The historic Rosati Winery and Museum along Route 66 near St. James, Missouri, will reopen by spring after being closed for almost a decade, said one of the principals. Jacob Stotler, who will run the museum, said in a phone interview that local caterer Deb Branson will open a restaurant at the facility, along with … Continue reading Rosati Winery and Museum near St. James to reopen by spring
Category: Restaurants
Jobe’s Drive-In in El Reno scheduled to reopen in mid-2024
Jobe's Drive-In in El Reno, Oklahoma, is scheduled to reopen as a restaurant in June after it closed nearly a decade ago. Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin noted early this summer that the sign for the Route 66 landmark had been spruced up. According to a recent story in the Yukon Progress-News, longtime … Continue reading Jobe’s Drive-In in El Reno scheduled to reopen in mid-2024
Mexican restaurant with Route 66 theme opens at the former site of Sonrise Donuts in Springfield
A Mexican restaurant called Lil Fiesta on Route 66 recently opened in the space that held Sonrise Donuts and its iconic sign for many years in Springfield, Illinois. Lil Fiesta on Route 66 opened Friday at 1101 S. Ninth St. (aka Route 66) in a space that also held another Mexican restaurant, for a few … Continue reading Mexican restaurant with Route 66 theme opens at the former site of Sonrise Donuts in Springfield
El Rancho Grande restaurant in Tulsa marks its 70th year
The landmark El Rancho Grande Mexican Food Restaurant near downtown Tulsa recently marked its 70th anniversary of operation. El Rancho, located at 1629 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66), remains best known for its well-preserved neon sign and that it is a pioneer in Mexican restaurant food in the United States. The restaurant marked the … Continue reading El Rancho Grande restaurant in Tulsa marks its 70th year
May Cafe, known for its lumberjack Muffler Man, to close temporarily around Christmas
The May Cafe, a Vietnamese restaurant in Albuquerque for over 30 years, will close temporarily around Christmas, its owner told the Albuquerque Business Journal. The restaurant is famous among Route 66 enthusiasts for its Paul Bunyan fiberglass statue, known generically as Muffler Men. The statue was restored in 2019 after a windstorm tore off its … Continue reading May Cafe, known for its lumberjack Muffler Man, to close temporarily around Christmas
Glancy Motel in Clinton is torn down; fate of its sign remains unknown
The historic Glancy Motel along Route 66 in Clinton, Oklahoma, fell victim to the wrecking ball Tuesday to make way for a new Oklahoma Highway Patrol station. Here's a first look at the razing from the Discover Clinton Oklahoma page on Facebook: The motel's iconic sign, however, was not torn down. According to recent editions … Continue reading Glancy Motel in Clinton is torn down; fate of its sign remains unknown
More details revealed of proposed renovations for Blue Whale site in Catoosa
Now we know better where that proposed $6 million for the Blue Whale would go. The City Council of Catoosa, Oklahoma, last week unveiled a proposed master plan for the iconic Blue Whale site along Route 66 as envisioned by Hampton Creative of Tulsa. Among the additions would be a mini-golf course, a new visitors center, … Continue reading More details revealed of proposed renovations for Blue Whale site in Catoosa
Joliet museum acquires the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen
The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, Illinois, recently acquired space that housed the world's first Dairy Queen restaurant. That first DQ, which opened in 1940, was in a brick, two-story building at 501 N. Chicago St., though the building itself dates to the 1890s. Greg Peerbolte, the museum's executive director, talked to the Joliet … Continue reading Joliet museum acquires the site of the world’s first Dairy Queen
Historical marker added to Road Runner’s Retreat site near Chambless
The Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus recently added a big historical marker at the defunct Road Runner's Retreat restaurant and gas station near Chambless, California. The chapter describes itself as a "fun-loving, irreverent group dedicated to the preservation and documentation of the history of the west including native Americans, early settlers, the Gold … Continue reading Historical marker added to Road Runner’s Retreat site near Chambless
Latest cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced six grants this year totaling about $165,000 to varying historic preservation, research, oral history, interpretative and educational projects. I noticed the grant awards this year were capped at $30,000. Still, 30 grand is 30 grand. Here are the grant awards: Round Barn siding repair in Arcadia, OklahomaApplicant: Arcadia Historical … Continue reading Latest cost-share grants announced from Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program