Visit California recently released a one-minute advertisement, and it includes Roy's Motel and Cafe along Route 66 in Amboy. https://youtu.be/q_F4PmMizRo?si=6a45Y1RhLX1amjp9 The ad is a clever way of incorporating the lyrics from Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Up Around the Bend" -- a classic road song if there ever was one. ---
Author: Ron Warnick
I'm the editor and publisher of Route 66 News, a clearinghouse of events, information, and entertainment pertaining to historic U.S. 66, the Mother Road.
TV travel host Samantha Brown travels Route 66 from St. Louis to Tulsa
A few roadies have recommended this, and upon watching it, so do I. The "Samantha Brown's Places to Love" travel show on PBS-TV recently aired. This 25-minute episode features Route 66 from St. Louis to Tulsa. It includes Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Gearhead Curios, Uranus Missouri, a mural artist in Cuba, Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios … Continue reading TV travel host Samantha Brown travels Route 66 from St. Louis to Tulsa
Some Weatherford residents irked by teardown of gazebo to make way for Route 66 statue
The teardown of a decades-old gazebo in Weatherford, Oklahoma, to make way for a large, Route 66-themed astronaut statue has blindsided or irritated some residents. KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City interviewed one resident who said the city "out of nowhere" tore down the structure, noting it was an Oklahoma Centennial site in the 1990s. The Weatherford … Continue reading Some Weatherford residents irked by teardown of gazebo to make way for Route 66 statue
RoadRunner Gift Shop, Cafe & Pub in Seligman put up for sale
The RoadRunner Gift Shop, Cafe & Pub in Seligman, Arizona, has been put up for sale for $485,000, according to its longtime owner. Rick Bell, who has owned the Route 66 establishment for 16 years, wants to retire, adding he's had one day off during that time. "We never close, which is why we want … Continue reading RoadRunner Gift Shop, Cafe & Pub in Seligman put up for sale
First sign goes up in Stroud for ambitious Route 66 neon project
The first of 45 new neon signs coming to Route 66 in Stroud, Oklahoma, was recently installed as part of the town's forthcoming Route 66 centennial celebration. Here's what the new sign looks like at night: Charles Palmer, one of the movers and shakers for the Stroud Route 66 neon project, told Route 66 News … Continue reading First sign goes up in Stroud for ambitious Route 66 neon project
State of Oklahoma issues new state map that commemorates Route 66
Last week, the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission announced the launch of a Route 66 commemorative map for the Sooner State. Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who also leads the state's tourism agency and is a big proponent of Route 66, attended a news conference at the state Capitol to promote the 2025-2026 map. The maps … Continue reading State of Oklahoma issues new state map that commemorates Route 66
Dewey Avenue streetscape redesign project in downtown Sapulpa begins today
The long-awaited streetscape redesign for Dewey Avenue (aka Route 66) in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma, is scheduled to begin today. In a meeting with the city's downtown retailers and building owners last week, city manager Joan Riley confirmed the start date of the project, reported the Sapulpa Times. One of the most highly-anticipated parts of the … Continue reading Dewey Avenue streetscape redesign project in downtown Sapulpa begins today
Old Courthouse in St. Louis will reopen on May 3 after a two-year renovation
The Old Courthouse, a landmark in downtown St. Louis, will reopen on May 3 after undergoing two years of renovations. Officials with Gateway Arch National Park and the nonprofit Gateway Arch Park Foundation announced the reopening date last week, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The courthouse is part of the national park. The $27.5 million … Continue reading Old Courthouse in St. Louis will reopen on May 3 after a two-year renovation
Route 66 Postcard Road Trip named as finalist in StoryMaps competition
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Route 66 Postcard Road Trip has been selected as one of 11 finalists in the Humanities category for the 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps competition. The Route 66 Postcard Road Trip was selected from over 570 submissions from student and professional storytellers invited to “build stories about the world they want to see.” … Continue reading Route 66 Postcard Road Trip named as finalist in StoryMaps competition
Fire heavily damages Olive Oatman Restaurant & Saloon, Oatman General Store buildings
A fire on Thursday night heavily damaged the closed Olive Oatman Restaurant & Saloon and the adjoining Oatman General Store in downtown Oatman, Arizona. Fire crews first responded to the blaze at 9:52 p.m. local time, reported the Mohave Daily News. "I got a call last night at 9:45, there was a smell of smoke … Continue reading Fire heavily damages Olive Oatman Restaurant & Saloon, Oatman General Store buildings