Inspired by last year's International Route 66 Festival, residents and the city of Kingman, Arizona, are planning on a big Route 66 event each year, reported the Daily Miner newspaper. The festival will be called Best of the West on Route 66, and it will combine popular car shows and the annual Andy Devine Days … Continue reading Kingman will create annual Route 66 festival
Hundreds turn out for Gary Turner memorial
Hundreds of people gathered Sunday afternoon for a celebration of life for Gary Turner, the owner of the Gay Parita Sinclair station west of Halltown, Missouri. The KY3 television station out of nearby Springfield, Missouri, had a short video from the event. Alas, I cannot embed it, so you'll have to go straight to the … Continue reading Hundreds turn out for Gary Turner memorial
300 attend Gasconade Bridge rally
Multiple reports Saturday indicated about 300 people attended a rally urging the preservation and reopening of the historic Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri. The Lebanon Daily Record newspaper, KLOR-TV and KTTS radio covered the event. However, the best report probably was the one by KY3 in Springfield, Missouri. It covered a lot of issues … Continue reading 300 attend Gasconade Bridge rally
A closer look at the U-Drop Inn
The ABC-TV affiliate in Amarillo gave two minutes of air time about the historic U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas. The Route 66 landmark, lovingly restored in 2004, serves as an office for the town's chamber of commerce and as a welcome center for tourists. https://youtu.be/GDuoWrVecTU One thing I didn't know was the U-Drop Inn is … Continue reading A closer look at the U-Drop Inn
Lebanon may rename Elm Street to Route 66
Lebanon, Missouri, may rename Elm Street to Route 66 within its city limits, reported the Lebanon Daily Record. The mayor, Lyle Anderson, said when that change occurs isn't certain, only that it is coming: “It’s not clear yet what we are going to do, but I have at least committed to putting banners up and … Continue reading Lebanon may rename Elm Street to Route 66
Galena will sell bricks for downtown revitalization phase
Galena, Kansas, soon will begin to brick-selling campaign for the second phase of a downtown revitalization program along its stretch of Route 66. According to the Joplin Globe: According to City Council member Ashley Qualls, the approximate cost to complete Phase 2, targeted for Main Street from Fourth Street to Front Street, is $340,000. The … Continue reading Galena will sell bricks for downtown revitalization phase
University developing mobile archive of Missouri’s Route 66 motels
Missouri State University is developing Project MO Tell, a mobile archive that shows and explores all the Route 66 motels in the Show Me State. The university is one of the repositories for Route 66's archives. Two university researchers, Thomas Peters and David Richards, recently received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation … Continue reading University developing mobile archive of Missouri’s Route 66 motels
Boot Hill may be in limbo for a while
If you hoped for a quick and orderly transition of the Boot Hill Saloon & Grill in Vega, Texas, you're going to be disappointed. On Saturday, an auction was held in an effort for owner Rory Schepisi to unload the business. The Amarillo Globe-News reported that day: Caprock Auction Group’s Dirk van Reenen said the highest … Continue reading Boot Hill may be in limbo for a while
How about more than a well at the Riviera Roadhouse site?
An interesting idea hatched during a finance committee meeting of the Grundy County Board about the site of the now-gone Riviera Roadhouse in Gardner, Illinois. The Route 66 landmark burned down during a fire in 2010. The Morris Daily Herald reports an abandoned well on the property -- now owned by the county -- is improperly capped. … Continue reading How about more than a well at the Riviera Roadhouse site?
What’s happening with Shea’s Route 66 Museum and Art’s Motel?
A story in the Springfield State Journal-Register gave status reports about three prominent Illinois Route 66 properties that closed and/or were for sale. One was about the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, which went up for sale in October for $1.2 million by the Adam family, remains on the market and is still operating. Another was … Continue reading What’s happening with Shea’s Route 66 Museum and Art’s Motel?