Located just off Route 66 near Lebanon, Mo., is the I-44 Raceway, which caters mostly to stock-car racing. The 2008 season for the 3/8-mile oval track will be its 25th, reports WhoWon.com. A good mix of weekly shows and special events for 2008 will find the weekly shows featuring UMP Late Models, USRA A-Modifieds, Factory … Continue reading Racetrack celebrating 25th anniversary
Interactive art
A traveler stopped by the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas. What's always been cool about this strange piece of artwork is it's not in a stuffy museum with armed guards making sure you don't touch it. Here, snow and rain falls on it. You can touch it, spray-paint it and even let your little dogs … Continue reading Interactive art
Restoration of Rialto Square Theatre begins
About 18 months ago, we passed on the news that a local group was trying to raise $5 million to renovate the historic Rialto Square Theatre of Joliet, Ill., which is saddled between lanes of Route 66 and is a stone's throw from the Lincoln Highway. The Joliet Herald News reports that the fundraising continues, … Continue reading Restoration of Rialto Square Theatre begins
Round and round
Another story today about the Round Barn of Arcadia, Okla. This one's by Ted Landphair of the Voice of America. According to his report, there are 1,000 round barns left in America. They were built up until the 1920s. Given the advantages of such a structure, it makes you wonder why farmers quit building them: … Continue reading Round and round
Saying goodbye to a vet clinic
Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader columnist Sarah Overstreet tells the sad tale of Dr. C.C. Moore's Veterinary Clinic in downtown Springfield, which occupied a corner of Route 66 since 1929 and is about to close. Dr. Tedd Hamaker is moving from his current location, which has only a few parking spaces and little room for boarding animals. … Continue reading Saying goodbye to a vet clinic
Route beer sales a-poppin’
When POPS in Arcadia, Okla., opened this summer, it not only offered hundreds of types of soft drinks, but commissioned one of its own. It's called Round Barn Root Beer, a nod to the Round Barn a few hundred yards east on Route 66. To many people's surprise, Round Barn Root Beer is the No. … Continue reading Route beer sales a-poppin’
Cleanup day at the Blue Whale
The Blue Whale site on Route 66 near Catoosa, Okla. (map here) was pretty messed up by this month's historic ice storm. So the Oklahoma Route 66 Association historic preservation committee has set up an emergency work day there on New Year's Day. Fallen tree limbs are all over, including one that cracked a concrete … Continue reading Cleanup day at the Blue Whale
Don’t mind the snow
If Route 66 News looks a little different in the next week or so, it's not because of technical difficulties. WordPress.com added an option on Christmas Day that allows its blogs to have snow floating across the computer screen. I added it during a "why the heck not?" moment. Enjoy the wintry look while it … Continue reading Don’t mind the snow
End of eras for two Tulsa restaurants
There was wistful news out of Tulsa Town this week regarding two Route 66 restaurants. First, the owners of Halim & Mimi's, a Lebanese restaurant on the 11th Street alignment of Route 66, are retiring after nearly 30 years in the business, reports the Tulsa World. The restaurant will reopen on Jan. 2 with new … Continue reading End of eras for two Tulsa restaurants
Beverly’s Pancake Corner is moving
Beverly's Pancake Corner, which has occupied a corner on Route 66 in Oklahoma City for decades, is moving a few blocks down the street, reports the Daily Oklahoman. Beverly's, which is at 2115 Northwest Expressway, is moving to Midland Center at 3315 Northwest Expressway. The old site is reportedly making way for a Talbot's women's … Continue reading Beverly’s Pancake Corner is moving