The town of Williams, Arizona, received quite a Christmas gift a few day ago. An anonymous benefactor will cover the cost of installing up to 160 new street lights in town, including its tourist-heavy stretch of Route 66, reported the Williams-Grand Canyon News. The lights are worth a total of between $150,000 and $180,000. But … Continue reading Anonymous donor gives Williams new street lights
Tag: Williams
Williams trades Denny’s for a Route 66-themed restaurant
This is a switch I can get behind -- the landlord of a Denny's in Williams, Arizona, let the franchise go, remodeled the building, and opened a Kicks on Route 66 Bar and Grill in its place, reported the Williams News. Brad and Sally Olson opened the revamped restaurant about two weeks ago, reported the … Continue reading Williams trades Denny’s for a Route 66-themed restaurant
Grand Canyon Railway bringing out steam engine for Father’s Day weekend
The Grand Canyon Railway, based in the Route 66 town of Williams, Arizona, will bring back a 1923 steam locomotive and Pullman cars for special displays and excursions on Father's Day weekend, June 14-15. It's part of the railroad's first Williams Train Days festival, which, according to the news release, will have other goodies that … Continue reading Grand Canyon Railway bringing out steam engine for Father’s Day weekend
Williams committees send mixed messages to Route 66 Zipline
https://youtu.be/wBzLYDQbK3o By tomorrow, we should know whether the Route 66 Zipline will continue to run in Williams, Ariz. Recent votes by two commissions offer little guidance on how the city council will vote. That's because the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously voted earlier this month to deny the business a special-use permit. However, the Planning and Zoning … Continue reading Williams committees send mixed messages to Route 66 Zipline
Williams marijuana dispensary plans move to bigger building
The Route 66 Wellness Center, the only medical marijuana dispensary in the Route 66 town of Williams, Ariz., plans to move to a bigger facility behind its current building, according to the Williams-Grand Canyon News. Now the dispensary's owners hope to move to a site behind its existing building, to 324 E. Railroad Ave. "The … Continue reading Williams marijuana dispensary plans move to bigger building
On the Mother Road with Freeway Jim
A fellow on YouTube by the name of Freeway Jim takes a lot of video of his travels. A few days ago, he posted "Off the Beaten Path" videos of sections of Route 66 that were bypassed by Interstate 40. Although they're high-definition, the speeded-up videos aren't remarkable by themselves. What's interesting are the annotations, … Continue reading On the Mother Road with Freeway Jim
Pontiac bed-and-breakfast wins third straight national honor
Three Roses Bed and Breakfast in Pontiac, Ill., won a Guest Favorite Award from BnBFinder.com for the third straight year, according to a news release from Pontiac Tourism. It's the fourth such honor overall for Three Roses, having won in 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2013. According to the release: “Innkeeper Sharon Hansen received high praise from … Continue reading Pontiac bed-and-breakfast wins third straight national honor
Owners of Highlander Motel commit suicide
The co-owners of the historic Highlander Motel on Route 66 in Williams, Ariz., committed suicide within days of each other last month, according to media reports in Europe. The husband-and-wife team of Alan Aernoudt and Sandra Driesse of Belgium bought the motel in March 2011. Once they moved there months later, they quickly went to work renovating … Continue reading Owners of Highlander Motel commit suicide
Route 66 already feeling effects of government shutdown
The shutdown of the United States government started only a few hours ago, and the Route 66 corridor is not immune to its effects. --- The office of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program in Santa Fe, N.M., is closed. As part of the National Park Service, the office cannot offer help on grants and … Continue reading Route 66 already feeling effects of government shutdown
Williams is adding a second welcome gateway
The City of Williams, Ariz., is installing a second welcome gateway over the east end of Route 66, reported the Williams-Grand Canyon News. The current gateway stands over Grand Canyon Boulevard, near Interstate 40. This one will be up in October, and cost no taxpayer money. The (Arizona State Railroad Museum) donated two cantilevers, which BNSF … Continue reading Williams is adding a second welcome gateway