A significant part of Route 66 in Southern Calfornia's Mojave Desert may reopen by January after flood damage forced its closing in early September. ZachNews, based in Needles, California, reported a 28-mile section of Route 66 from Ludlow to Amboy may reopen as soon as next month. Unprecedented flash flooding closed almost all the roadway … Continue reading Major section of Route 66 in Mojave Desert may reopen by January
Albuquerque motel destroyed by fire
Fire destroyed the former Mountain Lodge motel Thursday afternoon along Route 66 on the east edge of Albuquerque, reported the Albuquerque Journal and other media outlets. The motel had been converted into apartments. No one was hurt in the blaze, but five people reportedly were rendered homeless. The structure was a total loss. Here is … Continue reading Albuquerque motel destroyed by fire
Kingman festival boosts local economy
The town of Kingman, Arizona, saw a sizable increase in revenue because of the International Route 66 Festival in August, according to an article in the Kingman Daily Miner. Here's the breakdown from the July-to-September period: • Nearly 39,000 travelers visited the Powerhouse Visitor Center, a 20 percent increase over the same period in 2013 … Continue reading Kingman festival boosts local economy
Route 66 Gateways in Tulsa are finished
Construction of the Route 66 Gateways along Tulsa's eastern and western sections of the Mother Road now is finished, according to city planner Dennis Whitaker. Whitaker emailed these photos of the gateways at night: And here's one of the gateways in the daytime. Tulsa's Route 66 Gateways are on 11th Street near Yale Avenue Garnett … Continue reading Route 66 Gateways in Tulsa are finished
Next Exit History app needs more work
The Next Exit History app sounds like a good idea but needs plenty of extra work and refinement before I can recommend it to Route 66 fans and other roadies. Next Exit History was developed by the University of West Florida and Historical Research Associates. It's designed to help users with iPhone and Android devices to … Continue reading Next Exit History app needs more work
Reminder: Icons poll open for 2 more weeks
Although a great many of you have long since voted, the poll begun in early December about the top 10 icons of Route 66 remains open through Dec. 31. More than 18,000 votes have been collected so far. On midnight Dec. 31, the poll will close, we'll tally the results, and post a story about the … Continue reading Reminder: Icons poll open for 2 more weeks
Cafe on the Route reopens
Cafe on the Route, a beloved restaurant on Route 66 in Baxter Springs, Kansas, that closed abruptly nearly two years ago, has reopened, according to the Joplin Globe. Tim and Julie Potter of nearby Miami, Oklahoma, bought the restaurant this summer and began renovating it. The newspaper reported that he executive chef is Charles Bowen … Continue reading Cafe on the Route reopens
Santo Domingo Trading Post may reopen by 2016
The historic Santo Domingo Trading Post at Santo Domingo, New Mexico, apparently has set a tentative reopening in 2016 after years of rebuilding following a devastating fire nearly 15 years ago. The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, checking on the post being repainted by cartoonist Ricardo Cate, had this to report: Although work is about … Continue reading Santo Domingo Trading Post may reopen by 2016
Excuse our mess
Things may look a little strange on Route 66 News over the next few days. That's because we're going to do housecleaning on the site, testing and a full face-lift. A couple of readers have emailed about the website loading poorly or the comments field not working since moving to Dreamhost. After Dreamhost's technical gurus … Continue reading Excuse our mess
Museum’s penny press includes one with a Route 66 logo
The McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington, Illinois, recently unveiled a penny press that can make a souvenir coin with Abraham Lincoln and the Route 66 shield. According to the Bloomington Pantagraph, the museum's director of education wanted a penny press for years because it provides a cheap souvenir that children like. The machine … Continue reading Museum’s penny press includes one with a Route 66 logo