Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces grants for 2016

The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, under the auspices of the National Park Service, announced its cost-share grants for 2016. This year, the program awarded eight cost-share grants totaling more than $103,000 -- mostly for renovations or preservation of historic Route 66 properties. Since 2001, the program has awarded 122 projects $1.9 million with $3.1 … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces grants for 2016

Holbrook Dairy Queen sign allowed to stay

Less than two weeks ago, it was learned Dairy Queen wanted a franchise along Route 66 in Holbrook, Arizona, to replace its 50-year-old neon sign. Hundreds of preservationists launched a Change.org petition and called and emailed DQ headquarters in response, asking it to allow the sign to stay at its longtime home at 1004 Navajo Blvd. … Continue reading Holbrook Dairy Queen sign allowed to stay

Old Dairy Queen sign in Holbrook endangered

A 50-year-old neon sign at a Dairy Queen restaurant along Route 66 in Holbrook, Arizona, is in danger from the chain's corporate headquarters that wants to replace it with a more modern sign. David Heward, a Route 66 booster in Holbrook, wrote on the Save the Holbrook Dairy Queen Sign page on Facebook: Howdy folks! I have just … Continue reading Old Dairy Queen sign in Holbrook endangered

Petrified Forest National Park awards new concessions contact

Ortega National Parks, a company with roots on Route 66, was given the contract for concessions at the Petrified Forest National Park, reported the Arizona Journal. Xanterra Parks and Resorts held the park's concessions contract for more than 30 years after it bought out the Fred Harvey Company, which served the park for 40 years before that. Petrified … Continue reading Petrified Forest National Park awards new concessions contact

Hopi Travel Plaza near Holbrook undergoes renovations

The Hopi Travel Plaza, a fixture along Route 66 near Holbrook, Arizona, for nearly 40 years -- partly because of its eye-catching dinosaur statues -- is undergoing much-needed and extensive renovations, according to the Arizona Journal. The plaza's new general manager, Kelly Jarvis, acknowledged to the newspaper the facility was "going down, spiraling desperately out … Continue reading Hopi Travel Plaza near Holbrook undergoes renovations

Grant sought for new roof on Navajo County Historic Courthouse

Navajo County will submit a cost-share grant application to help pay for new roof on its historic courthouse in Holbrook, Arizona, according to the The Tribune-News. The application for $30,000 is through the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. If awarded, Navajo County likely will have to share the cost of the roof 50/50 or supply … Continue reading Grant sought for new roof on Navajo County Historic Courthouse

“American Countryside” visits Holbrook

Andrew McCrea of "American Countryside" takes in a visit to the Route 66 town of Holbrook, Arizona, and explores the links that inspired the fictional town of Radiator Springs in the 2006 Disney-Pixar movie "Cars." The segment focuses on the Wigwam Motel and Joe & Aggie's restaurant. Other sites and towns inspired the creation of … Continue reading “American Countryside” visits Holbrook

Tours offered of hard-to-access Route 66 sites in Arizona

The Petrified Forest National Park is allowing free, guided tours of hard-to-reach landmarks on a long-closed section of Route 66 on Aug. 8 and Aug. 10. The tours coincide with the Route 66 festival taking place that weekend in nearby Holbrook, Arizona. The Arizona Journal had a listing of the sites that will be included during … Continue reading Tours offered of hard-to-access Route 66 sites in Arizona

Holbrook marketing Route 66 more aggressively

The Route 66 town of Holbrook, Ariz., is going to tout its Mother Road ties even more in the coming months, including a new festival, according to an article in the Arizona Journal. The article contained a lot of interesting tidbits about Holbrook and nearby Winslow, Ariz., including these: A number of new businesses have … Continue reading Holbrook marketing Route 66 more aggressively

Another sign painter with a long history on Route 66

A few years ago, I tracked down Rudy Gonzales of Tucumcari, N.M., who hand-painted signs along the Route 66 corridor in the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico for five decades. Another sign painter has operated along Route 66 for about as long in eastern Arizona. According to an article in the Arizona Journal, Severo Barela of … Continue reading Another sign painter with a long history on Route 66