VFW wants to restore Skylark Motel tower and neon

The Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2482 will apply for a grant to restore the tower and its "neon scene" of the former Skylark Motel in west St. Clair, Mo., according to an article by The Missourian. The VFW post, which uses the motel at 1087 North Service Road West as its headquarters now, is applying … Continue reading VFW wants to restore Skylark Motel tower and neon

El Garces may reopen as soon as March as a depot

The historic El Garces Hotel in Needles, Calif., may reopen as early as late March as an intermodal transportation facility -- but not as a hotel -- after a long rehabilitation, according to a recent report by the Needles Daily Star. According to the newspaper: Linda Kidd, city council woman and project committee member, said the hope … Continue reading El Garces may reopen as soon as March as a depot

Route 66 Wind project east of Amarillo secures financing

Boston-based First Wind announced Wednesday it had obtained $206 million in financing for its Route 66 Wind energy project in Armstrong and Carson counties near Amarillo, according to a news release from the company. First Wind obtained financing help from Morgan Stanley and Santander Bank. The new wind farm will be capable of generating 150 megawatts, which … Continue reading Route 66 Wind project east of Amarillo secures financing

A sweet old look to a new Waynesville building

This article was going to be primarily about a new candy shop in downtown Waynesville, Mo. More on that later. But first, it's intriguing how the shop's landlord transformed a vacant lot with a new building that manages to sport an attractive but old-fashioned look. It is Roubidoux Square at 115 N. Benton St. (map … Continue reading A sweet old look to a new Waynesville building

Arcadia in high-risk situation if nearby dam fails

Reports from television sometimes tend to get a little hyperbolic. But this one from KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City about the Route 66 town of Arcadia, Okla., brings a new angle to the state's newfound earthquake problem I hadn't considered. The gist: The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is increasingly concerned about earthquakes' effects on nearby Arcadia … Continue reading Arcadia in high-risk situation if nearby dam fails

U-Drop Inn neon lights are back on — in LED

The Facebook account of the historic U-Drop Inn gas station in Shamrock, Texas, recently announced the long-awaited installation of LED neon has been completed and the lights are on. According to the page, the neon will be on from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. nightly, although I'm certain the "lights on" time will be adjusted … Continue reading U-Drop Inn neon lights are back on — in LED

Online poll could help Tee Pee Curios win a grant

The new owners of Tee Pee Curios in Tucumcari, N.M., have entered the FedEx Small Business Grant contest that includes up to a $25,000 grant. You can vote for the Tee Pee daily at this link or clicking on the widget at left, and you can share the contest on Facebook and Twitter as well. … Continue reading Online poll could help Tee Pee Curios win a grant

Book review: “By Mopar to the Golden Gate”

What would it be like to travel the length of the Lincoln Highway, then return home on much of Route 66, in a classic car? Denny Gibson, a longtime aficionado of historic roads and an occasional commenter on this website, provides the answer in a new book, "By Mopar to the Golden Gate" (140 pages, … Continue reading Book review: “By Mopar to the Golden Gate”

La Posada owner may buy another Harvey House

Allan Affeldt, owner of the historic La Posada along Route 66 in Winslow, Ariz., posted this Facebook message today: In Las Vegas new mexico today to open escrow to buy the Castaneda - another long-neglected fred harvey hotel, one of the loveliest and most famous in the southwest. Now i have until 8 april to … Continue reading La Posada owner may buy another Harvey House

Historic hotel in Seligman receives grant

A group that wants to turn the century-old Cottage Hotel in Seligman, Ariz., into a visitors center and museum received a $9,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, according to The Associated Press and a news release from the agency. The Seligman Historical Society will use the grant to survey the property for potentially harmful asbestos … Continue reading Historic hotel in Seligman receives grant