Study: Flagstaff is the most dog-friendly city in the U.S.

If you're traveling Route 66 and need a pet-friendly destination, you won't do better than Flagstaff, Arizona. The venerable Route 66 town not only is the best on the Mother Road, but in the entire country, according to a Blueprint study with USA Today. The study reviewed the per capita number of dog-friendly lodging establishments, … Continue reading Study: Flagstaff is the most dog-friendly city in the U.S.

Several Oklahoma organizations with Route 66 ties awarded preservation grants

The Oklahoma Historical Society awarded 37 entities a total of $520,000 in grants this year, including several with Route 66 ties. We mentioned yesterday the Totum Pole Park near Foyil received a $20,000 grant to help restore its Fiddle House. Here are the rest of them that are relevant to Route 66: Friends of the … Continue reading Several Oklahoma organizations with Route 66 ties awarded preservation grants

Water main breaks cause hardships in Village of Thayer

Repeated water main breaks in the original Route 66 town of Thayer, Illinois, are causing inconvenience or hardships to residents and businesses. According to a story from the State Journal-Register in nearby Springfield, Thayer (population 661) has seen five water main breaks in the last two weeks and 19 in the past year. The culprit … Continue reading Water main breaks cause hardships in Village of Thayer

1,000 wild burros in Oatman area will be relocated due to overpopulation

About 1,000 wild burros in Arizona's Black Mountain Herd Management Area will be relocated by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management -- about half of the herd -- because of overpopulation concerns. The Route 66 village of Oatman is right in the middle of the management area. The wild burros -- for many years a … Continue reading 1,000 wild burros in Oatman area will be relocated due to overpopulation

Organization aims to promote small towns along Route 66 in mid-Oklahoma

The new MidPoint Corridor Route 66 Association, with the blessing of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, is seeking to tout about a dozen small towns along Route 66 in between Tulsa and Oklahoma City before the highway's centennial in 2026. The Oklahoman newspaper a few days ago published a front-page story about the new association, … Continue reading Organization aims to promote small towns along Route 66 in mid-Oklahoma

City of Albuquerque wants augmented-reality projects for its stretch of Route 66

The City of Albuquerque is inviting artists to submit augmented-reality projects to help celebrate Route 66's centennial in 2025 and 2026. The city's Department of Arts & Culture has issued a request for proposals through Jan. 31 "to identify AR projects that will immerse, educate, engage, and entertain the public and visitors in Route 66 … Continue reading City of Albuquerque wants augmented-reality projects for its stretch of Route 66

Joplin may allow neon signs in its historic downtown districts

The City of Joplin, Missouri, is exploring a proposal to allow neon signs in its historic downtown districts. According to the Joplin Globe, city staff and the Joplin Historic Preservation Commission are seeking input for the plan at a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the 530 Somewhere restaurant at 530 S. Main … Continue reading Joplin may allow neon signs in its historic downtown districts

‘Largest Christmas tree along Route 66’ erected in Bristow

The Bristow Retail Merchants Association of Bristow, Oklahoma, recently raised a 26-foot-tall "Cowboy Christmas" tree it is touting as the "largest Christmas tree along Route 66." According to Fox 23 in nearby Tulsa: The 26-foot Wisconsin Balsam fir made a long journey to Bristow, nearly 1,000 miles. Molly and Socks Christmas Tree Farm who was … Continue reading ‘Largest Christmas tree along Route 66’ erected in Bristow

OU team to develop a living-museum experience at Threatt Filling Station near Luther

A University of Oklahoma team recently received funding from the nonprofit Oklahoma Humanities organization to develop a Route 66 Placemaking Communities Retreat that includes a living-museum experience at Threatt Filling Station near Luther, Oklahoma. The team also wants to develop a Route 66-themed design experience in Hydro, Oklahoma. The efforts are being done before Route … Continue reading OU team to develop a living-museum experience at Threatt Filling Station near Luther

Jericho owners raising funds to install a historic marker at Jericho Gap

Blair and Blanca Schaffer, the de facto owners of the Route 66 ghost town of Jericho, Texas, recently launched an online fundraiser to erect a historic marker at the start of the notorious Jericho Gap. The Schaffers want to raise $3,000 through GoFundMe.com to place a Texas Historical Marker at the site. The appeal contains … Continue reading Jericho owners raising funds to install a historic marker at Jericho Gap