Here's an atmospheric film about the nearly deserted Route 66 town of Amboy, Calif. Fortunately, Roy's (which is featured in the footage) is on an upswing. That's thanks to Juan Pollo restaurant chain owner Albert Okura, who is slowly but surely bringing the business back to life. UPDATE: I just found out from California Route … Continue reading Ghost town
Fire damages old cafe near Lebanon
According to the Lebanon (Mo.) Daily Record, a Route 66-era cafe near the settlement of Hazelgreen, Mo., was heavily damaged by fire early Tuesday. The fire broke out at the Midway American Chinese Restaurant at Exit 140, off Interstate 44 east of Lebanon, about 4 a.m. and took firefighters about four hours to control. Based … Continue reading Fire damages old cafe near Lebanon
Heritage House restaurant torn down
The Heritage House restaurant on old Route 66 in Springfield, Ill., which closed in 2004, recently was demolished, reports the Springfield Journal-Register. The Heritage House operated for 38 years. For a long time, it was the only smorgasbord restaurant for miles around. Growing up in central Illinois, I remember one of its ads on a … Continue reading Heritage House restaurant torn down
Seligman Harvey House set to be torn down today
The Havasu, a Harvey House on an old alignment of Route 66 in Seligman, Ariz., isn't scheduled to be torn down until sometime today, but its obituary has already been written by the Prescott (Ariz.) Daily Courier. When word leaked out about five years ago that the BNSF planned to demolish the hotel, Seligman residents … Continue reading Seligman Harvey House set to be torn down today
Route 66 artist setting up shop near Mother Road
Route 66 artist, researcher and author Jerry McClanahan announced he is moving from north Texas to the Mother Road community of Chandler, Okla. McClanahan holds considerable stature with roadies. In addition to being an accomplished painter of scenes from the Mother Road, he wrote the indispensable "Route 66: EZ Guide for Travelers" guidebook that combines … Continue reading Route 66 artist setting up shop near Mother Road
“A City at the End of the World”
This is a 1993 broadcast from PBS station KNME-TV in Albuquerque, split into three parts of eight to 10 minutes each. The commentary is by V.B. Price, a University of New Mexico faculty member who is an environmental and architectural preservationist. Because of Albuquerque's massive growth in recent decades, Price was greatly concerned the city … Continue reading “A City at the End of the World”
From dirt into art
KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City did a story about Bradley's Pottery in Chandler, Oka., which is on Route 66. It turns out that Julie Bradley uses Oklahoma's red clay right in her back yard for her creations. "This red clay is equivalent to stoneware," she says. "So you can bake with it. You can microwave with … Continue reading From dirt into art
And now a word from our sponsor …
Here's an ad for the 1964 Chevrolet Impala that ran with the original "Route 66" television drama.
Highway of Broken Dreams — past tense
It was depressing to read Peter Kenter's story, "Highway of Broken Dreams," in the National Post of Canada about a trip he took on Route 66. He tells about how "hope gave way to despair." Finally ... ... Flagstaff, Arizona ... ... Don't forget Winona... As a matter of fact, we did forget Winona. And … Continue reading Highway of Broken Dreams — past tense
Virtual road trip
Andrew Wood completed a full-length trip of Route 66 a few weeks ago, and he's put his musings and adventures on a Web site here. It's chock-full of good writing and a ton of hyperlinked photos. Be prepared to spend a couple of fun hours on it. Wood, by the way, is the author of … Continue reading Virtual road trip