Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio who was interviewed in documentary, dies at 89

Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio at the Texas-New Mexico border who was interviewed in a documentary about the Route 66 ghost town, died on New Year's Eve in nearby Vega, Texas. He was 89. If you have a few minutes, read the colorful obituary on Nixon's life. It's apparent he enjoyed his time on … Continue reading Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio who was interviewed in documentary, dies at 89

Article reveals more details about Glorieta Station’s sign collection in Albuquerque

A long-awaited feature in the New Mexico Route 66 Association's publication reveals fascinating details about the much-discussed (and cussed) Glorieta Station and its neon-sign collection in Albuquerque. Nick Gerlich, a marketing professor at West Texas A&M University and a Route 66 enthusiast, wrote the article for the current, spring 2020 edition of the association's Route … Continue reading Article reveals more details about Glorieta Station’s sign collection in Albuquerque

Book review: “A Matter of Time”

The new book "A Matter of Time" (272 pages, 174 photos, hardcover, University of Oklahoma Press) featuring Ellen Klinkel's black-and-white photographs may appear to be a coffee-table book -- and a very good one. But it's the text by co-author Nick Gerlich that sets the book apart from typical Route 66 volumes, offering a modern … Continue reading Book review: “A Matter of Time”

New Mexico Route 66 Association wades into, then retreats from sign-preservation issue

The New Mexico Route 66 Association on Sept. 5 posted a statement about the thorny issue of historic neon signs disappearing along the highway, particularly in New Mexico, then deleted the post days later. The post, which I'd monitored to read the responses, generated more than 150 comments at last count and plenty of dissatisfaction … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association wades into, then retreats from sign-preservation issue

“A Matter of Time” book about Route 66 coming in October

"A Matter of Time," a photo-driven book about familiar and forgotten places on Route 66, will be coming in October from the University of Oklahoma Press. The 272-page book, subtitled "Route 66 Through the Lens of Change," by German photographer Ellen Klinkel and West Texas A&M marketing professor Nick Gerlich documents 101 spots along Route … Continue reading “A Matter of Time” book about Route 66 coming in October

Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post

A new group that calls itself the Route 66 Co-op has purchased the long-abandoned ruins of the Painted Desert Trading Post and its accompanying 94 acres in eastern Arizona to preserve it, according to a news release Sunday afternoon. "Roamin'" Rich Dinkela, one of the co-op's members, stated in the release: It was brought to … Continue reading Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post

A drive on Route 66 in Texas

West Texas A&M University marketing professor and Route 66 enthusiast Nick Gerlich and his daughter, Becca, produced this 15-minute video about Route 66 in the Lone Star State. The footage and Gerlich's narration weave travelogue, history, and modern-day observations of about 180 miles of Route 66 into the video. You'll even see obscure alignments such … Continue reading A drive on Route 66 in Texas

“CAFE” window panes apparently stolen from Glenrio landmark

It's a relatively small loss in the scheme of things. But many Route 66 enthusiasts still were deeply disappointed to learn Monday four window panes that spelled "CAFE" at the long-abandoned Longhorn Cafe in Glenrio, Texas, recently were stolen. Nick Gerlich noticed the missing glass during a visit to the Route 66 ghost town along … Continue reading “CAFE” window panes apparently stolen from Glenrio landmark

DVD review: “The California Promise: Historic Route 66”

Route 66 in the Mojave Desert may look barren, but its past brims with history and stories. That's the takeaway from Unoccupied Route 66's latest film, "The California Promise: Historic Route 66." The 37-minute documentary, again directed by KC Keefer, explores a 100-mile stretch of ghost towns that dotted Route 66 in Southern California's harsh desert. … Continue reading DVD review: “The California Promise: Historic Route 66”

Trailer for “The California Promise” documentary released

A three-minute promotional trailer for Unoccupied Route 66's latest documentary, "The California Promise," was placed online a few days ago. This segment shown here deals primarily with the Mojave Desert ghost town of Bagdad. https://youtu.be/wYae2Q9aIYg More about the upcoming film: Join host Nick Gerlich as he explores the Mohave Desert on an old section of … Continue reading Trailer for “The California Promise” documentary released