Not long after the awful Joplin tornado, another strong twister struck Oklahoma around the El Reno area. After reading numerous media accounts of the twister, I had assumed that Route 66 landmarks had emerged relatively unscathed. I was wrong. During a eastbound trip Sunday on old Route 66, we'd discovered that an old gas station … Continue reading An Oklahoma tornado casualty
Cruising the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge near St. Louis once carried traffic on Route 66 over the Mississippi River. Nowadays, it carries only bicycles and pedestrians, except in rare cases when caravans are allowed. Here's one of those rare cases on video, so you can experience it: https://youtu.be/uRpDukTvK8c https://youtu.be/tmJl5Nh9U1w
Work, work, work, work
I suspect the folks in this latest edition of "Route 66: A Road Trip through the Bible" -- ahem -- labored over the script. https://youtu.be/d4AlIM-owwQ
The Road Crew wins big award at Route 66 banquet
The Road Crew music group won the inaugural Bobby Troup Artistic Award during the 2011 International Route 66 Festival awards banquet Saturday night at the Galleries at Sunset Center in Amarillo, Texas. David Wickline, an author and Route 66-themed restaurant owner, won the Route 66 Roadie Award. And Alan McNeil and his mother, Marianne, were honored … Continue reading The Road Crew wins big award at Route 66 banquet
Admiral Twin Drive-In breaks ground for new screens
The historic Admiral Twin Drive-In theater in Tulsa broke ground Saturday morning to build a new pair of screens, reported the Tulsa World. The iconic double-screen structure, which was seen in the 1983 film version of "The Outsiders," was destroyed by a fire last September. Here's a clip from "The Outsiders": https://youtu.be/dIjGSJ9G81w About 100 people … Continue reading Admiral Twin Drive-In breaks ground for new screens
Notes from the Route 66 festival
A lot is going on this weekend at the International Route 66 Festival in Amarillo. But Friday, most of the newsworthy stuff Friday could be found at the artists and authors exposition, housed in the San Jacinto Christian Academy cafeteria. The inside of the cafeteria provides a good indication why it was used. Check out all … Continue reading Notes from the Route 66 festival
Book about Wagon Wheel Motel published
An illustrated book about the history of the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Mo., has just been published. Riva Echols, sister of the motel's owner Connie Echols, wrote "The History of a Route 66 Icon: The Wagon Wheel Motel on Route 66" (102 pages, $15.99, paperback). According to the news release about the book: Riva … Continue reading Book about Wagon Wheel Motel published
Cars Land set for summer 2012 opening
The Cars Land theme park -- based on the Route 66 town of Radiator Springs from the 2006 Disney-Pixar film "Cars" -- at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., will open in summer 2012, according to a report in the Orange County Register. Cars Land is part of $1 billion, 12-acre expansion of Disney California Adventure. … Continue reading Cars Land set for summer 2012 opening
Aztec Motel being torn down
The historic Aztec Motel along Central Avenue (aka Route 66) in Albuquerque is being torn down, although its restored neon sign will remain indefinitely, said the property's co-owner. The tear-down started just a few days ago, judging by posts on the Duke City Fix, a collective blog based in Albuquerque. One of the blog's contributors … Continue reading Aztec Motel being torn down
A road trip by the seat of their pants
I'll let the description of this in-production film speak for itself: Three strapping lads from Cleveland make it their quest to venture out into the barren wilderness along the Historic Route 66 armed with food, water, a 1979 Duster and a thirty dollar BB gun. To donate to the cause, contact the guys at route66orbust@gmail.com. … Continue reading A road trip by the seat of their pants