The Shea's Route 66 Museum along Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois, will reopen at 4 p.m. Monday after receiving extensive renovations at the former gas station. According to the Springfield State Journal-Register (subscription required), Scott Dahl of the city's convention and visitors bureau said it would be the first time the site, now owned by … Continue reading Shea’s Route 66 Museum in Springfield reopens Monday for the first time in over a decade
Category: Signs
Donut Drive-In in St. Louis soon will open its second Route 66 location
The venerable Donut Drive-In shop in St. Louis, which is close to the Route 66 landmark Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, soon will open a second location in nearby Brentwood, Missouri, also on Route 66. According to St. Louis Magazine, the Donut Drive-up with be at the former To Go Sushi space at 8950 Manchester Road (aka Route … Continue reading Donut Drive-In in St. Louis soon will open its second Route 66 location
Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants
The restoration of the neon sign for the closed West Winds Motel in Erick, Oklahoma, is among the $6 million in grants recently awarded by the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. A list of the funds given from the state's Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program was posted in a document on the commission's website. Several grant … Continue reading Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants
Nearly 100-foot-long neon sign goes live in downtown Tulsa
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission recently touted the existence of the largest neon sign that has gone through the city's Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program. It's nearly 100 feet long. And it's not vintage -- it's new. It's on the roof of Santa Fe Square, which sits on the Second Street alignment of Route … Continue reading Nearly 100-foot-long neon sign goes live in downtown Tulsa
Rudy Gonzales, last of the old-time sign painters, dies at 90
Rudy Gonzales, who handpainted signs large and small for more than a half-century along Route 66 in New Mexico, died on April 21. He was 90. A rosary and memorial Mass for Gonzales will be held Friday at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Tucumcari, according to his obituary. Route 66 News published a feature about … Continue reading Rudy Gonzales, last of the old-time sign painters, dies at 90
Road Runner’s Retreat sign near Chambless is repainted
The sign for the long-closed Road Runner's Retreat restaurant near Chambless, California, recently was repainted, and it hasn't looked this good in decades. Next up will be the restoration of the sign's neon tubing. The Facebook account of the site provided before-and-after images: Road Runner's Retreat in late 2023 received a $17,000 cost-share grant from … Continue reading Road Runner’s Retreat sign near Chambless is repainted
Park Plaza Courts neon sign in St. Louis is relighted
The Park Plaza Courts motel neon sign along Route 66 in St. Louis was relighted for the first time in 50 years during a ceremony Saturday night. Here is a video from the scene by Rich Dinkela, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri. More images from Route 66 enthusiast and author Joe Sonderman. … Continue reading Park Plaza Courts neon sign in St. Louis is relighted
Highland Theatre in Los Angeles closes after almost a century of operation
The Highland Theatre, which operated for 99 years along the Figueroa Street alignment of Route 66 in Los Angeles, unexpectedly closed its doors a few weeks ago. The EastsiderLA initially reported the shuttering of the theater, the last remaining movie house on Figueroa. On Thursday night, the theater was dark, the gate drawn closed, the … Continue reading Highland Theatre in Los Angeles closes after almost a century of operation
Apache Motel sign in Tucumcari taken down; motel’s new owner wants it repaired
The new owner of the closed Apache Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, took down its neon sign on Thursday, though she didn't plan to do so. Joanne Thompson, who in February acquired the Route 66 motel from her former business partner Wade Dirr, noticed the sign had twisted at an angle. Upon closer inspection, she … Continue reading Apache Motel sign in Tucumcari taken down; motel’s new owner wants it repaired
What in the world is going on with the New Mexico Route 66 Association?
The question in that headline isn't easy to answer right now. Nor is it easy to answer these related questions: Who is in charge of the association? Why are there two Facebook pages for the association? What's happening with the big project in Tucumcari regarding the association and the Fast TV Network? What's happening with … Continue reading What in the world is going on with the New Mexico Route 66 Association?