Elmo Quinn, the former owner of Quinn's Shell station along Route 66 in Bloomington, Illinois, died Wednesday. He was 82. Quinn was so beloved for his kindness, he was known as the "Mayor of Main Street," according to a story in the Bloomington Pantagraph. Quinn's welcoming personality and community insight helped establish his mayoral nickname, … Continue reading Elmo Quinn, owner of Quinn’s Shell station in Bloomington, dies at 82
Category: People
Original co-owner of Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman dies
Scott Dunton, one of the original owners of the iconic Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner in Kingman, Arizona, has died. He was 72. Dunton's death was announced on Facebook last week by ROUTE Magazine, and the Original Chillin' on Beale Street group also reported it. Mr. D’z is housed in the former Kimo Cafe that opened … Continue reading Original co-owner of Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman dies
Documentary about Route 66 women now being aired for free on TubiTV
Filmmaker Katrina Parks announced her three-part "Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road" and the documentary "The Harvey Girls: Opportunity Bound" now are available to audiences for free on the streaming platform TubiTV. According to a news release from Parks: These films, which have been broadcast through American Public Television, explore … Continue reading Documentary about Route 66 women now being aired for free on TubiTV
Staff, management shake-up hits Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City
The historic Tower Theatre along Route 66 in Oklahoma City recently saw layoffs and a big management shake-up. The Lost Ogle, an OKC-based website that has broken a number of big stories over the years, reported at least nine people at the theater were laid off, others were forced to reapply for their jobs, and … Continue reading Staff, management shake-up hits Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City
Local tribe closes Grand Falls site northeast of Flagstaff
Grand Falls, also known as Chocolate Falls or Adah’iilíní, became a popular tourist site because of its spectacular waterfalls during monsoon or snowpack-melt seasons. It sits less than an hour's drive from downtown Flagstaff, Arizona. It's open to tourists no longer. According to the Arizona Daily Sun, residents of the Leupp Chapter of the Navajo … Continue reading Local tribe closes Grand Falls site northeast of Flagstaff
Notable Route 66 enthusiast and educator Becky Ransom dies at 61
Becky Ransom, a Route 66 fan who used that enthusiasm for years in the classroom and at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, died suddenly in Wyoming on Feb. 8. She was 61. According to her obituary, a joint celebration of life will be held for Ramsom and her father, Wayne Ransom, on July … Continue reading Notable Route 66 enthusiast and educator Becky Ransom dies at 61
Munger Moss Motel changes hands; he pledges to keep neon sign and rooms for overnight guests
Ramona Lehman apparently has sold the historic Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri. The new owner has pledged to keep its neon sign and rooms for overnight Route 66 travelers, though part of it will be designated to long-term renters. Reports of the Munger Moss' sale began surfacing Monday after Route 66 enthusiasts or those … Continue reading Munger Moss Motel changes hands; he pledges to keep neon sign and rooms for overnight guests
Rosie Ramos, manager of Fender’s River Road Resort in Needles, dies of cancer
Rosie Ramos, the beloved manager of Fender's River Road Resort in Needles, California, and an ambassador to Route 66, died of cancer over the weekend. Tributes to Ramos poured into social media even before her death when friends and relatives let it be known in recent days she was in the hospital, then in hospice … Continue reading Rosie Ramos, manager of Fender’s River Road Resort in Needles, dies of cancer
Albert Okura, a restaurateur who owned the town of Amboy, dies
Albert Okura, longtime owner and founder of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain who purchased the Route 66 town of Amboy, California, in 2005, died last week. Okura also owned the first original McDonald's -- also a popular Route 66 stop in San Bernardino, California. He purchased that location in 1998, stocked it with McDonald's memorabilia … Continue reading Albert Okura, a restaurateur who owned the town of Amboy, dies
Sunflower Station’s reopening will be delayed due to co-owner’s health issues
The reopening of Sunflower Station in Adrian, Texas, once scheduled for this spring, will be delayed while its co-owner recovers from serious health issues. Kelly Snyder said on a social media post that her husband Jason underwent major surgery on Jan. 1 and encountered some complications, including the need for a colostomy. Snyder said they … Continue reading Sunflower Station’s reopening will be delayed due to co-owner’s health issues