The historic El Camino Motor Hotel, located along the older alignment of Route 66 north of Albuquerque, has been placed on the market for $2.5 million. The motel actually is located in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, a small village north of Albuquerque. Albuquerque Business First (subscription required) reports the motel went on the market in … Continue reading El Camino Motor Hotel in north of Albuquerque goes up for sale
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.
Tulsa plans statewide Route 66 centennial celebration on May 30, 2026
The City of Tulsa is planning a statewide Route 66 centennial celebration on May 30, 2026, that includes a huge car parade and other events. News on 6 in Tulsa was the first to have the story, though details still are a bit fuzzy. One of the tentative events is a parade featuring thousands of … Continue reading Tulsa plans statewide Route 66 centennial celebration on May 30, 2026
Restored neon sign installed at Rock Cafe in Stroud
The historic neon sign at the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma, has a new glow after it was restored with a grant from the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission with the aid of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. The sign dates to the 1940s and was re-installed a few days ago. https://youtu.be/M0OXCTtSGV0 And Rich Dinkela, president … Continue reading Restored neon sign installed at Rock Cafe in Stroud
Albuquerque shuts down Loma Verde Motel due to code violations, crime
The City of Albuquerque shut down the Loma Verde Motel last week because of poor living conditions for its tenants and persistent crime. KOAT-TV in Albuquerque reported: "We knew there would be lots of problems, but it was beyond what we even imagined," said Alan Varela, the director of the Planning Department for the city … Continue reading Albuquerque shuts down Loma Verde Motel due to code violations, crime
Ultra-endurance cyclist aims to pedal Route 66 in just eight days
An ultra-endurance bicyclist has set his sights on pedaling the length of Route 66 in just eight days in June. Joe Barr of Ireland, who in 2023 won the World Ultra-Cycling Association’s World Cup and World Championship, tentatively plans to begin his trek from the Santa Monica Pier on June 5 and finish in Chicago … Continue reading Ultra-endurance cyclist aims to pedal Route 66 in just eight days
Entrepreneuer Mary Beth Babcock planning another 20-foot-tall Cowboy Bob in Tulsa
Entrepreneur and Route 66 booster Mary Beth Babcock is planning a fourth, 20-foot-tall Muffler Man giant named Cowboy Bob at one of her businesses in Tulsa. The Tulsa World had the details: The newest giant, Cowboy Bob, will be the mascot for Buck’s Vintage on 66 that is moving into the 66 Collective with other … Continue reading Entrepreneuer Mary Beth Babcock planning another 20-foot-tall Cowboy Bob in Tulsa
Longtime owner of Westside Lilo’s Cafe in Seligman dies
Lilo Russell, a German native who owned the landmark Westside Lilo's Cafe along Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona, for decades, has died. She was 83. Russell's death was announced on Monday on several Route 66 groups on social media, including the restaurant itself: Here's a video made by a traveler a few years ago who … Continue reading Longtime owner of Westside Lilo’s Cafe in Seligman dies
Longtime TV travel host Samantha Brown will feature western Route 66 in future episodes
Longtime television travel host Samantha Brown revealed in a recent interview that she will feature Route 66 from Albuquerque to Santa Monica in future episodes of her PBS show. Brown, who is marking 25 years on television, sat for an interview with USA Today before the season premiere of "Samantha Brown's Places to Love." It … Continue reading Longtime TV travel host Samantha Brown will feature western Route 66 in future episodes
Grant for Kendall Whittier neighborhood in Tulsa includes making a neon Route 66 shield
The Kendall Whittier neighborhood in Tulsa will receive a $130,000 grant from the state's Main Street program to create a neon Route 66 shield and other neon accents. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce announced the grants earlier this month. Nearby Sapulpa also received one. The Tulsa World reported on the Kendall-Whittier award: The Kendall Whittier Main … Continue reading Grant for Kendall Whittier neighborhood in Tulsa includes making a neon Route 66 shield
Forthcoming “Welcome to Tulsa” signs contain a subtle nod to Route 66
The Tulsa Planning Commission recently released renderings of signs the city plans to place in several areas before Route 66's centennial in 2026, including the largest that contain a subtle reference to the highway. The signs incorporate the city's flag design, but that's not all, according to the commission: The largest concept (Gateway Triangle) features … Continue reading Forthcoming “Welcome to Tulsa” signs contain a subtle nod to Route 66