The Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program in Tulsa recently marked the fifth anniversary since the first sign restored by the program was delighted.
Susan Yates, a resident of the area, on Facebook took note of the five-year mark since the sign at Billy Ray’s BBQ & Catfish restaurant in west Tulsa was restored.
You can read about that very first sign that benefited from the program here.
In the five years following, more than 60 signs have been restored or created along Tulsa’s Route 66 corridors.
The program has inspired others, including the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission just a few weeks ago announcing several grants to boost neon signage along the Mother Road.
We asked Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, about it. Replying from Europe after attending the European Route 66 Festival in Prague, he replied:
The program has been a tremendous success. We knew it would be a welcome aid for sign restoration but we hoped it would also encourage new signs. As you can see, new signs have been the bulk of the grant requests we’ve received. Today, driving down Route 66 in Tulsa at night is a vibrant experience that entices travelers to stay longer and explore the city. The program made the case to launch two other Route 66 grant programs, one for events and one for historic facade restoration. This significant investment is one of the reasons why Tulsa earned the title Capital of Route 66.
(Screen-capture image from KTUL-TV video of the restored Billy Ray’s BBQ & Catfish sign in Tulsa)