Fire damages Grants theater

A malfunctioning popcorn machine is believed to be the cause of a fire that damaged the historic West Theatre in on Route 66 downtown Grants, N.M., on Friday, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Owner Roy McDowell, who also owns the city's closed Lux Theater, said no one was in the building at the time. Most of … Continue reading Fire damages Grants theater

Cycling group will map out Mother Road route

The Adventure Cycling Association said it would begin tracing a Chicago-to-Los Angeles route for cyclists to follow as much of historic Route 66 as possible, according to a news release today. From the release: "Route 66 was the overwhelming favorite among our members for a new long-distance route," said Carla Majernik, Adventure Cycling's routes and … Continue reading Cycling group will map out Mother Road route

Streetcar Diner’s new home

  I received this e-mail today from Route 66 preservationist John Weiss: The Streetcar Diner that was behind the Riviera has been moved onto its new space on the grounds of the two-cell jail in downtown Gardner. Before the move it was stripped down, sanded and primed by members of the Illinois Route 66 Preservation Committee. The major … Continue reading Streetcar Diner’s new home

A look inside Keepers of the Wild

Take a look at a good video by AAA Highroads magazine about the animals inside Keepers of the Wild animal sanctuary, on Route 66 north of Kingman, Ariz. The park contains more than 175 exotic animals, many of which would have been destroyed if it were not for Jonathan Kraft's facility. And Keepers of the … Continue reading A look inside Keepers of the Wild

9,000 runners participate in Route 66 Marathon

More than 9,000 runners participated Sunday in Tulsa's annual Route 66 Marathon. In addition to the regulation 26.2-mile course through downtown, riverside, midtown and west Tulsa, the event also consisted of a marathon relay, half-marathon, a five-kilometer race, and a one-mile fun run. Andy Derks, 30, of St. Louis won the marathon in a time of … Continue reading 9,000 runners participate in Route 66 Marathon

San Bern restaurant once served the stars

Here's a long-closed restaurant that even the oldest Route 66 enthusiasts would be hard-pressed to remember. Mother Massetti's Inn at 1396 W. Fifth St. (aka Route 66) in San Bernardino, Calif., became a way for an Italian immigrant widow to support herself and her family. The Italian eatery became a hangout for many Hollywood stars … Continue reading San Bern restaurant once served the stars

The year in review at one little corner of the Mother Road

The good folks at the Historic Seligman Sundries coffee bar in Seligman, Ariz., put together a compilation of highlights from the past year.

Barstow museum featured in Japanese documentary

Barstow Station and other stretches of Route 66 in Arizona and California will be featured in a documentary currently being shot by the Tokyo Broadcasting System, according to the Desert Dispatch in Barstow, Calif. Barstow Station serves as home to the Barstow Route 66 Mother Road Museum. Yoko Honda, the location and production manager for the … Continue reading Barstow museum featured in Japanese documentary

Savior of Chicken Boy honored by governor

A team that saved a gigantic Chicken Boy mascot that once graced a restaurant in downtown Los Angeles will be given the 2010 Governor’s Historic Preservation award, according to a report in Blogdowntown.com, a blog about downtown L.A. The 22-foot-tall fiberglass man-chicken on top of the Chicken Boy restaurant on Broadway between Fourth and Fifth streets … Continue reading Savior of Chicken Boy honored by governor