Two restaurants merge into former Grand Canyon Cafe building in Flagstaff

Brandy's Cafe recently merged with the Proper Meats + Provisions eatery inside the former Grand Canyon Cafe in downtown Flagstaff, Arizona. The Daily Sun in Flagstaff had the scoop: The announcement came on Sept. 3, two weeks before the transition officially took place last Thursday as the longtime Brady’s Café in Southside closed its doors. … Continue reading Two restaurants merge into former Grand Canyon Cafe building in Flagstaff

Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announces 14 Preservation & Economic Development grant recipients

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership recently announced it was awarding a total of 14 Preservation & Economic Development Grants worth $2,500 each in 2026. Recipients were chosen from 124 applications. Qualifying projects were reviewed by an independent review committee from across the eight Route 66 states. Eligible activities included capital improvements, historic preservation planning … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announces 14 Preservation & Economic Development grant recipients

Salsa Brava restaurant in Flagstaff closes after 40 years; owner will open a new concept eatery there

The acclaimed Salsa Brava restaurant in Flagstaff, Arizona, closed Saturday after a 40-year run, but its owner plans a new restaurant along that same Route 66 location. Saying it was "time to turn the page," owner and founder John Conley announced the closure on Facebook three days before shuttering the eatery at 2220 E. Route … Continue reading Salsa Brava restaurant in Flagstaff closes after 40 years; owner will open a new concept eatery there

Massive replica of Tillamook cheddar cheese loaf appears at Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff

If you want to know what a cheese loaf looks like 32,000 times its normal size, you ought to pay a visit to the Americana Motor Hotel along Route 66 in Flagstaff, Arizona. Cheesemaker Tillmook and the motel unveiled the gargantuan replica of a Medium Cheddar Baby Loaf -- dubbed a Cheeseside Attraction -- on … Continue reading Massive replica of Tillamook cheddar cheese loaf appears at Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff

Group seeking to save El Pueblo Motel in Flagstaff launches a fundraising drive

A local group that wants to save the historic El Pueblo Motel in Flagstaff, Arizona, has launched a fundraising campaign to help in that endeavor. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona, El Pueblo Workforce Housing Project plans to restore the motel’s exterior, convert existing buildings into housing units using Habitat’s Starter Home … Continue reading Group seeking to save El Pueblo Motel in Flagstaff launches a fundraising drive

Asleep At the Wheel announces Route 66 Centennial Tour

The iconic western swing band Asleep At the Wheel this week announced a Route 66 Centennial Tour in August and September, where it will perform at selected Route 66 cities. "Come Get Your Kicks on Route 66!" the band stated on its Facebook page. Here is the list of dates, cities and venues: Aug. 20: … Continue reading Asleep At the Wheel announces Route 66 Centennial Tour

Route 66 author T. Lindsay Baker dies in accident during Route 66 Centennial Caravan

T. Lindsay Baker, a historian and author of two Route 66-themed books, died Thursday morning in an accident on Interstate 40 near Flagstaff, Arizona, while participating in the Route 66 Centennial Caravan as a Texas representative. He was 79. The Texas Old Route 66 Association stated in a Facebook post that Baker had been driving … Continue reading Route 66 author T. Lindsay Baker dies in accident during Route 66 Centennial Caravan

Nonprofit initiative seeks to convert El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff into low-cost housing

A local nonprofit initiative aims to convert the historic-but-closed El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona, into low-cost housing. El Pueblo Motel in 2019 Flagstaff resident Phil Scandura, a retired avionics engineer and architectural draftsman, talked during a phone interview about the site, also known as El Pueblo Motel, along Route 66. El Pueblo, at … Continue reading Nonprofit initiative seeks to convert El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff into low-cost housing

Western Hills Motel in Flagstaff being converted into affordable workforce apartments

The former Western Hills Motel along Route 66 in Flagstaff, Arizona, will soon be converted into 29 apartment units by Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona. The nonprofit organization recently purchased the motel and will rent its rooms to households making up to 80% of the area median income, which is $69,840 for a Flagstaff household … Continue reading Western Hills Motel in Flagstaff being converted into affordable workforce apartments

Frank and Lynne Kocevar’s video Christmas card for 2025

In what has become a tradition at Route 66 News, here is the latest edition of Frank and Lynne Kocevar's annual video Christmas card. They've been doing this for 16 years running. Scenes and a cast of characters in this year's video come from Williams, Flagstaff, Prescott and Yuma in Arizona. https://vimeo.com/1146274466?fl=ip&fe=ec The Kocevars were … Continue reading Frank and Lynne Kocevar’s video Christmas card for 2025