The City of Normal, Ill., has given a $46,695 grant to a woman so she can put a new roof and install temporary heating in her 1930s gas station on an old alignment of Route 66, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. She plans to eventually convert the gas station into a restaurant, visitors center and bed-and-breakfast. … Continue reading City gives grant to owner of 1930s station
Kingman visitors center may get face-lift
The Powerhouse Visitors Center in Kingman, Ariz., may get a makeover from Thayer Design Inc. from Virginia, reports the Kingman Daily Miner. Thayer representatives met with the ETDC in May and took note of the perceived problem areas in the center, including the lack of outdoor shade and curb appeal; difficulty in navigating the building; … Continue reading Kingman visitors center may get face-lift
Mohawk Lodge Indian Store
Although Mohawk Lodge Indian Store in Clinton, Okla., didn't start business on Route 66, its founding predates the historic road by several decades and even Oklahoma statehood. Located at 22702 Route 66 North just east of Clinton, Mohawk Lodge has been there since about 1940. But the American Indian craft store's origin dates to Colony, … Continue reading Mohawk Lodge Indian Store
Duke City Fix takes up El Vado’s cause
Duke City Fix, one of the most popular blogs in Albuquerque, has jumped on board with the cause to save El Vado Motel on Route 66 -- not that it never was on board in the first place. Duke City Fix has been an enthusiastic supporter of Route 66 preservation since the beginning. E-mails in … Continue reading Duke City Fix takes up El Vado’s cause
“Independent America” airs Tuesday
The excellent documentary, "Independent America: The Two-Lane Search for Mom & Pop," is airing at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the Sundance Channel. That happens to be Election Day in some areas across the country. Also, Sundance is airing the film at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9; 10:05 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 22; and 8 p.m. Monday, … Continue reading “Independent America” airs Tuesday
Report on the Havasu Hotel
Cronkite News Service in Arizona has a report about residents' efforts to save the Havasu Hotel in Seligman from the wrecking ball. It was a Harvey House for many years until it closed decades ago. Most of the story treads over familiar ground, except for this new twist: Frank Kocevar, owner of Seligman Sundries, a … Continue reading Report on the Havasu Hotel
“Route 66 Tour, Part 1”
A YouTube poster who calls himself/herself "Route 66 Tour" has posted the first segment of what appears to be well-produced documentary series about Route 66: I'm not 100 percent positive, but I think the segment comes from this five-DVD box set, titled "Route 66: The Marathon Tour."
A twist on “Route 66”
The BCB Band of Oklahoma City delivers a country-rock twist to Bobby Troup's "Route 66" in this slideshow. If you like what you heard, go to the band's Web site here, where a lot of Mp3s can be heard and videos can be seen.
Bottletree ranch
This video shows the scale of the Bottletree Ranch that's on Route 66 just outside of Helendale, Calif. The property is owned by Elmer "Bottletree Man" Long, and he has a blog.
Book review: “Greetings from the Lincoln Highway”
When best-selling author Michael Wallis and award-winning photographer Michael Williamson were doing field research for their book, "The Lincoln Highway," they used Brian Butko's 2005 volume, "Greetings from the Lincoln Highway" ($29.95, Stackpole Books, 288 pages), as one of their key references. Butko even embarked a bit of a mirror book tour when Wallis and … Continue reading Book review: “Greetings from the Lincoln Highway”