There's an excellent article in the Daily Oklahoman about Larry Nance, a photographer based in El Reno, and the impact he's making with local preservationists. It's advisable to read the whole thing. But the gist is that Nance as a child suffered from epilepsy, and was unable to stay at Route 66 landmarks such as … Continue reading Photographer’s work inspires preservation
A “Cars” mural
Vern Hestand III of Bear Mountain Woodworx created a mural inspired by the "Cars" movie, complete with three-dimensional touches (check out the power lines and Route 66 sign). The mural obviously is inside a private residence, but he made a video of it so you can see it. Here's the original proposal for the mural. … Continue reading A “Cars” mural
Visitors center sought at Tulsa transportation park
The blog for RedFork Main Street reports that the Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce is applying for a cost-share grant to build a visitors center for the Route 66 transportation theme park under construction. The chamber is filling out an application to the National Scenic Byways program for the grant. Dittman said he and other … Continue reading Visitors center sought at Tulsa transportation park
Big Friendly Jazz Orchestra
BFJO is based in Japan, and does a version of "Route 66." Apparently a guest pianist sat in during this session (you'll see him later in the video), but the regular pianist is pretty good, too.
Michael Wallis takes Disney Imagineers down Mother Road
Taking Hollywood types on a tour down historic Route 66 is getting to be old hat for best-selling nonfiction author Michael Wallis He hasn't been guiding just Tinseltown actors, however. The first two tours Wallis guided were for employees of Pixar Animation Studios, who were researching the Mother Road for the 2006 summer hit movie, … Continue reading Michael Wallis takes Disney Imagineers down Mother Road
Restaurant will use old Phillips 66 station for catering
Cheever's Cafe in Oklahoma City needed more catering space. So the owners purchased a cottage-style Phillips 66 gas station at 401 Northwest 23rd (aka Route 66) and are converting it, reports the Daily Oklahoman. The onetime Phillips 66 station — one of only two of the original designs left in the city — was bought … Continue reading Restaurant will use old Phillips 66 station for catering
Parts line takes inspiration from Route 66
Navistar has introduced a new line of trucking parts called Lonestar DoubleSix Customs that takes its inspiration from the Mother Road, the company said in a news release today. The initial offering for LoneStar will feature 23 exterior parts and 17 interior parts -- including custom sunvisors, light bars and panels, exhaust, shifter accessories, door … Continue reading Parts line takes inspiration from Route 66
Cow Bop doing another Route 66 tour
The "cowboy jazz" band Cow Bop is doing another Route 66 Challenge tour, from Chicago to Los Angeles starting May 12. Cow Bop has done two other Route 66 tours for charity. It says on the band's Web site: Not willing to rest on the laurels of their past trips, they are once again proving … Continue reading Cow Bop doing another Route 66 tour
Tourism guide gets kicks with Abe
Logan County, Ill., has a new tourism guide coming out soon, and it features both Route 66 and Abraham Lincoln on the cover, reports the Lincoln (Ill.) Courier. The logo was designed by McDaniels’ Marketing in Pekin. It shows Abe Lincoln tipping his top hat as he drives Illinois U.S. Route 66 in a red … Continue reading Tourism guide gets kicks with Abe
NPS honors Atlanta’s Route 66 efforts
Two program managers for the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, under the auspices of the National Park Service, honored the town of Atlanta, Ill., for its ongoing Route 66 preservation efforts regarding the historic Palms Grill, reported the Lincoln (Ill.) Courier. “When Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985,” a Park Service brochure explains, “many of … Continue reading NPS honors Atlanta’s Route 66 efforts