The owners of the Western Motel along Route 66 in Vinita, Oklahoma, announce a lighting ceremony for its new neon sign. The new sign will be unveiled at 7 p.m. on April 12. The event will include live music, food and more. The Western Motel last fall received a neon-sign grant through the Oklahoma Route … Continue reading Neon sign lighting ceremony for Western Motel in Vinita set for April 12
Tag: Oklahoma Route 66 Association
Casa Grande Hotel building in Elk City finally seeing some upgrades
The historic but long-closed Casa Grande Hotel building in Elk City, Oklahoma, appears to be seeing some improvements after years of standing idle. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association had the scoop: “The plan is to first secure the building by replacing the upper story windows on three sides,” said Don Mullenix, local preservationist. After that, … Continue reading Casa Grande Hotel building in Elk City finally seeing some upgrades
Route 66 Postcard Road Trip named as finalist in StoryMaps competition
The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Route 66 Postcard Road Trip has been selected as one of 11 finalists in the Humanities category for the 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps competition. The Route 66 Postcard Road Trip was selected from over 570 submissions from student and professional storytellers invited to “build stories about the world they want to see.” … Continue reading Route 66 Postcard Road Trip named as finalist in StoryMaps competition
Oklahoma Route 66 Association offering a centennial ornament for the holidays
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced it is offering a Route 66 centennial ornament for the Christmas holiday. You can find it here. It's 3 inches in diameter and is made of acrylic. Here's an image below: Perusing the websites of the eight other Route 66 associations, I could not find a Christmas ornament … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association offering a centennial ornament for the holidays
New historical marker recognizes El Reno’s fried onion burger heritage
A new “Hungry for History” historic marker recently was planted in El Reno, Oklahoma, that recognizes the city's heritage as the birthplace of the fried onion burger. The marker, facilitated by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, was placed at the northeast corner of Wade Street and Choctaw Avenue, which also is Route 66, in El … Continue reading New historical marker recognizes El Reno’s fried onion burger heritage
Tulsa Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program hits five-year mark
The Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program in Tulsa recently marked the fifth anniversary since the first sign restored by the program was delighted. Susan Yates, a resident of the area, on Facebook took note of the five-year mark since the sign at Billy Ray's BBQ & Catfish restaurant in west Tulsa was restored. You … Continue reading Tulsa Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program hits five-year mark
New Oklahoma Route 66 grants go to Blue Whale improvements, giant dinosaur, neon projects
The Oklahoma Route 66 Commission announced more than $6.6 million in grants, including improvements to the Blue Whale in Catoosa, a 66-foot dinosaur in Tulsa and multiple neon-sign initiatives. The grants, initially reported by the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, cover 13 Route 66-related projects in the Sooner State. More about the grants can be found … Continue reading New Oklahoma Route 66 grants go to Blue Whale improvements, giant dinosaur, neon projects
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
Oklahoma Route 66 Association hires new executive director
Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin announced this week that Julie Akers has been hired as the organization's new executive director. Akers replaces longtime executive director Marilyn Emde, who retired in 2022 after almost 20 years at the helm. Martin stated in a news release: She brings more than a decade of experience working … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association hires new executive director
Compromise leaves 1 mile of endangered Ribbon Road in Oklahoma untouched
A compromise between state and local officials will preserve one mile of the fabled Ribbon Road of original Route 66 in northeast Oklahoma after the county voted recently to grind up the asphalt on the three-mile stretch. KSNF-TV in nearby Joplin, Missouri, reported that Miami Mayor Bless Parker, state Rep. Steve Bashore, Lt. Gov. and … Continue reading Compromise leaves 1 mile of endangered Ribbon Road in Oklahoma untouched