Coleman Theatre tries to finish what it started

Here's a story from KSN/KODE in nearby Joplin, Mo., about residents of Miami, Okla., trying to finish the restoration of the historic Coleman Theatre, which sits on Route 66. The interesting angle is that they are trying to finish the job that George Coleman Sr. started in 1929: "[Coleman] loved theater; [he] built this whole … Continue reading Coleman Theatre tries to finish what it started

Barstow’s El Rancho Motel getting a face-lift

The Desert Dispatch passed on some encouraging news -- the historic El Rancho Motel on Route 66 in Barstow, Calif., is undergoing renovations and improvements after a long slide into mediocrity and worse. Since the motel changed ownership about a year ago, general manager Tracey Ellison said motel staff have embarked on a process of … Continue reading Barstow’s El Rancho Motel getting a face-lift

Checking in

This post comes from a clean, comfortable and inexpensive room at the Gardens Motel in Litchfield, Ill. We got into Litchfield not long after the sun began to dip low on the ripened wheat and sprouting horseradish fields. On the way, we found the concretes at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis are as … Continue reading Checking in

Hello from South Korea

This version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" is by Park Sung Yeon, who's described as the "Mother of Korean Jazz."

News nuggets from the Route 66 Summit

I was unable to attend the Route 66 Summit before the Route 66 Festival set for this weekend in Litchfield, Ill. However, Peter Stork, an Illinois Route 66er was there and filed a detailed report for the Route 66 yahoogroup. Go there if you want to see the report in full. However, I gleaned a … Continue reading News nuggets from the Route 66 Summit

Treasure unearthed at the Rock Cafe

Dawn Welch, owner of the historic Rock Cafe on Route 66 in Stroud, gives a little TLC to a treasure she found buried under the rubble at the restaurant, which burned May 20. Sound quality on the video isn't great, but Cars fans will be excited to see what survived the fire: Friends of the … Continue reading Treasure unearthed at the Rock Cafe

A final goodbye

The San Bernardino County Sun today ran a belated obituary for Bessie Burris, 91, who died on May 17. Burris was the wife of Buster Burris, who co-owned Roy's and the Route 66 town of Amboy, Calif., for many years. Juan Pollo restaurant chain owner Albert Okura now owns Amboy and plans to restore it. … Continue reading A final goodbye

Senator urges renewal of Route 66 Corridor program

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., asked for a renewal of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program during a Senate subcommittee hearing on Tuesday. The program, which provides cost-share grants and other assistance to historic Route 66 businesses, is scheduled to end in 2009. Domenici's bill would extend the program another 10 years. The legislation number is … Continue reading Senator urges renewal of Route 66 Corridor program

A view from across the pond

Here's an interesting view of Route 66 from Tony Collins of the Birmingham Mail in England. An excerpt: Interest began to grow following publication of a Route 66 book in the 1990s. But the scores of ordinary townsfolk dotted along its path are most indebted to 2006 animated movie Cars. In fact, my amazing two-week … Continue reading A view from across the pond

Final season for Antique Toy Museum?

Bruce Barnes, owner of the Antique Toy Museum, wouldn't say definitively that this summer would his last along Route 66 in Stanton, Mo., after 21 years. But if you're wanting to gaze at his collection, it'd be prudent to see it soon. David Clark, aka the Windy City Road Warrior, reported on his blog that … Continue reading Final season for Antique Toy Museum?