Claudia Heller, who's written a bunch of recent articles about Route 66 in California for the Pasadena Star-News, tucked into a report about Route 66 enthusiast Kim Anderson that she's about to write a series about the Mother Road during a trip from Needles, Calif., to Chicago. Considering Heller's well-researched previous stories, I'm looking forward … Continue reading Follow her east
“Route 66 Yellow Pages” off to a good start
When I first heard last summer about a Kansas firm wanting to publish a 300-page, advertising-supported Route 66 guidebook in early 2010, I was skeptical. Such a publication would be a huge undertaking. Trying to collect advertising from businesses along a 2,400-mile stretch of old highway would be like herding cats. And the ambitions were … Continue reading “Route 66 Yellow Pages” off to a good start
Neon Chicago
Time Out Chicago has produced a list of the 24 best neon signs in Chicagoland, and one Route 66 restaurant made the list. Even better, the article includes 44 photos of noteworthy neon signs in the Windy City. The Mother Road business that made the list was Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook: The Chicken … Continue reading Neon Chicago
Watching the bridge
KOTV in Tulsa posted an interesting story about the so-called Twin Bridges on Route 66 near Catoosa, Okla., and how the Route 66 community worldwide is watching closely to what happens to one of the dilapidated spans. But first, there is a glaring error in the story. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation wants to replace … Continue reading Watching the bridge
Ultramarathoner takes a big challenge
Ultramarathoner John Radich is running down Route 66 for a Scientology-based charity, according to a story in the Redlands (Calif.) Daily Facts. Radich is taking the path of Route 66 from Santa Monica to Chicago, then heading east to the ocean in Atlantic City, N.J. If he's got the energy, he'll also run to New … Continue reading Ultramarathoner takes a big challenge
Notes from the road
Roadies who've explored Route 66 in Clinton, Okla., may remember the 15-foot-tall fiberglass American Indian mascot, aka Muffler Man, who graced the front of David Howe Motors for years. The Howe Indian disappeared after a recent ownership change. But we're pleased to report the mascot has turned up at Indian Trading Post and Art near … Continue reading Notes from the road
Longtime owner of White Fence Farm restaurant dies
Bob Hastert, the longtime owner of White Fence Farm restaurant just off Route 66 in Romeoville, Ill., died at age 73 on Wednesday, according to the Bolingbrook Sun. For much of his life, Hastert run the business that often served hundreds of customers its famous fried chicken at any one time on the weekends. In … Continue reading Longtime owner of White Fence Farm restaurant dies
Mojave preserve bill sent to Senate committee
A proposal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would create a national monument of 940,000 acres along the Route 66 corridor in California's Mojave Desert is being examined by a U.S. Senate panel, according to the Desert Dispatch of Barstow. According to the newspaper: The California Desert Protection Act of 2010 went before the Energy … Continue reading Mojave preserve bill sent to Senate committee
The story of the 11th Street Bridge
In less than two minutes, this video by the Journal-Record explains the history and significance of the 11th Street Bridge in Tulsa, now known as the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge:
CNG GTO update
The Daily Oklahoman filed a story today about Mark McConville and his 1966 GTO that's been outfitted to run on compressed natural gas. McConville's Drive to Inspire on Route 66 began last weekend from Santa Monica, Calif., in an effort to boost CNG as an alternative to gasoline and the infrastructure it will need. That's … Continue reading CNG GTO update