Library planned in abandoned Route 66 gas station in Mojave Desert April 24, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Art, Books, Gas stations.3 comments
An artist and an author plan to establish a Philosopher’s Library inside an abandoned gas station along Route 66 east of Amboy, Calif.
The Philosopher’s Library website contained these details:
In our age of increasing distractions, the need for perspective and reflection is essential. Candy Chang and James A. Reeves will transform an abandoned gas station on Route 66 into a library dedicated to pilgrimages and personal transformation. Located in the Mojave desert, The Philosopher’s Library will be a remote sanctuary filled with books about leading an examined life, as well as a card catalogue where travelers can share their philosophies for personal well-being.
The website also asks for suggestions on what inspirational books
to stock in the library.
On his Twitter account, Reeves said the gas station was located about 10 miles east of Amboy. That would be near the settlement of Chambless.
He also said he plans to open the library in September.
The library is part of the Academy of Modern Ruins, “dedicated to the mythologies of ghost towns and transforming them into contemplative places.”
Longtime readers of Route 66 News may remember Reeves from his 2011 memoir, “The Road to Somewhere.” My review of the book is here.
The project reminds me of the Prada Marfa art installation on a lonely road in west Texas. But Prada Marfa is more of an elaborate farce; Reeves and Chang seem a lot more earnest about this project.
UPDATE: Reeves confirms in a comment that he wants to buy the abandoned Roadrunner’s Retreat station.
Jay Leno interviews Route 66 authors April 21, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books, Road trips, Television, Vehicles.1 comment so far
I bet this was quite a thrill. Buddies Sal Santoro and Bob Walton were recently interviewed on “Jay Leno’s Garage” by the host about their Route 66 book.
“Route 66 — The People, The Places, The Dream” can be ordered here. You can read my review of the book here.
California Route 66 advocate Vivian Davies dies April 17, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books, People, Route 66 Associations.add a comment
Vivian Davies, a founder of the California Historic Route 66 Association and an author of a vital Route 66 guidebook to California, died on April 5 at age 95 in Sedona, Ariz., reported her daughter.
Davies “didn’t want anything extra done about her” her daughter said in an email, so there was no funeral service.
A 2011 story in the San Bernardino County Sun published these memories from Davies, who was living in La Verne, Calif., at the time:
One day in March 1943, she and her husband were in a car they were delivering to the West Coast when it began to rain, and rain.
Reaching Miami, Okla., they and everyone else on U.S. 66 were halted by a six-foot-deep creek that flooded the road. They waited, and waited.
“We were stopped by the water in the morning, and by 4 p.m. the line of cars waiting for the creek to fall was five miles long,” she said. “A farmer with a tractor offered to pull anyone across for $5, but few were willing because $5 was a lot of money then.
“Finally, when the water fell a little, we said the `Lord’s Prayer,’ plowed through the water and made it, even though the creek was above the car door.”
Davies and Darinn Kuna co-wrote “Guide to Route 66 in California” in 1994, a slim, spiral-bound book in black-and-white that still contains valuable information for travelers wishing to trace the Mother Road in the Golden State.
Several of Davies’ old stories for the association’s newsletter can be found on its website.
How Route 66 still kicks March 18, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books, Road trips, Television.add a comment
Enjoy this two-part interview with Rick Antonson and Peter Armstrong, who on Fanny Kiefer’s “Studio 4″ talk show in Vancouver, Canada, tell of their adventures on Route 66 several years ago.
That journey spawned an acclaimed book by Antonson, “Route 66 Still Kicks.”
On a related note, Antonson a few days ago sent me a slightly revised copy of his book. I pointed out a small error in the Oklahoma section of the book, and he pledged to fix it in future editions. He did, and sent me the revised book, even though he didn’t have to do it.
My review of the book, published last fall, is here.
(Hat tip: Jim Conkle)
“Route 66 — Ten Years Later” posted online March 3, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books, Movies, Road trips.2 comments
Last night, photographer Jim Luning posted the entire 53-minute documentary “Route 66 — Ten Years Later” from 2010 on Vimeo. Watch it here:
Route 66 – Ten Years Later – The Movie from Luning Photo on Vimeo.
“Route 66 – Ten Years Later” dovetails from a book, “Route 66,” that writer Tim Steil and photographer Luning collaborated on in 1999. With the 10-year anniversary of the book approaching, the two decided to hit the road again and see what had changed.
The Angel Delgadillo segment especially makes the entire film worth watching.
If you want a DVD copy of the movie, email Luning through his website and you can get it for $10. Or you can hit his tip jar, like I did some time ago, on Vimeo. My review of the film is here.
Newest edition of popular Route 66 guidebook is out February 16, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books, Road trips.add a comment
Author Jerry McClanahan and the National 
Historic Route 66 Federation announced an update for its popular “EZ Guide for Travelers” guidebook is now available for purchase.
This is the first print update since 2005 2008 for the Route 66 guidebook, which provides turn-by-turn directions for both eastbound and westbound driving. It can be bought with the recently updated “Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide” through the federation’s online store.
Or it can be bought by itself through Amazon.
In an email, McClanahan detailed some of the changes in the updated “EZ66 Guide”:
I have added more mileage readings to the directions on most pages. This will help travelers to know when to expect an imminent upcoming turn, or to know that they can relax for a while. With this and the many updates, just about every page has been changed in some way.
I’ve also listened when tourists have had trouble navigating certain complicated areas (like St. Louis) and made the routings easier.
I’m happy to be including such recently restored places like the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba and Carthage’s Boots Motel, plus added some choice mom-and-pops that I’ve experienced on many trips over the last two years (covering the whole route in both directions).
McClanahan’s website offers free updates to the Route 66 guidebook as they become available.
And, if you’re driving through Oklahoma, McClanahan will sign the guide at his art gallery in Chandler, if he’s at home.
Part of historic sign near St. Louis removed February 12, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books, Motels, Restaurants, Signs.add a comment
A huge and historic sign that advertised the Diamonds Restaurant and the Gardenway Motel in Villa Ridge, Mo., saw the Diamonds part of the sign removed in recent weeks, reported Norma Maret Bolin, author of the well-researched book “Route 66 St. Louis.”
Bolin said she discovered the partial removal of the sign on Feb. 10. It was still there in January.
She wrote in an email:
The landmark Diamonds sign had needed some repair to the letters but I wasn’t expecting them to totally take the letters down. This was the last area sign I know of that advertised the Diamonds restaurant and, since it was so huge, it was highly visible and a wonderful reminder of the Route 66 era.
For comparison’s sake, here’s a photo of the sign in 2010:
It appears from the newer photo the Gardenway Motel lettering and arrow were repainted in recent weeks. Although the removal of one part of a historic sign is sad, it’s also somewhat encouraging the owners made an effort to spruce up the motel’s portion. That bodes well for the motel’s immediate future.
The Diamonds Restaurant closed in November 1995, Bolin said. The Gardenway Motel continues to operate on Route 66.
(Photos by Norma Maret Bolin and Pete Zarria)