The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, one of the biggest events on the Mother Road, announced Monday it would cancel the Aug. 14-15 event because of concerns about coronavirus. The festival's steering committee voted unanimously to cancel. The Ozarks Independent reported: “Last year’s attendance was 65,000 over two days and we were … Continue reading Birthplace of Route 66 Festival canceled because of coronavirus
A story in the Tulsa World over the weekend sent me down a rabbit hole to find more about small-but-nicely-crafted replicas of the Statue of Liberty that were installed in 200 towns across America seven decades ago. The Tulsa newspaper noted the 8 1/2-foot-tall Statue of Liberty at 17th Street and South Harvard Avenue in … Continue reading Statue of Liberty replicas contain their own historical cachet
The Steak 'n Shake restaurants in Springfield, Missouri -- including a very historic one on Route 66 -- seem to be surviving the latest round of closures by the corporation this week. The Springfield News-Leader reports Biglari Holdings Inc. announced it would close 57 Steak 'n Shakes after it lost more than $138 million in … Continue reading Steak ‘n Shakes in Springfield, Missouri, survive the latest corporate purge
The Springfield News-Leader newspaper in Missouri has a regular feature that serves as an Answer Man column, where Steve Pokin tries to dig into and solve local mysteries -- some serious and some not-so-serious. Pokin was on vacation, so staff writer Wyatt Wheeler took over during the interim. Wheeler received this question in his email: … Continue reading The story behind the buzzard on Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership will hold its annual board meeting on March 27-28 at Hotel Vandivort at 305 E. Walnut St. in downtown Springfield, Missouri. According to a news release this week from the partnership: Friday sessions will focus on reports from the various Working Groups, Advisory Groups and Task Forces. On Saturday … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead to hold annual meeting March 27-28 in Springfield, Missouri
A new Muffler Man fiberglass giant will be erected at the soon-to-open Route 66 Food Truck Park in Springfield, Missouri. The Facebook account for the Route 66 business made the announcement Monday: Kirk is Kirk Wheeler, owner and creator of the food-truck park, which is slated to open in mid-February. The original projected opening was … Continue reading New Muffler Man being added to Route 66 Food Truck Park in Springfield
The History Museum on the Square in Springfield, Missouri, won the award for Best New Attraction in USA Today's annual 10Best listings. The nationwide newspaper wrote this about the downtown museum: The history of Route 66 comes alive at the new Springfield History Museum on the Square, where six galleries tell the stories of Springfield’s … Continue reading History Museum on the Square named Best New Attraction by USA Today
The Route 66 Food Truck Park in Springfield, Missouri, under construction will open by Feb. 1, reports the development's owner. Kirk Wheeler said the park that will have a full-service bar and gift shop will feature up to 10 food trucks when it opens at 1530 E. St. Louis St. (aka Route 66). OzarksFirst.com reports: … Continue reading Route 66 Food Truck Park in Springfield likely will open next month
The historic Rockwood Motor Court has reopened to overnight travelers along old Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri. Ozarks Alive has the story: The project is the work of Phyllis Ferguson, a longtime Springfield resident whose mission is revitalization — and not only in form of the motor court, which in part dates to 1929, just … Continue reading Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield reopens to overnight travelers
The new owner of the Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield, Missouri, is hosting an open house Saturday during the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in town. The open house will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Route 66 motel at 2200 W. College St. The invitation on Facebook stated: Stop by Saturday, … Continue reading Rockwood Motor Court hosting open house Saturday
