Lara Hartley of the Victorville (Calif.) Daily Press takes a look at several good, vintage motels on Route 66 in the area, including the Wigwam Motel in Rialto, the Route 66 Motel in Barstow, and the Downtown Motel in Barstow. And for those of you who are looking for such properties to buy, the Route … Continue reading Old-time motels hang on
Food Network show checks out Route 66 restaurants
The "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" show on the Food Network visited several Route 66 restaurants in its latest installment. The show included Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan.; the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla.; and Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe in Victorville, Calif. If you missed it, you can see the "Route 66" … Continue reading Food Network show checks out Route 66 restaurants
“My Blueberry Nights” being released in February
Wong Kar Wai's film, "My Blueberry Nights," is set to be released in Canada on Feb. 13, according to the Empire Movies site. Most movies are released wide in North America on the same date, so I'm assuming the film will open in the United States the same week. I'm unable to verify this, however. … Continue reading “My Blueberry Nights” being released in February
Accept no substitutes
In recent weeks, it's come to our attention that a few online companies have been offering all four seasons of the original "Route 66" television series on DVD. Those are unofficial releases, because Roxbury Entertainment owns the rights to "Route 66" and is releasing the first half-season on a four-DVD set in a matter of … Continue reading Accept no substitutes
More ghost stories
'Tis the season for ghost stories on Route 66, particularly with Halloween coming up. I've heard most of them. But I stumbled upon one of which I was unaware in the Alamogordo (N.M.) Daily News in a story about a paranormal research group called the Southwest Paranormal Information Research and Investigation Team, or SPIRIT. Apparently … Continue reading More ghost stories
A visit to 4 Women on the Route
It was nearly a year ago when I went to 4 Women on the Route's event to show off the boom truck that was the inspiration for Mater in the movie "Cars" and fledgling Route 66 visitors center at Front and Main streets in Galena, Kan. I'd driven by the 4 Women on the Route's … Continue reading A visit to 4 Women on the Route
Coral Court film trailer
Someone has posted the trailer for the award-winning documentary "Built for Speed: The Coral Court Motel," which tells the history of the greatly missed Coral Court Motel on Route 66 in the St. Louis suburb of Malborough, Mo. The film was directed by Bill Boll and Shellee Graham. I don't think the film is on … Continue reading Coral Court film trailer
Senior Hall of Fame inductee has Mother Road connection
One of this year's inductees to the Illinois Seniors Hall of Fame has a connection to Route 66. That inductee is Betty Estes of Pontiac, who founded the town's tourism department and was its first tourism director, according to the Ottawa (Ill.) Times. And then there's this: She also helped develop the Red Carpet Corridor, … Continue reading Senior Hall of Fame inductee has Mother Road connection
DIY festival
Merchants along Sixth Street, aka Route 66, in Amarillo, Texas, have long been waiting for the city to do something about revitalization. They got tired of waiting. The Route 66 Business Association and San Jacinto Christian Academy teamed up to create the first annual Historic Route 66 Fall Festival on Oct. 6, reports The Ranger, … Continue reading DIY festival
Route 66 bridge near Galena needs repairs
The Front Street Bridge, which carries an old alignment of Route 66 into downtown Galena, Kan., was recently downgraded in its load limit from 20 to 10 tons. I was told the weight limit on the bridge, which essentially is a railroad overpass, was dropped because of problems with one of the support pillars. Last … Continue reading Route 66 bridge near Galena needs repairs