An online fundraiser recently was launched to repair the roof on the 120-year-old Hooker Church and school next to Hooker Cemetery in Hooker, Missouri. The cemetery and church building, aka The Little White Church, are next to Route 66. Rick Wieners, whose grandfather and father are buried in the cemetery, launched the campaign on GoFundMe.com … Continue reading Fundraiser launched for needed repairs for historic Hooker church, school building
Hydro wins $496,000 state grant to build Welcome to Hydro Route 66 Experience
The Hydro Chamber of Commerce of Hydro, Oklahoma, announced the village had received a $496,000 grant from the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission to build a "Welcome to Hydro Route 66 Experience." It will be built at the four-way stop at Route 66 and Highway 58, the north-south road leading into Hydro, and yards off … Continue reading Hydro wins $496,000 state grant to build Welcome to Hydro Route 66 Experience
Rich Henry, longtime owner of Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, dies
Rich Henry, owner of the landmark Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Illinois, died suddenly Friday, according to locals and Route 66 enthusiasts who knew him well. An exact age for Henry wasn't available, though he listed on his Facebook page he graduated from high school in 1965. That would put his age in his mid-70s. … Continue reading Rich Henry, longtime owner of Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, dies
Train added to Red Oak II complex near Carthage
Fulfilling the dreams of its late founder, a small train recently was added near the replica railroad depot at the famed Red Oak II complex near Carthage, Missouri. According to the Joplin Globe, Larry Sernyk, who owns several buildings in Red Oak II and also lives there, worked with a crew to install the train … Continue reading Train added to Red Oak II complex near Carthage
Lumi giant added at Country Aire Restaurant at Atlanta
Call the small town of Atlanta, Illinois, the Land of the Giants. Lumi, a nearly 20-foot-tall female fiberglass giant holding a pie, was added Friday at the Country Aire Restaurant in Atlanta. That includes the Bunyan giant installed in 2003 along the original Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, plus the American Giants Museum that opened … Continue reading Lumi giant added at Country Aire Restaurant at Atlanta
Spencer’s Grill in Kirkwood lands new owners, likely will reopen on Nov. 1
Two local restaurateurs and a local investor have acquired the historic Spencer's Grill in Kirkwood, Missouri, and they plan to reopen the Route 66 restaurant on Nov. 1. According to St. Louis Magazine, Michael and Meredith Shadwick, the owners of Kirkwood-based Honey Bee’s Biscuits + Good Eats and Tropical Moose Shaved Ice, along with Kirkwood resident Michael Kleckner, … Continue reading Spencer’s Grill in Kirkwood lands new owners, likely will reopen on Nov. 1
Construction project west of Pony Bridge will close Route 66 for a few months starting Sept. 9
Less than a half-year after the Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, reopened to traffic, Route 66 will be closed for up to five months due to another bridge project. The Town of Bridgeport stated on Facebook a replacement project for the so-called Tower Bridge just west of the Pony Bridge will begin on Sept. 9. … Continue reading Construction project west of Pony Bridge will close Route 66 for a few months starting Sept. 9
Rhys Martin becomes manager of National Trust’s Preserve Route 66 Initiative
The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced that Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin joined the National Trust as manager of the Preserve Route 66 Initiative last month. Martin, who hails from Tulsa, joins Amy Webb, who leads the Preserve Route 66 Initiative’s cross-Trust team. The initiative provides preservation grants, assistance and advocacy to help … Continue reading Rhys Martin becomes manager of National Trust’s Preserve Route 66 Initiative
New video details the changes on Route 66 between 2007 and 2024
Route 66 enthusiast Mike Curtis, aka 2 Lane Traveler on YouTube, recently created a 20-minute video detailing the changes on the Mother Road from 2007 to 2024. The video thumbnail comes with a provocative question: "Thriving or dying?" (Spoiler alert: Definitely not dying; Curtis asserts the old road is simply changing.) https://youtu.be/qpNoshXr-bY?si=_dsqhgfTLccLQgKs The video is … Continue reading New video details the changes on Route 66 between 2007 and 2024
Gay Parita Station appears in a popular Chappell Roan music video
This debuted months ago, but a music video by fast-rising music artist Chappell Roan features Gay Parita Station and other landmarks in the Springfield, Missouri, region. Route 66 enthusiast Liz Cousins flagged the "Hot to Go" video a few days ago, which originally was flagged by the Gay Parita account on Facebook: https://youtu.be/xaPNR-_Cfn0?si=FPGoNq6af7XGYoZQ In addition … Continue reading Gay Parita Station appears in a popular Chappell Roan music video