Here's a new slide-show video of Route 66 sights in Arizona and California. Appropriately enough with Christmas fast approaching, Lindsey Buckingham's 1981 hit song "Holiday Road" is part of the soundtrack. The song is best-known for being included in the movie, "National Lampoon's Vacation."
More from Rock the Route
Another video was posted today from the recently completed Red Bull Rock the Route tour for two unsigned rock bands. You'll see a number of Route 66 sights in this clip:
Joplin blessed with a generous Secret Santa
The Route 66 town of Joplin, Mo., boasts a Secret Santa who manages to place fat cashier's checks into Salvation Army kettles in town every year, according to Time magazine. Amidst the haul, a Salvation Army counting crew found five $1 bills, folded tightly into squares — each concealing a $20,000 cashier's check with "Santa … Continue reading Joplin blessed with a generous Secret Santa
Original Big Boy restaurant was on Route 66
This slipped through my radar, but the original Bob's Big Boy restaurant was established on Route 66 in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles. Dan Kimpel of the Eagle Rock Patch dug up details about the eatery, which now boasts more than 100 restaurants in America and is best-known by its portly, smiling mascot. … Continue reading Original Big Boy restaurant was on Route 66
Frankoma Pottery remains in limbo
A well-researched story this week in the Tulsa Business Journal tells about the sad state of affairs of the closed Frankoma Pottery business in nearby Sapulpa, Okla., off old Route 66. Closed March 19 last year, the plant’s telephone numbers are out of service, and the home page for its website, www.frankoma.com, simply reads, “This site … Continue reading Frankoma Pottery remains in limbo
Longtime manager buys, reopens Eisler Bros. Store
That was a short hiatus. Scott Nelson, longtime manager of the historic Eisler Bros. Old Riverton Store in Riverton, Kan., has purchased and reopened the business after it was shut down indefinitely Dec. 5 during ownership wrangling. Eisler Bros. reopened Friday. Nelson, who's managed the Route 66 grocery and souvenir shop since 1980, said in … Continue reading Longtime manager buys, reopens Eisler Bros. Store
Name that baseball team
The new Frontier League baseball team in Joliet, Ill., soon will begin its inaugural season, and it is asking its potential fan base to come up with a name: We have held some brainstorming sessions and come up with a list of names. BUT… We know that someone out there may have a better idea! … Continue reading Name that baseball team
Vega Motel shows signs of new life
The Vega Motel boasts a new owner who's converted part of the historic Route 66 motel in Vega, Texas, into a business center, and wants to reopen part of the property for overnight guests again. Darren Elliott, pastor of Christ's Community Fellowship church in Vega, bought the property during a tax auction in June, remodeled a … Continue reading Vega Motel shows signs of new life
Triangle Motel named to National Register
The Triangle Motel in Amarillo, Texas, was added to the National Register of Historic Places effective Dec. 7, according to an e-mail today from the National Park Service. The State Board of Review unanimously voted in late September to recommend the Route 66 motel to the National Register, so the national listing was deemed all … Continue reading Triangle Motel named to National Register
Launching Pad Drive-In put up for sale
The Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant of Wilmington, Ill., made famous by its 28-foot-tall astronaut Gemini Giant mascot that stands next to Route 66, has been put up for sale and appears to be closed at least temporarily. Longtime Route 66 advocate John Weiss, a Wilmington resident, took note of the restaurant's closing a few days … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In put up for sale