A few days ago, the British satirical comedy "An Idiot Abroad" took its main character, the dim-witted Karl Pilkington, down the Mother Road. You'll see the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Bottletree Ranch, and a few other Route 66 landmarks, along with bizarre side trips. Note: This episode contains some profanity and an adult situation or … Continue reading “An Idiot Abroad,” Route 66 style
Ford retro body may start a wave of the future
Ford Motor Co. and Dynacorn are partnering on making a new, first-generation Mustang shell for those who want to build their own classic Ford Mustangs, according to the New York Times and other media outlets. For $15,000, a shell of a vintage Mustang can be delivered right to your garage: The new body can be … Continue reading Ford retro body may start a wave of the future
Two Route 66 projects will begin construction by 2013
The Route 66 Experience museum near downtown Tulsa and a new Route 66 gateway in west Tulsa should begin construction by 2013, according to a report in the print edition of the Tulsa County News. Quoting city planner Dennis Whitaker, the report says: There are firm plans in place for the Route 66 Experience "and … Continue reading Two Route 66 projects will begin construction by 2013
Boots Motel volunteer day set to mark Route 66’s birthday
NOTE: The date of the work day has been changed from Friday, Nov. 11, to Saturday, Nov. 12, in an effort to gain more participation. The new owners of the Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., have set Saturday, Nov. 12, as a volunteer day to help clean and read the Route 66 landmark for winter. … Continue reading Boots Motel volunteer day set to mark Route 66’s birthday
A lulu of a loo
Emily Priddy, aka Red Fork Hippie, is repainting a bathroom using scenes from Route 66 at the Brews & Bytes coffeehouse in downtown Sapulpa, Okla. The Sapulpa Daily Herald published a story about her ongoing project today: She told the owners she would paint the walls if the Reed’s could pay for her talent in … Continue reading A lulu of a loo
A closer look at Amboy
This sprawling video by Carlos Garcia Aceves is about the Route 66 town of Amboy, Calif.; Juan Pollo restaurant chain proprietor and Amboy owner Albert Okura, and the Roy's sign in Amboy. https://youtu.be/Nb8UHIohI2g Good nuggets about the history of Amboy are found in the first eight minutes. The middle part is an interview with Okura. … Continue reading A closer look at Amboy
Book review: “Route 66 Sightings”
The first time I leafed through the new photography book "Route 66 Sightings," I encountered one large image that stopped me in my tracks: It was Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe of Stroud, Okla., standing amid the ruins of her Route 66 restaurant after a fire gutted it in 2008. Her hands are … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 Sightings”
“The Old Lucky Diamond Motel”
Vince Gill has a new album out, "Guitar Slinger," and this song is on it. Here's an acoustic version performed for KUPL radio in Portland, Ore. It's quite a Route 66 song. https://youtu.be/TmY8mpf3yO0 You can buy the studio version of this song for 99 cents here. The entire album can be downloaded for $9.49 here.
A tour of the Campbell Hotel
Recently, the owners of the Campbell Hotel along Route 66 in Tulsa offered me and Emily (aka Redforkhippie) a tour of the historic building. Last week, we took them up on their offer. We had toured the hotel in May during the Tulsa's annual Designer Showcase. However, that was when the hotel was dolled up … Continue reading A tour of the Campbell Hotel
Santa Fe motel will be converted into low-income housing
The historic Stage Coach Motor Inn along Cerrillos Road (aka Route 66) in Santa Fe, N.M., soon will be converted into a lower-income housing complex, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The Housing Trust of Santa Fe will begin renovating the motel in January. Plans call for revamping the inn’s three buildings into 15 studios apartments … Continue reading Santa Fe motel will be converted into low-income housing