The Joplin (Mo.) Globe ran into a group from the National Preservation Conference in Tulsa that was touring Oklahoma's eastern end of Route 66, plus the Mother Road in Kansas. Among the sights taken in were the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla.; Afton Station in Afton, Okla.; a stretch of the old 9-foot-wide highway, the … Continue reading Preservation Conference tour heads into Kansas
Velorex crew make it to Santa Monica
The Czech group that was driving three-wheeled Velorex vehicles on Route 66 rolled into Santa Monica on Wednesday, reports the New York Times' Wheels blog. The group, which had a host of Dutch and American sponsors, left from the Art Institute in Chicago on September 27 and arrived in California on Wednesday. Along the way, … Continue reading Velorex crew make it to Santa Monica
Preservationist wins Oprah leadership contest
Route 66 preservationist Anne Dodge, of Cambridge, Mass., was one of 80 women who won a contest to be named to the O White House Leadership Project by O, The Oprah Magazine. Dodge was selected for her work in developing "a program encouraging historic preservation and economic development along Route 66 by connecting motel owners … Continue reading Preservationist wins Oprah leadership contest
Notes from the Preservation Conference
I attended a couple of Route 66-related seminars and took a stroll in the exhibition hall on Wednesday during the National Preservation Conference at the Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa. Here are a few news items that should be of interest to roadies: -- I ran into Albert Okura, owner of the Juan Pollo restaurants … Continue reading Notes from the Preservation Conference
The original Golden Arches
Trevor Summons of the San Bernardino County Sun has an interesting article about the original McDonald's restaurant at 14th and E streets in San Bernardino, Calif. Situated on Route 66 - it is in fact the business loop of the famous road - McDonald's was originally brought there on a flatbed from Arcadia. The two … Continue reading The original Golden Arches
Fire damages Alpine Haus hotel
The distinctive Alpine Haus hotel on old Route 66 in St. Robert, Mo., was damaged by fire Saturday, reported the Waynesville Daily Guide. No one was injured -- probably because a nearby trailer park resident saw the flames, knocked on doors at the hotel and roused the sleeping residents who fled to safety. No one … Continue reading Fire damages Alpine Haus hotel
Fasten the seat belts
Miss Peggy Judy is a caricature of the typical Hollywood blond bombshell of the 1960s. But behind all that ditziness, this performance of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" is pretty good. NOTE: Coding is fixed.
A look at the Illinois Route 66 master plan
Yesterday, the Illinois Route 66 Heritage Project released a proposed Interpretive Master Plan executive summary, which seeks to "enhance and to promote economic opportunities" to communities on historic Route 66 in Illinois. The plan was written by the University of Wisconsin's Schmeeckle Reserve Interpreters of Stevens Point. The entire 32-page document can be viewed here, … Continue reading A look at the Illinois Route 66 master plan
Missouri tourism video
Here's a video about Route 66 tourism from the Missouri Division of Tourism. It's brief, so a few Mother Road attractions in the Show-Me State are missed. But it's sleek and well-done.
City may buy Bel-Aire Motel as tourism stop
The city of Springfield, Ill., is in discussions with the state for funding to buy the Bel-Aire Motel so it can be converted into a Route 66 Discovery Center, reports the Journal-Register. The motel is still operating, but it's now a haven of criminal activity. But both Mayor Tim Davlin and supporters of a statewide, … Continue reading City may buy Bel-Aire Motel as tourism stop