The West Central Route 66 Visitor Center won't open until sometime next year, but the facility is offering sneak-preview hours while stuff is being moved into the facility. The center stated this in a recent Facebook post: Open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, these preview days provide a unique … Continue reading West Central Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque offers sneak-preview hours
Holiday lighting event for Blue Whale adds a new twist
The iconic Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, has been decorated for the Christmas season for nearly 15 years. But on Saturday, the city added a new twist to the annual event. Santa in his sleigh was placed onto the pond, with a long string of Christmas lights leading to the whale, as if the big … Continue reading Holiday lighting event for Blue Whale adds a new twist
Closed Stratford Inn hotel in Fenton to be torn down by March
The closed Stratford Inn hotel along the Route 66 corridor of the west St. Louis suburb of Fenton, Missouri, will be demolished by mid-March. The St. Louis Business Journal, citing a newsletter from Fenton's mayor, reported the motel, event space and bar along Interstate 44 will be torn down within a few months. The complex … Continue reading Closed Stratford Inn hotel in Fenton to be torn down by March
Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen fenced off due to safety concerns
The Route 66 Association of Missouri recently fenced off the Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri, because of safety concerns about its deck. Gary Sosniecki, a key contributor to the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society, posted on Facebook about the situation: Rich Dinkela, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri said on Sept. 7, … Continue reading Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen fenced off due to safety concerns
Route 66 Association of Missouri now is selling a special black Route 66 license plate
The Route 66 Association of Missouri recently announced it is offering an exclusive black Route 66 license plate, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Revenue. The plate can be ordered online here. Once ordered, it will arrive in your mailbox in four to six weeks. The association passed along this information about the plate: … Continue reading Route 66 Association of Missouri now is selling a special black Route 66 license plate
‘Largest Christmas tree along Route 66’ erected in Bristow
The Bristow Retail Merchants Association of Bristow, Oklahoma, recently raised a 26-foot-tall "Cowboy Christmas" tree it is touting as the "largest Christmas tree along Route 66." According to Fox 23 in nearby Tulsa: The 26-foot Wisconsin Balsam fir made a long journey to Bristow, nearly 1,000 miles. Molly and Socks Christmas Tree Farm who was … Continue reading ‘Largest Christmas tree along Route 66’ erected in Bristow
City of Catoosa approves development proposal for the Blue Whale
The city council of Catoosa, Oklahoma, earlier this month approved a conceptual development plan for the iconic Blue Whale site, but not without hearing concerns from residents and officials from the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. According to a report by the association, several people during the public comments portion of the meeting spoke up about … Continue reading City of Catoosa approves development proposal for the Blue Whale
A chance meeting with Roger Miller’s brother in Erick
Otis Gibbs, who regularly posts interviews with music artists on his YouTube channel, recently was traveling on Route 66 and by happenstance bumped into Roger Miller's brother in front of the Roger Miller mural in his adopted hometown of Erick, Oklahoma. You'll find the quirky sense of humor Roger had was passed along to his … Continue reading A chance meeting with Roger Miller’s brother in Erick
Fire at Molly’s Landing restaurant in Catoosa kills one person
Molly's Landing restaurant, a fixture along Route 66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma, for nearly 40 years, was severely damaged by fire early Friday that apparently killed one person. KJRH-TV in nearby Tulsa reported Friday afternoon that one body was found in an upstairs apartment of the restaurant. Melissa Beasley-Lee, president of the New Mexico Route 66 … Continue reading Fire at Molly’s Landing restaurant in Catoosa kills one person
OU team to develop a living-museum experience at Threatt Filling Station near Luther
A University of Oklahoma team recently received funding from the nonprofit Oklahoma Humanities organization to develop a Route 66 Placemaking Communities Retreat that includes a living-museum experience at Threatt Filling Station near Luther, Oklahoma. The team also wants to develop a Route 66-themed design experience in Hydro, Oklahoma. The efforts are being done before Route … Continue reading OU team to develop a living-museum experience at Threatt Filling Station near Luther