The popular Classen Grill eventually will reopen as the historic Donnay Building in Oklahoma City undergoes extensive and long-needed renovations. Steve Lackmeyer's recent article in The Oklahoman newspaper provides a lot of details about what is happening to the Donnay, which for a short time was endangered by a proposed Braum's ice cream parlor development. … Continue reading Classen Grill will reopen amid extensive renovations of Donnay Building in OKC
Category: Publications
Neon lighting glows again at historic Boots Court motel in Carthage
The historic Boots Court motel in Carthage, Missouri, on Wednesday posted a photo of its architectural neon lighting glowing again. It was another sign that renovations on the Route 66 landmark were progressing. On a comment thread with the Facebook post, I asked the motel how it was coming on getting the rest of its … Continue reading Neon lighting glows again at historic Boots Court motel in Carthage
Route 66 Navigation app’s creator is planning a Route 66 Centennial Passport
Touch Media, creator of the Route 66 Navigation app and publisher of the Mother Road Route 66 Passport, announced this week it is planning a Route 66 Centennial Passport in time for the highway's 100th birthday in 2026. According to a news release from the company: As planned it will be sold separately from the … Continue reading Route 66 Navigation app’s creator is planning a Route 66 Centennial Passport
Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington closes; future of restaurant appears uncertain
The landmark Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois -- famous for its Gemini Giant fiberglass statue that stands next to Route 66 -- has closed, and its future appears to be uncertain. Several reports of the restaurant's closing have surfaced on various Route 66 social media groups in recent days, including unconfirmed rumors the … Continue reading Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington closes; future of restaurant appears uncertain
Needles Regional Museum to mark 47th birthday of Spike from the “Peanuts” comic strip
The Needles Regional Museum along Route 66 in Needles, California, on Aug. 13 will mark the 47th birthday of Spike, the hat-wearing, mustachioed dog who lives in the desert near Needles in the "Peanuts" comic strip. Spike, who is Snoopy's brother, first appeared in the comic on Aug. 13, 1975. According to the museum, "Peanuts" … Continue reading Needles Regional Museum to mark 47th birthday of Spike from the “Peanuts” comic strip
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore to undergo a $14 million expansion and renovation
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, will undergo an extensive renovation and expansion in the next few years -- the first since the museum opened in 1938. The Joplin Globe reported: Letters from Will Rogers’ adolescence, glass slides of movie posters, studio contracts, movie scripts and costumes are just a few of the … Continue reading Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore to undergo a $14 million expansion and renovation
Third edition of Route 66 Passport now is available to travelers
Touch Media, best known for its Route 66 Navigation app, announced Thursday it has introduced the third edition of the Route 66 Passport for the 2022 and 2023 tourism season. The new edition, which comes with a dark blue cover and an embossed Route 66 shield on it, is available at many Route 66 distribution … Continue reading Third edition of Route 66 Passport now is available to travelers
Revival of “Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide” planned later this year
Mark Hamilton, the creator of the Backroads66 website, stated in a recent post he is planning to revive the "Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide" in November or December after updates on the publication ceased about seven years ago. Hamilton stated his guide would contain listings of only independently owned properties on or just off … Continue reading Revival of “Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide” planned later this year
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway soon will publish a special-edition magazine
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway recently announced it was about to publish its first-ever magazine, Illinois Route 66 Special Edition. The byway also will publish a 2022 Illinois Route 66 Visitor Guide. The cover of the magazine, as you can see above, features the Gemini Giant at the Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway soon will publish a special-edition magazine
29,000 Oklahoma Route 66 Passports distributed in just a few months in 2020
Remember the Oklahoma Route 66 Passport created by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism a couple of years ago? It turns out the agency distributed that little booklet by the truckload. The department this week sent out a news release about the 2020 tourism season, during the first part of the COVID-19 pandemic. It contained this … Continue reading 29,000 Oklahoma Route 66 Passports distributed in just a few months in 2020