The Aztec Hotel on old Route 66 in Monrovia, California, may reopen sometime in 2015, reported the Pasadena Star-News. However, with the report about the historic building containing caveats -- plus the owner's problems in managing the property -- one has to wonder whether the hotel will reopen at all next year. Excerpts from the … Continue reading Aztec Hotel may reopen next year
Former trooper tells about experiences in Mojave Desert
A former officer with the California Highway Patrol has published a book about his experiences during the 1940s in the Mojave Desert -- much of it on Route 66 -- in a memoir. L.A. "Buzz" Banks has published "Policing the Mojave Desert," mining his stories from the time the highway patrol assigned him to Victorville, California, … Continue reading Former trooper tells about experiences in Mojave Desert
Santo Domingo Trading Post wins a large grant
The historic Santo Domingo Trading Post along old Route 66 in Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico, earned a half-million-dollar federal grant for its renovations, according to a news release from U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico. The $511,118 comes from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The project revives an historic Native … Continue reading Santo Domingo Trading Post wins a large grant
New road would partly restore old section of Route 66
The Phelps County commissioners may apply for a grant to build a north outer road near Interstate 44 that would partially restore an old section of Route 66 near Rolla, Missouri, according to The Leader Journal newspaper in St. James, Missouri. The new section of road would run between U.S. 63 and Missouri Highway V. The board would … Continue reading New road would partly restore old section of Route 66
A tour of the Tower Theatre
A few days ago, The Oklahoman newspaper provided a tour for 30 subscribers to the historic but long-closed Tower Theatre along Route 66's Northwest 23rd Street alignment in Oklahoma City. As you will see, the tour contained a few former employees or patrons of the Tower. The tour also included a Q&A with the developers … Continue reading A tour of the Tower Theatre
A visit to the Ariston Cafe
Continuing with his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, KC Keefer sat down with Paul Adam, a third-generation manager for the historic Ariston Cafe on Route 66 in Litchfield, Illinois. This video comes out during the restaurant's 90th anniversary. It started a couple of years before Route 66 existed in Carlinville, Illinois, which wound up … Continue reading A visit to the Ariston Cafe
Tucumcari cop implicated in arson probe
A man who recently resigned from the Tucumcari, New Mexico, Police Department is the subject of an investigation into several arson fires last month, reported the Quay County Sun, including those that destroyed the long-closed Payless Inn on Route 66 and the closed Tucumcari Motel on old U.S. 54. Dustin Lopez quit the force the … Continue reading Tucumcari cop implicated in arson probe
Route 66 gateways in Tulsa begin construction
By the end of October, Tulsa should have its Route 66 gateways on the east and west sides of the city completed, according to a news release. Here are more artist's renderings of the gateways: Contractors started work Thursday on the east gateway on the north side of 11th Street, just east of Interstate 44. … Continue reading Route 66 gateways in Tulsa begin construction
Voices of Tulsa
"Route 66: The Mother Road" author and Route 66 Alliance co-founder alerted me to this new video made for the Tulsa Historical Society. Voices of History from Kirkpatrick&Kinslow Productions on Vimeo. An explanation of the video by its creator, Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions: "Voices of History" is a branding film from Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions, … Continue reading Voices of Tulsa
Route 66 in Mojave may be closed for months
Severe seasonal flooding closed a section of old Route 66 between Essex and Ludlow in Southern California's Mojave Desert, and it may be weeks or even months before it reopens, according to one news source in the area. Zachnews, based in Needles, California, reports more than 40 bridges and some of the Route 66 roadbed … Continue reading Route 66 in Mojave may be closed for months