A chat with Rock Cafe’s Dawn Welch

KC Keefer, continuing with his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, talks to Dawn Welch, longtime owner of the historic Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma. Welch talks about the Route 66 restaurant's up-and-down history, including her role in the Disney-Pixar "Cars" movie and the restaurant nearly being destroyed by fire in 2008. https://youtu.be/rXZ5p1qfm8Q More can … Continue reading A chat with Rock Cafe’s Dawn Welch

A visit to the Ariston Cafe

Continuing with his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, KC Keefer sat down with Paul Adam, a third-generation manager for the historic Ariston Cafe on Route 66 in Litchfield, Illinois. This video comes out during the restaurant's 90th anniversary. It started a couple of years before Route 66 existed in Carlinville, Illinois, which wound up … Continue reading A visit to the Ariston Cafe

Maple sirup and blue whales

Since vacation, I'm getting caught up on KC Keefer's latest videos on his Genuine Route 66 Life series. One that I missed was an interview with Glaida Funk, matriarch of the historic Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup business on Route 66 in Funks Grove, Illinois. https://youtu.be/cFCctA-vUS4 The second is an interview with Linda Hobbs, a … Continue reading Maple sirup and blue whales

A visit with Rich Henry

KC Keefer continues his "Genuine Route 66 Life" video series with an interview of Rich Henry, owner of Henry's Rabbit Ranch on a stretch of old Route 66 in Staunton, Illinois. https://youtu.be/nCSM7wyOGoU It's good to see Henry breaking in a new bunny to greet tourists. He has to do that every few years because their life … Continue reading A visit with Rich Henry

A visit to the Palms Grill Cafe

KC Keefer, on his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, interviews Angel French at the historic Palms Grill Cafe on Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Illinois. https://youtu.be/BGNHcdCKaik The Palms Grill, built in 1934, was restored in 2009 and quickly became a must-stop for travelers -- especially for folks who like a small-town atmosphere and pie. … Continue reading A visit to the Palms Grill Cafe

A chat with Rich Dinkela

KC Keefer, the guy behind the ongoing Genuine Route 66 Life video series, produced a new clip about "Roamin' Rich" Dinkela. The interview occurred at the closed MacArthur Bridge in St. Louis. https://youtu.be/6nKAsjC2kJg For a seven-minute clip, it nicely encompasses Dinkela's approach and his many activities on the Mother Road. You can follow Dinkela at … Continue reading A chat with Rich Dinkela

A chat with Laurel Kane at Afton Station

KC Keefer continues his Genuine Route 66 Life video series with an interview with Laurel Kane, co-owner of Afton Station in Afton, Oklahoma. Afton Station, a former gas station on Route 66 in town, was converted into a display area for a Packards collection and as a visitors center for Route 66 travelers. https://youtu.be/B3NpM-BRY9k Kane … Continue reading A chat with Laurel Kane at Afton Station

A chat with a Texola business owner

KC Keefer, as part of his ongoing "Genuine Route 66 Life" series, talks to Masel Zimmerman of the Tumbleweeds Grill and Country Store in the Route 66 ghost town of Texola, Okla. https://youtu.be/S6KJ-9yQReU About a year ago, Zimmerman took a 1930s building, Water Hole #2, and converted it into a personal art gallery, plus a … Continue reading A chat with a Texola business owner

A chat with the operator of Texas Ivy Antiques

In his ongoing "Genuine Route 66 Life" video series, KC Keefer interviewed Dora Meroney, operator of Texas Ivy Antiques along the Sixth Street Historic District (aka Route 66) in Amarillo. https://youtu.be/YT3wV3Cx1-I Not only does Meroney sell Route 66 memorabilia and other items in a converted 1920s house, but she serves as president of the Old … Continue reading A chat with the operator of Texas Ivy Antiques

The man behind the Triangle Motel

KC Keefer's latest clip in his ongoing "Genuine Route 66 Life" series consists of an interview with Alan McNeil, owner of the long-closed Triangle Motel in Amarillo, Texas. https://youtu.be/P1D3I7h95Vw You have to give McNeil credit -- he keeps plugging away nearly eight years after he started and with not a lot of money in hand. A … Continue reading The man behind the Triangle Motel