Distinctive muffler shop building in Holbrook torn down to make way for a dollar store

A distinctive but long-closed building that once housed a muffler shop in Holbrook, Arizona, was torn down in recent days. Local reports indicate the site will be used for a Dollar General store: It stood next to the landmark Wigwam Motel. As usual, the Route 66 Times website had information about the site at West … Continue reading Distinctive muffler shop building in Holbrook torn down to make way for a dollar store

National Trust for Historic Preservation wants your Route 66 stories

The National Trust for Historic Preservation seeks to gather a total of 2,026 stories about Route 66 in time for the highway’s centennial in 2026. “Route 66 is more than just a road; it’s a tapestry of diverse cultures and histories. We want to showcase the people and places that make Route 66 special,” the … Continue reading National Trust for Historic Preservation wants your Route 66 stories

Arizona Office of Tourism launches digital Route 66 Passport program

The Arizona Office of Tourism launched a digital Route 66 Passport program during the Labor Day weekend where participants can win prizes. The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona is a partner in the free program It requires no downloads of apps, and it includes a free digital map. The pass can be saved onto a … Continue reading Arizona Office of Tourism launches digital Route 66 Passport program

Uranus Missouri lights up its new, Route 66-themed neon wall

The principals of Uranus Missouri near St. Robert, Missouri, presided over a lighting ceremony Saturday night at the complex’s new, Route 66-themed neon wall. Here’s a photo of the animated neon on a 20-by-55-foot wall that features a rocket ship, Cadillac Ranch, Blue Swallow Motel, Wigwam Motel, Roy’s of Amboy, Blue Whale of Catoosa, Ted … Continue reading Uranus Missouri lights up its new, Route 66-themed neon wall

New neon wall at Uranus Missouri will light up the evening of Sept. 25

The new neon-sign wall at the Uranus Missouri complex near St. Robert, Missouri, will hold a ceremonial lighting ceremony at 8 p.m. Sept. 25. On a related note, Uranus also expanded its empire by acquiring a prominent candy store in Indiana and will convert it into a second location. More on that later. Uranus owner … Continue reading New neon wall at Uranus Missouri will light up the evening of Sept. 25

The improved second edition of Route 66 Passport now is available

Touch Media, best known for its Route 66 Navigation app, has released an improved second edition of its Route 66 Passport after a one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The passport already is available to travelers at many Route 66 distribution points and at its e-commerce website. A full list of the 39 locations … Continue reading The improved second edition of Route 66 Passport now is available

A look at the Wigwam Motels almost 25 years ago

Anthony Reichardt recently uploaded videos he shot during the early to mid-1990s at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, and Wigwam Motel in Rialto, California. Reichardt has uploaded dozens of videos from that era on his 1959 Cadillac on Route 66 channel. They hold a lot of historic value, as not a lot of videos … Continue reading A look at the Wigwam Motels almost 25 years ago

Woman worked for two Route 66 icons in Arizona

Here’s an obituary you don’t read every day — an Arizona woman who died earlier this month worked not for one, but two bona fide Route 66 icons during her lifetime. Dorthy “Dottie” Ann Hatch Hansen, 83, of St. Johns, Arizona, died Oct. 19. She was born in Pinedale, Arizona, but spent most of her … Continue reading Woman worked for two Route 66 icons in Arizona

Book review: “The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66”

Shin Yin Khor’s graphic memoir “The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66” turns out to be an unusual travelogue. Not only is it created by a comic artist, but it comes from the perspective of a young American from the so-called Left Coast who was born in another country. Subtitled “Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler … Continue reading Book review: “The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66”

Bob Dylan adds more Route 66 images to his paintings

World-famous songwriter and Nobel Prize laureate Bob Dylan three years ago painted a series of images that included more than a half-dozen images from Route 66 as part of his “The Beaten Path” series. The number of images from the Mother Road has increased. The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, posted this image … Continue reading Bob Dylan adds more Route 66 images to his paintings