Missouri Route 66 Association acquires historic signs for future neon park

The Route 66 Association of Missouri announced Thursday it had acquired four neon signs -- including from the Ozark Court and La Casa Grande Motel -- for a future neon park development. Rich Dinkela, president of the association, bought the signs for $44,400 from the estate of St. Louis-area sign collector Greg Rhomberg so they … Continue reading Missouri Route 66 Association acquires historic signs for future neon park

Retro diner going into former Sonrise Donuts building in Springfield

After being a Mexican restaurant for years, the former Sonrise Donuts building along Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois, will be transformed into a retro diner called The Fountain on 66. The Springfield State Journal-Register (subscription required) reports that Tom Hart signed a lease effective Jan. 1 to take over the building, Hart will have to … Continue reading Retro diner going into former Sonrise Donuts building in Springfield

Ida Red General Store in Tulsa is selling a Route 66 snow globe

Ida Red General Store, specializing in Oklahoma-made gifts, is selling a handpainted, Route 66-themed snow globe featuring several Route 66 landmarks in the Sooner State. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association who helped get clearances for the creation, showed the snow globe in a video: The landmarks I spotted in the snow … Continue reading Ida Red General Store in Tulsa is selling a Route 66 snow globe

New Oklahoma Route 66 centennial monument unveiled in Oklahoma City

A new Oklahoma Route 66 centennial monument was installed last week in Oklahoma City along Northwest 23rd Street, a prominent alignment of Route 66 in the city. Mayor David Holt stated in several posts on social media that the sign is one of several that will be installed in the city. The new sign is … Continue reading New Oklahoma Route 66 centennial monument unveiled in Oklahoma City

Grant helps give a retro-styled sign for Old Tascosa Brewing Co. in Amarillo

Thanks to a Business Improvement Grant, or BIG, from the City of Amarillo, Texas, the Old Tascosa Brewing Co. recently installed a retro-styled sign in front of its brewery. The sign doesn't have neon, but the chasing lights and big arrow hearken to another era. The Old Tascosa Brewing Co. sits in the middle of … Continue reading Grant helps give a retro-styled sign for Old Tascosa Brewing Co. in Amarillo

Relighting ceremony held for former Saratoga Motor Inn sign in Tulsa

The Wings of Freedom sober-living organization held a relighting ceremony Friday night for the repurposed, 66-foot-tall neon sign at the former Saratoga Motor Inn in Tulsa. Ken Busby of the Route 66 Alliance in Tulsa was there to capture the moment in video: Red Fork Depot in Tulsa also posted this image: More from Cloudless … Continue reading Relighting ceremony held for former Saratoga Motor Inn sign in Tulsa

Claremore unveils its Route 66 Centennial marker

The City of Claremore, Oklahoma, and the state's Route 66 Centennial Commission on Monday unveiled the second Route 66 centennial marker in the Sooner State. Here's what it looks like: Monday also happened to be the anniversary of when U.S. 66 was federally certified in 1926. According to KJRH-TV in Tulsa, the first centennial marker … Continue reading Claremore unveils its Route 66 Centennial marker

“BLVD” Cafe sign moved from closed Barstow museum to Duarte Historical Museum

The "BLVD" Cafe sign is back in the town where it once stood. The sign was on loan from the Duarte Historical Society in Duarte, California, to the Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow, California, for about 30 years. But after the museum closed earlier this year, Duarte historian Alan Heller recalled the sign was … Continue reading “BLVD” Cafe sign moved from closed Barstow museum to Duarte Historical Museum

St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park slated to open in spring 2025

A long-planned St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park along the highway in St. Robert, Missouri, is under construction and scheduled to open sometime in spring 2025. The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau and Visitors Center recently posted this video of the neon park being built: https://youtu.be/3qQHZ3oDUKg?si=59YqL7yYWjMU1kYk According to the tourism bureau, the park will contain restored … Continue reading St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park slated to open in spring 2025

Grand reopening of Magic Lamp Inn restaurant appears imminent

The grand reopening of the historic Magic Lamp Inn restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga, California, after it hosted an invitation-only event earlier this month. The Route 66 establishment, famous for its neon sign in the shape of an Aladdin lamp that features a genuine flame from its spout, closed in early 2023. Its website set up … Continue reading Grand reopening of Magic Lamp Inn restaurant appears imminent