Boots Court motel in Carthage opens its visitors’ center

The historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, recently opened to the public its Boots Court Motel Visitors Center, housed in a former Sinclair gas station adjacent to the Route 66 property. The motel opened the facility during Maple Leaf Festival weekend, which is Carthage's biggest event. More about it: A grand opening for the … Continue reading Boots Court motel in Carthage opens its visitors’ center

Boots Court motel lists its new plans after completion of renovations

The new manager of the Boots Court in Carthage, Missouri, announced new plans for the historic Route 66 motel after renovations of its 13 rooms were completed. According to the Joplin Globe, Jeremy Morris, who lives at nearby Red Oak II, took over in August as manager of the Boots Court from Kim Bausinger, the … Continue reading Boots Court motel lists its new plans after completion of renovations

Whisler’s Drive-Up restaurant in Carthage celebrating its 70th year in business

Whisler's Drive-Up restaurant in Carthage, Missouri, this year has entered into the rarified air of marking its 70th anniversary. The eatery at 300 N. Garrison Ave. sits on an alignment of Route 66 on the north side of town, before it was decommissioned in that area in 1972. Joplin Globe food columnist Cheryle Finley recently … Continue reading Whisler’s Drive-Up restaurant in Carthage celebrating its 70th year in business

Boots Court motel in Carthage wins Missouri Preservation Honor Award

The historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, was one of the recipients of the annual Missouri Preservation Honor Awards. The awards were announced Tuesday at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City. Here's what the nonprofit preservation organization said about the Route 66 landmark: Boots Court was built in 1939 at the corner of US … Continue reading Boots Court motel in Carthage wins Missouri Preservation Honor Award

Carthage city panel votes to tear down historic baseball stadium

The Carthage, Missouri, City Council Public Services Committee reluctantly decided recently to demolish the historic Carl Lewton Stadium, also known as The Rock, after contractors determined that saving it wasn't feasible. According to reporting by the Joplin Globe, the rock-facade stadium was built as a Works Progress Administration project in 1937 and was the home … Continue reading Carthage city panel votes to tear down historic baseball stadium

City of Carthage loses lawsuit over the repair of its historic bridges

An appeals court in St. Louis ruled against the City of Carthage, Missouri, in its effort to get a railroad to repair its historic bridges, including the famous Oak Street Bridge (aka Whee Bridge) that carries Route 66. A three-judge panel with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that … Continue reading City of Carthage loses lawsuit over the repair of its historic bridges

All 13 rooms at Boots Court motel in Carthage now available for overnight stays

The historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, announced all 13 of its rooms now are available for overnight travelers. The owners in a Facebook post proclaimed it was the first time "in decades" all the rooms can be booked. That includes the fabled Clark Gable Room; No. 6 was used by the movie star … Continue reading All 13 rooms at Boots Court motel in Carthage now available for overnight stays

Federal appeals court hears Carthage’s lawsuit involving Whee Bridge

A federal court in St. Louis heard the City of Carthage's appeal of a lawsuit ruling involving Union Pacific Railroad for its alleged lack of maintenance of bridges in the city, including the century-old Route 66 Oak Street Bridge, aka the Whee Bridge. According to the Joplin Globe, the city appealed a lower judge's ruling … Continue reading Federal appeals court hears Carthage’s lawsuit involving Whee Bridge

Nearly century-old Krtek Building in Carthage destroyed by fire

A building that stood along Route 66 in Carthage, Missouri, for nearly a century was destroyed by fire over the weekend. The Krtek Building, built in 1927 at Grant Street and Central Avenue (aka Route 66), also was known Henson Metal Building Supply and Stanley Lumber Co. Google Street View captured an image of the … Continue reading Nearly century-old Krtek Building in Carthage destroyed by fire

Neon lighting glows again at historic Boots Court motel in Carthage

The historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, on Wednesday posted a photo of its architectural neon lighting glowing again. It was another sign that renovations on the Route 66 landmark were progressing. On a comment thread with the Facebook post, I asked the motel how it was coming on getting the rest of its … Continue reading Neon lighting glows again at historic Boots Court motel in Carthage