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
Category: People
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
Illinois State Museum director dies shortly after appointment to Route 66 Centennial Commission
Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, director of the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, died Saturday less than a month after her appointment to the Route 66 Centennial Commission. Her death was reported by the Springfield State Journal-Register after the Illinois Association of Museums announced it Sunday. She was 50. No cause of death was reported by either the … Continue reading Illinois State Museum director dies shortly after appointment to Route 66 Centennial Commission
Afton Station is for sale for the second time in less than four years
Afton Station in Afton, Oklahoma, has been put on the market for a second time since 2019, when it was auctioned after the owners' deaths. The former D-X gas station on Route 66 in the village's downtown is being listed by Solid Rock Realtors for $200,000. Here's a description of the property: OWN A PIECE … Continue reading Afton Station is for sale for the second time in less than four years
A closer look at Jim Ross’ and Shellee Graham’s neon garden near Arcadia
An Oklahoma City television station recently produced a feature about the neon-sign paradise that is Jim Ross and Shellee Graham's backyard near Arcadia, Oklahoma. The segment is part of KFOR-TV's ongoing "Is This a Great State or What?!" series. https://youtu.be/XAASN-4ZsPI Ross and Graham host a Neonfest in their backyard each October if you want to … Continue reading A closer look at Jim Ross’ and Shellee Graham’s neon garden near Arcadia