A chain restaurant submitted plans to the city of Oklahoma City to tear down all the buildings in Classen Circle, which includes Classen Grill and other historic businesses. OKCTalk.com broke the news Wednesday. Braum's Ice Cream and Dairy Stores, a popular chain in Oklahoma, wants to build a store there. They have filed to rezone .48 … Continue reading Plan would demolish Oklahoma City’s Classen Circle
Tag: Oklahoma City
Sign stolen from Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City
An old sign at the historic but long-closed Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City was stolen between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Owner John Dunning, who bought the property at 742 W. Britton Road about 12 years ago with plans to eventually restore it, said the sign probably is worth $800 to $1,000, he told … Continue reading Sign stolen from Owl Court motel in Oklahoma City
Willem Bor creates new Route 66 miniatures
Longtime readers probably know of Willem Bor of the Netherlands, who in the last few years has created miniatures of well-known Route 66 landmarks for museums or private individuals. The bad news is Bor contracted cancer and had to cancel one of his upcoming trips on Route 66. The good news is because he's got … Continue reading Willem Bor creates new Route 66 miniatures
Two Oklahoma properties added to National Register
Two areas of Route 66 in Oklahoma recently were named to the National Register of Historic Places, according to an email Thursday from the National Park Service. First, the register recognized the Downtown Claremore Historic District that includes a couple of blocks of Lynn Riggs Boulevard (aka Route 66) and the historic Will Rogers Hotel … Continue reading Two Oklahoma properties added to National Register
Melvena Heisch, Laurel Kane inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Melvena Heish and the late Laurel Kane were inducted Saturday into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma. The ceremony also celebrated the 90th anniversary of Route 66 and marked two new exhibits at the museum -- one about folk art and another of … Continue reading Melvena Heisch, Laurel Kane inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
A sample of a treasure trove of photos
This new video features a collection of photos taken during the early 1980s by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation along NW 39th Street from Oklahoma City to the suburb of Bethany, before U.S. 66 become decommissioned. According to Rachel Mosman, a photo archivist at the Oklahoma Historical Society, the photos were animated by J.A. Pryse into a video. https://youtu.be/mvcUHhXO9ts In … Continue reading A sample of a treasure trove of photos
Carlyle Motel in Oklahoma City soon will disappear
The historic Carlyle Motel along old Route 66 in west Oklahoma City has closed, and it seems it soon will make way for a used-car lot. A reader alerted me by email this week the motel's "driveway is now blocked, by a large truck that has a sign reading 'Cash for Cars.'" The current situation has existed … Continue reading Carlyle Motel in Oklahoma City soon will disappear
Aubrey McClendon’s death ruled an accident
A medical examiner's report and an Oklahoma City Police investigation determined energy tycoon Aubrey McClendon's fatal crash in March was an accident and not suicide, as believed. McClendon was former CEO of Chesapeake Energy in Oklahoma City and built the popular Pops restaurant and convenience store on Route 66 in nearby Arcadia, Oklahoma. McClendon died in a fiery … Continue reading Aubrey McClendon’s death ruled an accident
Reporter finishes walk on Oklahoma City’s Route 66
Brianna Bailey, a reporter for The Oklahoman newspaper in Oklahoma City, recently embarked on a walking journey of Route 66 in that city for a story and a series of blog posts. She finished recently, and the last story is here. Some takeaways: --- We learn the beloved Carlyle Motel sign was purchased by Donald … Continue reading Reporter finishes walk on Oklahoma City’s Route 66
Reporter walking length of Oklahoma City’s Route 66
Brianna Bailey, a reporter for The Oklahoman newspaper, has begun a fascinating examination of Route 66 in Oklahoma City -- she's walking a mile a day on the Mother Road. Here's a video by the newspaper from Day 1, along Lincoln Boulevard: I did not know Gov. Frank Keating, who held office during the 1990s, … Continue reading Reporter walking length of Oklahoma City’s Route 66