Someone went beyond the police tape to videotape the remains of the Riviera Roadhouse restaurant on Route 66 in Gardner, Ill., which was destroyed by suspicious fire a few days ago. You'll also see brief footage of the Streetcar Diner, which was spared.
Severe flooding hits Oklahoma City region
Severe floods closed highways, snarled traffic, and inundated homes and businesses throughout the Oklahoma City region after 7 to 10 inches of rain fell Monday, according to varying news reports. And the worst part is that more rain is expected Monday night into Tuesday morning. Many roads remain impassable in Oklahoma City as of Monday … Continue reading Severe flooding hits Oklahoma City region
Fire guts bathhouse in historic Tucumcari park
A fire Saturday night all but destroyed the historic main building at Tucumcari Metropolitan Park, aka 5 Mile Park, along old Route 66 west of Tucumcari, N.M. Richard Talley at the Motel Safari reported in an e-mail: The walls seem to still be standing, but with no roof now, after a few rains, everything left … Continue reading Fire guts bathhouse in historic Tucumcari park
An amazing story
Do yourself a favor and read this story from the Kansas City Star about a TWA flight attendant who helped a grief-stricken husband find his missing infant son. The baby was thrown from the vehicle when the man's wife died in a car crash on Route 66 near Grants, N.M., in 1956. The woman who … Continue reading An amazing story
Storm ravages Route 66 Festival in Edwardsville
A severe storm struck the Route 66 Festival area in Edwardsville, Ill., on Saturday afternoon, forcing the cancellation of the rest of the event after several tents were blown over and festival-goers ran for cover. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, the storm came with nasty winds and 1-inch hail. Witnesses said children were crying as … Continue reading Storm ravages Route 66 Festival in Edwardsville
Sleep in a motel room way underground
Grand Canyon Caverns, on Route 66 between Seligman and Peach Springs, Ariz., boasts a number of gimmicks and attractions to draw in tourists. But the latest one may be the strangest -- and among the most enticing -- one yet. A few weeks ago, Grand Canyon Caverns unveiled its Cavern Suite, 220 feet below ground. … Continue reading Sleep in a motel room way underground
A closer look at a Hall of Fame inductee
The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Ill., published a profile of the late Lewis "Zoo" Barrick, a Lincoln trucker who recently was elected to the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame: Zoo Barrick started Barrick Transfer & Beverage Co. in 1935. The transfer company hauled freight such as meat and soda up and down Route 66. … Continue reading A closer look at a Hall of Fame inductee
Big festival is coming fast
The Tri-State Route 66 Festival begins at Downstream Casino Resort at the Missouri-Kansas-Oklahoma border next weekend, and the Joplin Globe has a preview about it. The annual Route 66 Festival, which moves to a different area each year, uses the Will Rogers Awards Banquet as its centerpiece. We'll be there for the big gala. More … Continue reading Big festival is coming fast
Big covered wagon wins roadside attraction poll
Here's an interesting tidbit in this story from the Peoria Journal-Star about the The World's Largest Covered Wagon, just off Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill.: Reader's Digest readers named it the Best Roadside Attraction in America in 2010. The venerable magazine recently ran its annual Best of America survey, which focuses on what it calls … Continue reading Big covered wagon wins roadside attraction poll
A look at the Arizona Route 66 passport
On Thursday, I received in the mail from Sharlene Fouser the new Arizona Route 66 passport that is being distributed at tourism offices and businesses along the Mother Road in the state. Here's what it looks like, outside and inside: The passport contains only 20 pages, but includes a short history of the road, trivia, … Continue reading A look at the Arizona Route 66 passport