Victorville city council approves renovation to 7th Street Archway over Route 66

The archway that greets Route 66 travelers to the Old Town area of Victorville, California, soon will undergo a face-lift. The Victorville City Council earlier this month approved a bid from Inland Signs Inc. to renovate the archway near the corner of 7th and D streets. Artist's rendering of the refurbished archway at night According … Continue reading Victorville city council approves renovation to 7th Street Archway over Route 66

Festival in September will pay tribute to Red Oak II’s late founder Lowell Davis

The Red Oak II complex near Carthage, Missouri, will hold a Red Oak II Festival on Sept. 11 to pay tribute to the faux town's creator, artist Lowell Davis, who died at age 83 in November. The Red Oak II Festival, according to a post on Facebook, will feature hayrides, Dutch oven cooking, children's games, … Continue reading Festival in September will pay tribute to Red Oak II’s late founder Lowell Davis

City of Albuquerque budgets $300,000 for Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026

The Albuquerque City Council is budgeting $300,000 to begin planning for a Route 66 centennial event in 2026. KRQE-TV quoted city councilor Klarissa Pena, who summarized why she thought the celebration would be important: “Communities throughout the nation suffered a decline of the historic route when highways were built, so what do we do to … Continue reading City of Albuquerque budgets $300,000 for Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026

About 30 volunteers help clean up the old motel site at Jericho

About 30 volunteers descended Saturday on the Route 66 ghost town of Jericho, Texas, to help the new owners clean up the long-abandoned motel property there. Blair and Blanca Schaffer want to stabilize and beautify what's left of the motel structure so Route 66 travelers can visit it safely. A lot of the work Saturday … Continue reading About 30 volunteers help clean up the old motel site at Jericho

Galena launches a Route 66 brick campaign for its downtown Main Street district

Galena, Kansas, has launched a buy-a-brick campaign where buyers can leave a permanent mark on the city's downtown Main Street district along Route 66. The bricks, which start at $50, can be used to commemorate anniversaries, people, or organizations, with the option of adding a logo. Souvenir bricks that can be kept as keepsakes start … Continue reading Galena launches a Route 66 brick campaign for its downtown Main Street district

A new exhibit in Atlanta showcases an original section of Route 66

A new outdoor exhibit in Atlanta, Illinois, offers drivers a chance to cruise down a 1924 section of highway that became the original Route 66 two years later. The quarter-mile section gives drivers a taste of what it was like to drive old Route 66 nearly a century ago. That section was part of Illinois … Continue reading A new exhibit in Atlanta showcases an original section of Route 66

Southern Nazarene University awarded a grant to document Route 66’s effect on Bethany

Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma, has been awarded $8,810 from the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program to document the impact of Route 66 on that community. According to The Echo, which is the university's student newspaper: Grant funds will pay for technology for converting older media; a camera, lighting, and wall backdrop arrangement to … Continue reading Southern Nazarene University awarded a grant to document Route 66’s effect on Bethany

Forthcoming “Bands of Enchantment” TV music show filming in Tucumcari

In the past week and a half, a film crew has been shooting performances by all sorts of music artists at various locations in Tucumcari, New Mexico, for a forthcoming "Bands of Enchantment" series on television. Elkhorn Entertainment, which is producing the series with the help of the city's motel tax funds, envisions the show … Continue reading Forthcoming “Bands of Enchantment” TV music show filming in Tucumcari

Long-term redevelopment plan for Sapulpa includes big changes to Route 66

Consultants for the downtown master plan in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, are advocating for significant changes, including rerouting highway traffic from Dewey Avenue (aka Route 66) and narrowing it to two lanes from four. The Sapulpa Times reported that consultants Ken Boone and Taylor Plummer of Ochsner Hare & Hare said the plan “is an articulation of … Continue reading Long-term redevelopment plan for Sapulpa includes big changes to Route 66

Train derailment near Ludlow closes Route 66 indefinitely

The derailment Wednesday of a freight train east of Ludlow, California, has closed National Trails Highway (aka Route 66) "for an unknown duration" due to a hazardous liquid spill. The Victorville Daily Press reports the accident just east of town shortly after noon involved 25 to 35 railcars. San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesperson Tracey … Continue reading Train derailment near Ludlow closes Route 66 indefinitely