Money from the recently passed federal stimulus package will be used to partly fund the establishment of a Route 66 welcome center in Webb City, Mo., reports the Joplin Globe. The Route 66 Welcome Center in Webb City is to be developed in an old gasoline service station at Webb Street and Broadway. The project … Continue reading Stimulus money awarded for Route 66 welcome center
Rock Cafe update
I guess the rebuilding of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., was going too smoothly to last. The reconstruction of the historic Route 66 restaurant after a fire a year ago has encountered a few snags in recent days, including the previously mentioned problems with a vent hood that should be rectified by midweek and … Continue reading Rock Cafe update
Cajon Pass interchange project includes reopening Route 66
The Inland Press-Enterprise reports that the California Department of Transportation wants to rebuild the bottlenecked interchange of Interstates 15 and 215 in Cajon Pass, and that the plan includes bringing back a portion of Route 66 there. All plans for the new interchange include connecting Cajon Boulevard from Kenwood Avenue to Glen Helen Parkway. By … Continue reading Cajon Pass interchange project includes reopening Route 66
“GMA Weekend” keeps going west
Here are two co-hosts of ABC's "Good Morning America Weekend" driving a 1959 Corvette west of Albuquerque on Route 66. The second half of the segment can be viewed online here.
Music museum will also feature Route 66
Well, this is interesting. From the Tulsa World: The Oklahoma Historical Society hopes to bring its first facility to Tulsa in the form of a $33 million museum of music and popular culture located in the Brady District. Plans for the museum, which will be half the size of the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma … Continue reading Music museum will also feature Route 66
“Ford Fairlane”
Bobby Pinson has become one of may favorite songwriters because his lyrics seem almost conversational. He lost his record deal, but he's writing hits for other people, including Sugarland, so he's not hurting financially. This song by Pinson came from his first major-label album, but I'm not aware it was released as a single. This … Continue reading “Ford Fairlane”
“Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)”
Here's another highway-worthy song by country star Dierks Bentley.
Kingman group raising money to restore signs
The fledgling Route 66 Association of Kingman has begun a silent auction as a fundraiser to restore neon signs that once graced the Mother Road in Kingman, Ariz. Kingman roadie Jim Hinckley passed along this information via e-mail: The organization has acquired and stored the City Cafe and Imperial Motel sign. A beautiful old Packard sales … Continue reading Kingman group raising money to restore signs
Why the historic 11th Street Bridge remains closed
KOTV in Tulsa filed a report about why the historic 11th Street Bridge remains closed to vehicles and pedestrians, even though it was originally envisioned as a centerpiece of Tulsa's Route 66. The answer has been answered here before -- namely, it was found later that rehabbing the bridge would have eaten up nearly all … Continue reading Why the historic 11th Street Bridge remains closed
Playing with authority
Here's the aptly named Western Swing Authority playing Bobby Troup's "Route 66." Based on information I tracked down, Western Swing Authority is a sort of all-star team, based in Canada, of studio and touring musicians who like Western swing.