The sixth annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Ill., isn't until next weekend, but the Springfield Journal-Register is already hyping it up. A few changes: First, after a two-year hiatus, the sock hop is back in the Prairie Capital Convention Center with Frankie Avalon as the headliner. Tickets are $16 to $26. … Continue reading Getting ready in Springfield
Long-distance walker update
Remember Detlev Henschel, the fellow who was trying to walk east across North America on old trails and highways, including Route 66? Well, he's now in Belfast, Maine.
Don’t try this at home
Some lads from the U.K. not only visited the Blue Whale on Route 66 in Catoosa, Okla., but decided to strip down to their swimming trunks and dive off the whale's tail into the spring-fed waters below. The caretaker, Blaine Davis, was undoubtedly not around at the time; he doesn't allow swimming. And based on … Continue reading Don’t try this at home
Cool Springs Camp damaged by storm
A severe storm in early September damaged the restored Cool Springs Camp on Oatman Road, aka Route 66, between Kingman and Oatman, Ariz. Cool Springs owner Ned Leuchtner said the storm ripped off part of the roof and dumped about two inches of rain on parts of the store's interior. Fortunately, he said, the artifacts … Continue reading Cool Springs Camp damaged by storm
Walldogs event in Pontiac is on
On Monday, the Pontiac City Council officially extended an invitation to the Walldogs group to paint murals on buildings along Route 66 in town, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. The organization gathers at a community to paint murals. In exchange, the host community provides liability insurance, food and lodging to the artists and a payment … Continue reading Walldogs event in Pontiac is on
Save the Havasu!
For a number of weeks, I'd heard rumors that Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway was planning to tear down the Havasu, a historic Harvey House railroad station, in the Route 66 town of Seligman, Ariz. I'd tried to get BNSF officials to confirm or deny it, to no avail. Today, BNSF media contact Lena Kent … Continue reading Save the Havasu!
Images from the Route 66 Rendezvous
Here's a pretty good still-photo compilation of the classic cars seen at the Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino, Calif., this past weekend: As for attendance at the festival, the San Bernardino County Sun reports: Andrea Winter, San Bernardino Visitors and Convention Center spokeswoman, deemed the Rendezvous - the city's premier annual event - a … Continue reading Images from the Route 66 Rendezvous
More Stones kicks
Here's a clip of the Rolling Stones performing Bobby Troup's "Route 66" during a Charlotte concert in 1999. Except for some wobbling in the middle, it's a pretty decent audience video.
Just listed
The Bristow Firestone Service Station at 321 N. Main, aka Route 66, in Bristow, Okla., was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 6. I was passing through town today, so I shot photos of it. As you can see, the sign pole is still standing, even if the sign is long … Continue reading Just listed
Peter Fonda’s gear from “Easy Rider” will be auctioned
Actor Peter Fonda is auctioning some of the props he used during the filming of the famed 1969 movie, "Easy Rider," according to Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Part of the film was shot on Route 66. Among the props is the flag on the back of his "Captain America" jacket that Fonda wore while motorcycling … Continue reading Peter Fonda’s gear from “Easy Rider” will be auctioned