City of St. Robert takes steps to have Alpine Haus motel site torn down as a nuisance

The City of St. Robert, Missouri, is taking steps to declare the declining Alpine Haus motel a nuisance so it can be torn down. The Pulaski County Weekly reported the city tried and failed to prompt the property's owner, Real Estate Investments LLC of Columbia, Missouri, to do something about it. The newspaper said the … Continue reading City of St. Robert takes steps to have Alpine Haus motel site torn down as a nuisance

Albert Okura’s son tries to keep his father’s dream alive at Amboy

A few days ago, the Los Angeles Times (via AOL) published a lengthy story about how the son of the late Albert Okura, owner of the Route 66 town of Amboy, California, is trying to keep that dream alive. The story by Alex Wigglesworth is worth reading in its entirety. But a few nuggets stand … Continue reading Albert Okura’s son tries to keep his father’s dream alive at Amboy

Wings of Freedom in Tulsa erects repurposed Saratoga Motor Hotel sign

A few days ago, the Wings of Freedom organization of Tulsa erected a repurposed Saratoga Motor Hotel sign made for its sober-living facility at the former motel site. Wings of Freedom posted images of the new sign being installed, along with an image of the old sign. Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin also … Continue reading Wings of Freedom in Tulsa erects repurposed Saratoga Motor Hotel sign

Painted Desert Inn in eastern Arizona marks its 100th year

The Painted Desert Inn is celebrating its 100th year this month, though it started under another name and was in danger of being torn down during the mid-1970s. To celebrate the centennial, the surrounding Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona will offer free activities for families on June 21-23 along with moonlight-guided tours of … Continue reading Painted Desert Inn in eastern Arizona marks its 100th year

Astro Motel in Amarillo to be converted into housing for homeless veterans

The Astro Motel off Route 66 on the west side of Amarillo, Texas, will become a housing complex for homeless veterans. The Amarillo Globe-News reported that Homeless Heroes of Amarillo had secured the $565,000 needed to purchase the property at 5703 W. Amarillo Blvd. (aka Route 66). The current 20-room configuration will be turned into … Continue reading Astro Motel in Amarillo to be converted into housing for homeless veterans

Former Boots Court motel manager Deborah “Debbie Dee” Real dies

Deborah "Debbie Dee" Real, a manager for the Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, during a key time in its revival, has died. She was 73. Real regularly greeted overnight visitors in the Route 66 motel's front office when Deb Harvey and her sister, Priscilla Bledsaw, owned it. The sisters oversaw improvements to the motel, … Continue reading Former Boots Court motel manager Deborah “Debbie Dee” Real dies

Hiway House Motel in Albuquerque to be transformed into a boutique hotel

The vacant Hiway House Motel in the popular Nob Hill area of Albuquerque will be changed into a boutique hotel, but its historic neon sign will remain. The Albuquerque Journal reported that Josh Rogers and Kurt Browning of Titan Development in Albuquerque acquired the property at 3200 Central Ave. (aka Route 66) after wanting it … Continue reading Hiway House Motel in Albuquerque to be transformed into a boutique hotel

Study: Flagstaff is the most dog-friendly city in the U.S.

If you're traveling Route 66 and need a pet-friendly destination, you won't do better than Flagstaff, Arizona. The venerable Route 66 town not only is the best on the Mother Road, but in the entire country, according to a Blueprint study with USA Today. The study reviewed the per capita number of dog-friendly lodging establishments, … Continue reading Study: Flagstaff is the most dog-friendly city in the U.S.

Revive 66 Campground closes less than four years after opening

The nonprofit organization that opened the Revive 66 Campground in Springfield, Missouri, has closed it permanently less than four years after opening it. Revive 66, at 3839 W. Chestnut Expressway, shuttered on April 22, reported the Springfield News-Leader after the Gathering Tree opened it in early 2021. Gathering Tree operates tiny-home communities for the homeless. … Continue reading Revive 66 Campground closes less than four years after opening

Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants

The restoration of the neon sign for the closed West Winds Motel in Erick, Oklahoma, is among the $6 million in grants recently awarded by the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. A list of the funds given from the state's Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program was posted in a document on the commission's website. Several grant … Continue reading Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants