouri Department of Transportation tears … Continue reading Business seeks to help preserve Route 66 sites
La Paloma marks 50th anniversary
La Paloma restaurant along Route 66 in La Verne, California, is marking its 50th year this week. But according to the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, the Mexican restaurant's roots go back even further, to the 1920s: That’s when the property was an orange grove. Farmhands would pull up to the grove manager’s home for breakfast … Continue reading La Paloma marks 50th anniversary
Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party Saturday
On Saturday, Chicago will host a 90th-birthday party for Route 66 near the eastern terminus of the Mother Road. According to Time Out Chicago, the Illinois Office of Tourism will throw up a pop-up birthday party for Route 66 on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Chicago, near Michigan Avenue, where the historic highway begins. The nearby Bow Truss coffee shop … Continue reading Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party Saturday
Pokemon Go can boost Route 66 businesses
You may have noticed a bunch of young people walking along the sidewalk, watching the screens of their smartphones intently. It's likely they were playing an augmented reality game, Pokemon Go, that Apple and Android recently released to their smartphone systems. It's caught on like wildfire. The Orlando Business Journal provided this nutshell description of the game: … Continue reading Pokemon Go can boost Route 66 businesses