A developer wants to convert the historic Gold Dome building in Oklahoma City into a music concert site, but he'll have to do it without historic tax credits or grants from the state's Route 66 commission. Instead, Mike Brown, president of Tulsa-based Kismet Koncerts, will seek $3 million in local tax increment financing to renovate the site, … Continue reading Historic tax credits rejected to convert Gold Dome in OKC into a music venue
Category: Attractions
Route 66 Christmas Chute in Sapulpa taking a one-year break due to street work
The popular Route 66 Christmas Chute in downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma, will take a break in 2025 because of a long-planned streetscape redesign on Dewey Street (aka Route 66). Organizers of the holiday event said it would resume in 2026, the same year as Route 66's centennial. The Route 66 Christmas Chute announced the one-year hiatus … Continue reading Route 66 Christmas Chute in Sapulpa taking a one-year break due to street work
Camp Joy replica arch mostly completed in front of an original cabin at Lebanon park
Lettering for a Camp Joy replica archway in front of one of the former Route 66 tourist camp's original cabins was completed just before the new year at Boswell Park in Lebanon, Missouri. Joker Welding and Weld Supply of Lebanon attached the lettering. The only task remaining for the archway project is painting the back … Continue reading Camp Joy replica arch mostly completed in front of an original cabin at Lebanon park
Tulsa Oilers hockey team to be renamed Route 66 Blue Whales for home games on Jan. 10-11
The Tulsa Oilers hockey team, an Anaheim Ducks and San Diego Gulls affiliate, will temporarily change its name to the Route 66 Blue Whales for home games on Jan. 10-11 in tribute to the historic highway and the Blue Whale landmark in nearby Catoosa. According to a news release from the Oilers, the team will wear … Continue reading Tulsa Oilers hockey team to be renamed Route 66 Blue Whales for home games on Jan. 10-11
Grand Canyon Caverns schedules grand reopening for tours on Feb. 1
Grand Canyon Caverns, hampered by an elevator mishap into the caverns two years ago, recently announced it would hold a grand reopening event for its tours on Feb. 1. The office manager for the caverns' marketing arm in an email also revealed other improvements at the Route 66 site: We are under new ownership/management and … Continue reading Grand Canyon Caverns schedules grand reopening for tours on Feb. 1
1925 cottage-style gas station near Niangua being moved to Marshfield for photo-op
A very old and long-closed cottage-style gas station building along Route 66 near Niangua, Missouri, earlier this month was being moved a few miles west to Marshfield, where it will restored and turned into a photo opportunity. The Webster County Route 66 Initiative reported that Gary Dill donated the building for the project. The building … Continue reading 1925 cottage-style gas station near Niangua being moved to Marshfield for photo-op
Someone steals vintage police car owned by late Amboy owner Albert Okura
A 1955 Dodge Coronet police car owned by deceased Route 66 legend Albert Okura was stolen on Christmas Day from the headquarters of the family's Juan Pollo restaurant chain in San Bernardino, California. Okura's son Kyle told the San Bernardino County Sun his father acquired the car many years ago. The vehicle purportedly was used … Continue reading Someone steals vintage police car owned by late Amboy owner Albert Okura
Group gets $5,000 Landmarks Illinois grant to preserve McLean water tower
A historic preservation group based in the Route 66 town of McLean, Illinois, recently received a $5,000 grant from Landmarks Illinois to help restore the village’s 90-year-old water tower. CORE of McLean, which took possession of the tower from the village this fall, will use the grant for Phase I of restoration, which includes power … Continue reading Group gets $5,000 Landmarks Illinois grant to preserve McLean water tower
$92 million sculpture park, art center planned along Route 66 in Edmond
Two nonprofit groups are planning an ambitious 62-acre sculpture park at the northwest corner of Second Street (aka Route 66) and Coltrane Road in Edmond, Oklahoma, by the highway's centennial in fall 2026. The Journal-Record reported that Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park Inc. and Edmond Fine Arts Institute want to raise up to $92 million for … Continue reading $92 million sculpture park, art center planned along Route 66 in Edmond
Missouri Route 66 Association acquires historic signs for future neon park
The Route 66 Association of Missouri announced Thursday it had acquired four neon signs -- including from the Ozark Court and La Casa Grande Motel -- for a future neon park development. Rich Dinkela, president of the association, bought the signs for $44,400 from the estate of St. Louis-area sign collector Greg Rhomberg so they … Continue reading Missouri Route 66 Association acquires historic signs for future neon park