Papers of Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark are donated to OSU-Tulsa

The research materials of late Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark recently were donated to the Tulsa branch of Oklahoma State University. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association stated in a Facebook post that Clark's papers were given by her family to the association several years ago. With the donation to OSU-Tulsa, the papers are now … Continue reading Papers of Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark are donated to OSU-Tulsa

Couple acquires John’s Modern Cabins, Vernelle’s Motel in Missouri

A couple with close family ties to the shuttered Vernelle's Motel near Newburg, Missouri, also recently acquired the long-closed John's Modern Cabins property next door. They plan to convert the Vernelle's property into an RV park, using the now-abandoned Interstate 44 / Route 66 roadbed, and rename it Vernelle's Route 66 RV Park & Campground. … Continue reading Couple acquires John’s Modern Cabins, Vernelle’s Motel in Missouri

Community group buys McLean’s historic water tower for $1, will repaint it

A nonprofit community group has purchased the endangered and historic water tower of McLean, Illinois, for $1. It will repaint the structure and hire an artist to paint a mural on it. The purchase reverses a 4-2 vote by the village board in November to tear the water tower down for almost $34,000. The village … Continue reading Community group buys McLean’s historic water tower for $1, will repaint it

European Route 66 Festival resumes later this year after a six-year hiatus

The European Route 66 Festival will resume late this summer in Prague, Czech Republic, after a six-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival will be from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 on exhibition grounds in the Czech capital. Zdenek Jurasek of the Czech Route 66 Association recently announced the resumption of the festival. … Continue reading European Route 66 Festival resumes later this year after a six-year hiatus

Oklahoma Route 66 Association puts 30 years of newsletters in online archive

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced it had placed about 30 years of its quarterly newsletters on an online archive, including its very first issue in 1990. Association President Rhys Martin stated the archive provides "a window into the past to show how far we’ve come.” The newsletters chart the ups and downs over … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association puts 30 years of newsletters in online archive

Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership issues its fourth-quarter report

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership recently released its report on its activities for the fourth quarter of 2023. Bill Thomas, chairman of the partnership, summarized highlights from the report in an email: The Route 66 Road Ahead State Associations Advocacy Working Group is discussing an informational piece that celebrates the upcoming Centennial and which … Continue reading Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership issues its fourth-quarter report

John Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs undergoing extensive repairs, thanks to Route 66 grant

The historic John Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs, Arizona, is undergoing extensive repairs after a 2021 windstorm, thanks in part to a $45,000 grant from the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. According to a recent newsletter from the association, it awarded the grant to the Hualapai Tribe, which owns the station, to assist … Continue reading John Osterman Gas Station in Peach Springs undergoing extensive repairs, thanks to Route 66 grant

Ten recipients named for Route 66 Extraordinary Women Micro-Grants Program

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership a few days ago announced 10 recipients from its Extraordinary Women Micro-Grants Program. The Route 66 Extraordinary Women Micro-Grant Program provides critical and flexible funding to businesses and attractions along Route 66 that are majority women-owned or operated. Dawn Federico in front of the Blue Swallow Motel's repaired neon … Continue reading Ten recipients named for Route 66 Extraordinary Women Micro-Grants Program

Organization aims to promote small towns along Route 66 in mid-Oklahoma

The new MidPoint Corridor Route 66 Association, with the blessing of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, is seeking to tout about a dozen small towns along Route 66 in between Tulsa and Oklahoma City before the highway's centennial in 2026. The Oklahoman newspaper a few days ago published a front-page story about the new association, … Continue reading Organization aims to promote small towns along Route 66 in mid-Oklahoma

Carol Duncan, longtime booster for Route 66 in western Oklahoma, dies at 80

Carol Duncan, a booster of Route 66 in western Oklahoma and a volunteer or officer for the Oklahoma Route 66 Association for over 30 years, died on Dec. 18 at a hospital in Oklahoma City. She was 80. She was cremated and buried next to her parents in Lawnview Cemetery in Cordell, Oklahoma. The association … Continue reading Carol Duncan, longtime booster for Route 66 in western Oklahoma, dies at 80