The Grand Canyon Deer Farm animal sanctuary off old Route 66 near Williams, Arizona, celebrates its 50th year this week -- on Thursday, to be exact. Russell Hamilton founded the Deer Farm on Aug. 15, 1969, but Randy and Pat George are the longest-tenured owners, having run it since 1987, according to an article in … Continue reading Grand Canyon Deer Farm near Williams marks 50th year this week
Category: Attractions
Arizona Route 66 association gives $10,000 to finish the restoration of Standin’ on a Corner wall
The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona recently gave a $10,000 check to the Standin' on a Corner Foundation to finish a long-gestating restoration of the wall at that famed park in Winslow, Arizona. From left are Tommy Butler, a member of the Standin' on the Corner Foundation; Nikki Seegers, director of the Historic Route … Continue reading Arizona Route 66 association gives $10,000 to finish the restoration of Standin’ on a Corner wall
New Muffler Man named Frecs erected on old Route 66 in Galena
A new Muffler Man -- a 19-foot-tall miner named Frecs -- recently was erected on old Route 66 in Galena, Kansas. The Muffler Man isn't 100 percent done. He still needs touch-ups after a weld broke on his supporting frame, and his boots needed to be finished. Regardless, it stands just west of the historic … Continue reading New Muffler Man named Frecs erected on old Route 66 in Galena
Luther man wants to turn labyrinth of Route 66 bricks into tourist attraction
A man from Luther, Oklahoma, who built a labyrinth made of thousands of abandoned bricks from old Route 66 wants to eventually turn the site into a tourist attraction, including as a wedding venue. Brent Byrd, who owns a barber shop in nearby Arcadia, Oklahoma, learned about a year ago about the orphaned bricks from … Continue reading Luther man wants to turn labyrinth of Route 66 bricks into tourist attraction
Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies
Elmer Long, the eccentric creator of the beloved Bottle Tree Ranch on Route 66 near Oro Grande, California, died June 22 after a bout with lung cancer. He was 72. Kelly Donovan, an administrator of Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch page on Facebook, announced Long's death during a post on the page Friday afternoon. No obituary … Continue reading Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies
Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month
Bob Russell, the mayor of Pontiac, Illinois, known for greeting arriving busloads of Route 66 tourists in his city's downtown, will voluntarily step down from his position on July 31. Russell, nicknamed by some as the "Mayor of Route 66," announced his impending departure during a city council meeting this week. According to the Bloomington … Continue reading Route 66 tourist-greeting mayor of Pontiac to resign at end of month
Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa
Several area officials, including Oklahoma's lieutenant governor and Tulsa's mayor, helped dedicate the enormous Route 66 Rising sculpture Tuesday at Avery Traffic Circle in Tulsa. The $682,000 sculpture, paid for with Vision 2025 sales-tax money in Tulsa County, is about 70 feet long and 30 feet tall. It sits at Mingo Road and Admiral Place, … Continue reading Officials dedicate Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa
Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee
The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act bill advanced Wednesday out of the U.S. Senate's Committee on Environment and Public Works and will head to the full Senate floor. The bill, introduced as S1014 by Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on April 3, was given a letter of support by the Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee
New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena
A new, huge and vintage-style Coca-Cola mural, complete with a Route 66 shield, recently was painted onto a prominent building in downtown Galena, Kansas, where two Route 66 alignments meet. The century-old building sits at Kansas Route 66 (the newer alignment) and Main Street (aka old Route 66). A local television station recently reported about … Continue reading New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena
Markley Shovel, a predecessor to Big Brutus, is dedicated
A century-old coal-mining shovel that served as a much-smaller predecessor of the Big Brutus shovel was dedicated Saturday at the Big Brutus Visitors Center in West Mineral, Kansas. According to an Associated Press article, Perry Markley designed and built by hand the smaller shovel in the early 1900s using junkyard parts. The machine was one … Continue reading Markley Shovel, a predecessor to Big Brutus, is dedicated