The troubled Brookshire Motel in Tulsa was torn down Monday after four fires decimated what was left of the Route 66 property. A body was found in one of the fires in May, prompting local officials to abandon plans to save the motel. Route 66 advocates in the city were saddened by the teardown but … Continue reading Troubled Brookshire Motel in Tulsa is torn down
Tag: Rhys Martin
Route 66 neon sign park takes shape in Tulsa
In recent days, workers have installed three replicas of classic neon signs that once stood along Route 66 in Tulsa. Replicas of the Will Rogers Motor Court, Oil Capital Motel and Tulsa Auto Court signs were installed in a small park on the south end of the historic 11th Street Bridge that once carried Route … Continue reading Route 66 neon sign park takes shape in Tulsa
Oklahoma Route 66 Association prods senator to reintroduce National Historic Trail bill
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is prodding a U.S. senator to reintroduce a bill that would designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. Rhys Martin, president of the association, sent out an email to members this week to contact U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and urge him to reintroduce a bill similar to Senate Bill … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association prods senator to reintroduce National Historic Trail bill
County may rehabilitate an original stretch of Route 66 west of El Reno
Canadian County, Oklahoma, is looking at updates for a 12-mile stretch of original Route 66 west of El Reno, prompting concerns from historic preservationists. ROUTE Magazine flagged a story from the El Reno Tribune about the possible project from Fort Reno to the Cherokee Trading Post. The newspaper talked to county commissioner Jack Stewart: According … Continue reading County may rehabilitate an original stretch of Route 66 west of El Reno
Oklahoma seeks updates on its inventory of Route 66 structures in two counties
The Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office is asking for proposals to survey historic properties along Route 66 in Tulsa and Oklahoma counties. Tulsa County includes the city of Tulsa along with the communities of Oakhurst and Red Fork along Route 66. Oklahoma County includes Oklahoma City, Bethany, Edmond, Arcadia and Luther along Route 66. The … Continue reading Oklahoma seeks updates on its inventory of Route 66 structures in two counties
Route 66 stakeholders trade ideas at Oklahoma’s first Route 66 Convention
A bunch of Route 66 business owners or advocates of that historic highway gathered this week at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City for the first Route 66 Convention in that state. The event was shepherded by Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who also runs the state's tourism department and has made boosting visitorship in … Continue reading Route 66 stakeholders trade ideas at Oklahoma’s first Route 66 Convention
Art-installation tribute to Muffler Men goes up on Route 66 near Calumet
A California-based artist recently conceived of cutout paintings of Muffler Men that recently were erected along old Route 66 in Calumet, Oklahoma. John Cerney of Salinas, California, who has art pieces all over the United States, creates a piece of public art he gives away once a year. As collaborator Scott Farmer of Sculpture Island … Continue reading Art-installation tribute to Muffler Men goes up on Route 66 near Calumet
Oklahoma Route 66 Association secures Bob Waldmire U-Haul, displays it at Chelsea tunnel
Thanks to the help of donations, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association secured the U-Haul truck painted by the late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire and is displaying it near the pedestrian underpass in Chelsea, Oklahoma. Association President Rhys Martin wrote in a blog post that Waldmire initially painted a detailed Route 66 map on one … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association secures Bob Waldmire U-Haul, displays it at Chelsea tunnel
Oklahoma senator says he’ll withdraw bill to rename a part of Route 66 for Trump
One day after the bill was introduced, an Oklahoma state senator withdrew a proposal to rename a stretch of Route 66 as President Donald J. Trump Highway after the measure received widespread criticism from Route 66 fans and fellow lawmakers, including Trump's supporters. State Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) said Wednesday he would withdraw the … Continue reading Oklahoma senator says he’ll withdraw bill to rename a part of Route 66 for Trump
Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal
The president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association reported parts of the neon sign for the Brookshire Motel in Tulsa were sold off piecemeal to a local collector, and the rest likely will be gone soon. The Brookshire Motel neon sign in 2005 Rhys Martin on late Sunday passed along on Facebook the news he … Continue reading Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal