"Route 66: The Mother Road" author Michael Wallis talks about Cyrus Avery, Tulsa, and the history of Route 66 during a 14-minute segment on the C-SPAN cable channel. This segment was filmed just a few weeks ago in Tulsa. The video cannot be linked, so go to the link here so you can watch it … Continue reading Michael Wallis appears on C-SPAN
New Route 66 souvenir shop opens on Santa Monica Pier
A new Route 66 gift shop in a custom, 16-foot Airstream trailer as opened in the Pacific Park amusement area on the Santa Monica Pier, according to a news release from Pier Communications. The shop doesn't have a specific name, but is an additional retail outlet in Pacific Park, according to the park's communications director. … Continue reading New Route 66 souvenir shop opens on Santa Monica Pier
Route 66 Malt Shop loses its lease
The Route 66 Malt Shop restaurant, in the Nob Hill area of Albuquerque, lost its lease on the property it is situated, and its future appears uncertain. According to Albuquerque Business First, the lease ends July 31: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage adviser and retail specialist Glenn Wright is now marketing the 1,920-square-foot space for … Continue reading Route 66 Malt Shop loses its lease
Man restoring old gas station in Foyil
A resident of Foyil, Oklahoma, is restoring a late 1920s filling station along an original alignment of Route 66 through the town. Nathan Williams informed me his brother-in-law, Kean Isaacs, aims to restore the station to "its original condition or as close as possible." According to an email: He hopes to turn it into an information … Continue reading Man restoring old gas station in Foyil
Japanese man plans to retrace Andy Payne’s Bunion Derby trek
A Japanese ultramarathon runner later this month plans to retrace Andy Payne's steps during the 1928 International Transcontinental Foot Race, better known as the Bunion Derby. Atsuyuki Katsuyama, a native of Japan who lives in Thailand, will begin the 3,400-mile trek from Los Angeles to New York City on April 25 and hopes to finish it in … Continue reading Japanese man plans to retrace Andy Payne’s Bunion Derby trek
Haunted House restaurant soon will be auctioned
The Haunted House restaurant, which has sat off the 1950s-1980s alignment of Route 66 in Oklahoma City for more than 50 years, soon will be auctioned because of declining health of its nearly 90-year-old owner, reported The Oklahoman newspaper. The steakhouse will be auctioned by Dakil Auctioneers on April 16. The eatery sits on a … Continue reading Haunted House restaurant soon will be auctioned
Route 66 advocate named to Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame
Sally Bourne Ferrell of Chandler, Oklahoma, an early leader in the creation of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and one of the champions in restoring a historic armory that became the Route 66 Interpretive Center, was announced as an inductee to the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame, according to a report in The Oklahoman newspaper. The induction … Continue reading Route 66 advocate named to Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame
Two people found slain in Bristow motel
A man and a woman were found dead Sunday at the Carolyn Inn motel on Route 66 in Bristow, Oklahoma, according to several media outlets in the area, including KWTV. The Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation is treating the scene as a homicide. Dead were Jake Allen Wright, 19, and Ruth Ann Rex, 31, The state Medical Examiner’s … Continue reading Two people found slain in Bristow motel
Romeoville art fair will include Bob Waldmire tribute
The inaugural Route 66 Kiwanis Art Fair in Romeoville, Illinois, on Aug. 22 will include a tribute to late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center at 55 Phelps Ave. in Romeoville (map here), less than a … Continue reading Romeoville art fair will include Bob Waldmire tribute
Albuquerque’s Aztec Motel sign taken down
The sign for the Aztec Motel, the only remainder of the historic Route 66 motel in Albuquerque that was torn down in 2011, was taken down Friday, according to several sources that included one eyewitness. The fate of the sign remains uncertain, although the city's Route 66 Action Plan mentions including it as part of a pocket … Continue reading Albuquerque’s Aztec Motel sign taken down