The Route 66 Days Festival in Flagstaff, Ariz., started three years ago with just 80 classic cars. Now, the festival this year expects to have 300 cars, reports the Arizona Daily Sun. Cars entered in the car show will begin arriving downtown this afternoon. They'll park overnight in the Wheeler Park parking lot and move … Continue reading Route 66 festival shows growth
A special birthday celebration
The Bartlett-Carnegie Sapulpa Public Library in Sapulpa, Okla., is marking its 90th birthday on Sept. 15, and to begin the festivities that day will be Route 66 author Michael Wallis, reports the Sapulpa Daily Herald. Wallis will sign books and answer questions from the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in John Frank Hall … Continue reading A special birthday celebration
Fontana restaurant set to reopen
The Red Hill Coffee Shop along Route 66 in Fontana, Calif., was long a favorite of locals and had been operating since 1987. But it was forced to close July 3 when an out-of-control truck snapped off a supporting beam of the restaurant. The city condemned the compromised structure. According to the Fontana Herald News, … Continue reading Fontana restaurant set to reopen
Town asks for county help with Red Cedar Inn
Pacific, Mo., is asking for help from St. Louis County Executive Charles Dooley in the city's possible purchase of the closed Red Cedar Inn and converting it into a historical museum, reports the Tri-County Journal. The Red Cedar Inn, 1047 E. Osage St. (Old Highway 66), closed in March 2005 after more than 70 years … Continue reading Town asks for county help with Red Cedar Inn
Revving up for the Rendezvous
The Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino, Calif., isn't until next weekend, but two area newspapers are already publishing preview articles about the massive classic-car event. First is the Yucaipa New Mirror's story. Next is the Highland Community News story. Outside of all the wonderful cars that will be there, the best bet during the … Continue reading Revving up for the Rendezvous
Preventing a slow-motion disaster
This issue has been covered here before, but the Associated Press takes a look at the Route 66 town of Galena, Kan., and its efforts to fill in its abandoned underground lead mines before they collapse. The city wants to revitalize downtown by making a tourist attraction out of the stretch of old Route 66 … Continue reading Preventing a slow-motion disaster
“Route 66 Grandma” to be honored
Lucille Pech will be honored as grand marshal of the Atlanta Fall Festival Parade in the Route 66 town of Atlanta, Ill., reported the Lincoln Courier. The newspaper gives some background: Pech views Atlanta as the perfect hometown, a place where everyone knows each other, and everyone is each other's neighbor. Pech was asked to … Continue reading “Route 66 Grandma” to be honored
Twist-off like we did last summer
An Oklahoma City television station did a nice segment on the recent Okie Twist-off event at the 66 Bowl. The Twist-off was such a success, the organizers are already planning one in 2008.
Notes from the road
Road correspondent Mark Potter reports that the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., has been returned to its original 1939 color scheme of blue. For many years, the motel was mostly of a coral color. Folks in Springfield, Mo., who are fighting the proposed relocation of Missouri 266, aka Route 66, in their town have … Continue reading Notes from the road
New turnpike entrance will improve access to Route 66 towns
I didn't know this was going to happen, but new gate to Oklahoma's Turner Turnpike, set to be finished sometime in 2009, should improve access to the Route 66 towns of Luther and Arcadia, reports the Daily Oklahoman. The new gates will be built here (map link), with access to Triple XXX Road, 164th Street … Continue reading New turnpike entrance will improve access to Route 66 towns