Full restoration of Boots Court motel in Carthage begins

The federally certified nonprofit Boots Court Foundation, in cooperation with CTown LLC, announced Wednesday they have begun a full restoration of the historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri. An emailed news release noted the Route 66 motel's flat roof and some of its rooms were restored in the last decade by the previous owners. … Continue reading Full restoration of Boots Court motel in Carthage begins

Route 66 enthusiasts give old Boots Court motel owners a sendoff before it closes for winter

A group of Route 66 enthusiasts gave the old owners of the Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, a sendoff right before the motel closed for the winter and the new owners take over renovations and reopen it in the spring. According to a report in the Joplin Globe, about two dozen people from the … Continue reading Route 66 enthusiasts give old Boots Court motel owners a sendoff before it closes for winter

Boots Court motel in Carthage changes owners, will reopen next spring

The historic Boots Court in Carthage, Missouri, quietly changed ownership a few months ago and will reopen in the spring after the rest of the Route 66 motel's rooms are restored. Debye Harvey, one of the motel's co-owners with her sister for the past decade, said in a telephone interview Tuesday that two couples from … Continue reading Boots Court motel in Carthage changes owners, will reopen next spring

More details emerge about this weekend’s Red Oak II Festival

Saturday's long-planned festival at Red Oak II complex near Carthage, Missouri, not only will pay tribute to its recently deceased creator, Lowell Davis, and also to those who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. Davis' widow, Rose, told the Joplin Globe a tribute or memorial didn't happen immediately after his … Continue reading More details emerge about this weekend’s Red Oak II Festival

Data indicates surge of business at drive-in theaters may persist

Many drive-in theaters did a booming business during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, mostly because it was the only safe or open entertainment venue for people to watch movies and, in some cases, go to concerts. According to a story from CNN Business, the good times for the drive-ins may not be over: Last … Continue reading Data indicates surge of business at drive-in theaters may persist

Festival in September will pay tribute to Red Oak II’s late founder Lowell Davis

The Red Oak II complex near Carthage, Missouri, will hold a Red Oak II Festival on Sept. 11 to pay tribute to the faux town's creator, artist Lowell Davis, who died at age 83 in November. The Red Oak II Festival, according to a post on Facebook, will feature hayrides, Dutch oven cooking, children's games, … Continue reading Festival in September will pay tribute to Red Oak II’s late founder Lowell Davis

COVID-19 causes permanent shutdown of Powers Museum in Carthage

The COVID-19 pandemic turned out to be the final nail in the coffin for the financially struggling Powers Museum along Route 66 in Carthage, Missouri. The museum opened in 1988, though it was offering programs several years before that. The museum's board members told the Joplin Globe the facility had only enough money left to … Continue reading COVID-19 causes permanent shutdown of Powers Museum in Carthage

Lowell Davis’ widow pledges to preserve his portion of Red Oak II

Rose Davis, the widow of Red Oak II creator Lowell Davis, told a local television station she would do her best to preserve a portion of her late husband's complex near Carthage, Missouri. KY3 of nearby Springfield, Missouri, recently interviewed her after Lowell died at age 83 earlier this month. Here are the key elements … Continue reading Lowell Davis’ widow pledges to preserve his portion of Red Oak II

Lowell Davis, creator of Red Oak II near Carthage, dies at 83

Lowell Davis, an illustrator who created the rustic Red Oak II complex near Carthage, Missouri, as an homage to his hometown, died Monday. He was 83. According post Monday night on the Red Oak II page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3654927054531816&id=130367633654460 Ozarks Alive described his early career after his stint in the Air Force: Lowell Davis rose … Continue reading Lowell Davis, creator of Red Oak II near Carthage, dies at 83

Train planned for Red Oak II complex near Carthage

One of the part-owners of the Red Oak II complex near Route 66 near Carthage, Missouri, plans to add a rideable train to the complex in the coming years. This revelation is tucked into a story about Red Oak II by Thrillist. The reporter didn't talk to its creator, Lowell Davis, because he was in … Continue reading Train planned for Red Oak II complex near Carthage