To no one's surprise, a multibillion-dollar theme park along Route 66 near Vinita, Oklahoma, probably will be delayed for three years. Mansion Entertainment, a company with ties to Branson, Missouri, announced in summer 2023 that it would build the American Heartland theme park and RV park by Route 66’s centennial year in 2026 and draw 5 million visitors annually. … Continue reading Huge theme park near Vinita likely will be delayed for three years
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.
St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park slated to open in spring 2025
A long-planned St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park along the highway in St. Robert, Missouri, is under construction and scheduled to open sometime in spring 2025. The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau and Visitors Center recently posted this video of the neon park being built: https://youtu.be/3qQHZ3oDUKg?si=59YqL7yYWjMU1kYk According to the tourism bureau, the park will contain restored … Continue reading St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park slated to open in spring 2025
Grand reopening of Magic Lamp Inn restaurant appears imminent
The grand reopening of the historic Magic Lamp Inn restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga, California, after it hosted an invitation-only event earlier this month. The Route 66 establishment, famous for its neon sign in the shape of an Aladdin lamp that features a genuine flame from its spout, closed in early 2023. Its website set up … Continue reading Grand reopening of Magic Lamp Inn restaurant appears imminent
Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque now slated to open by May 2025
After multiple delays, the Route 66 Visitor Center on the west edge of Albuquerque now is scheduled to open sometime in May next year. Shelle Sanchez, the city's Department of Arts & Culture Director Shelle Sanchez, gave the tentative date during a tour of the property on Thursday, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Arts & … Continue reading Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque now slated to open by May 2025
Gemini Giant will be installed in Wilmington park on Nov. 30
The restored Gemini Giant, once a fixture for almost 60 years at the Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois, will be the focus of a party on Nov. 30 at his new home in Wilmington's South Island Park. According to a promotional flyer, the event from 1 to 3 p.m. that day will include … Continue reading Gemini Giant will be installed in Wilmington park on Nov. 30
Munger Moss Motel again sold again to Arkansas company that plans to restore it
The Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, again has been sold to The Dels Corporation of Mountain Home, Arkansas, which states it plans to restore the property and its iconic neon sign. The Route 66 motel apparently was under contract to be sold to The Dels Corporation in early 2023, but a dispute between the … Continue reading Munger Moss Motel again sold again to Arkansas company that plans to restore it
Hank’s Hamburgers in Tulsa marking its 75th anniversary this weekend
Hank's Hamburgers, one of the oldest and greatest hamburger joints among many terrific ones in Tulsa, is marking its 75th anniversary this weekend. Through 7 p.m. Saturday, Hank's is offering its old-fashioned Oklahoma-style burger or a combo for 75 cents off to celebrate the milestone, reported the Tulsa World. Hank's sits at 8933 E. Admiral … Continue reading Hank’s Hamburgers in Tulsa marking its 75th anniversary this weekend
American Giants Museum featured in the New York Times
The so-called "newspaper of record" has published a prominent story about the American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois. The New York Times posted the story by reporter Valerie Schremp Hahn and St. Louis photographer Bryan Birks in its Fine Arts and Design section on Wednesday. It contains a lot of information about the museum's genesis … Continue reading American Giants Museum featured in the New York Times
Robbie Robinson and Route 66 Band will play at Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center
Robbie Robinson and two members of his Route 66 Band will host a special "A Night at the Museum" event at the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Illinois, the night before their Wildey Theatre show. The Litchfield museum show will be at 7 p.m. on Halloween (Oct. 31), with the Wildey … Continue reading Robbie Robinson and Route 66 Band will play at Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center
New video series spotlights Route 66 revitalization efforts in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce recently launched a new video series that touts the agency's efforts to revitalize Route 66 before the highway's centennial in 2026. In late 2023, the agency launched the Route 66 grants program, allowing communities to apply for funding for municipalities, nonprofits and government entities on Route 66. To date, 24 projects have … Continue reading New video series spotlights Route 66 revitalization efforts in Oklahoma