Oklahoma senator says he’ll withdraw bill to rename a part of Route 66 for Trump

One day after the bill was introduced, an Oklahoma state senator withdrew a proposal to rename a stretch of Route 66 as President Donald J. Trump Highway after the measure received widespread criticism from Route 66 fans and fellow lawmakers, including Trump's supporters. State Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) said Wednesday he would withdraw the … Continue reading Oklahoma senator says he’ll withdraw bill to rename a part of Route 66 for Trump

Will the Wishing Well Motor Inn’s sign be saved?

The closed Wishing Well Motor Inn in Springfield, Missouri, is slated to be demolished because it's no longer habitable and has become a nuisance. But the president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri hopes the motel's sign can be salvaged and restored. The motel at 3550 W. Chestnut Expressway (aka Route 66) was owned … Continue reading Will the Wishing Well Motor Inn’s sign be saved?

Lurvey Courts in Springfield may have earned a reprieve

After appearing doomed to the wrecking ball two weeks ago, it appears the long-closed Lurvey Courts in Springfield, Missouri, may have earned at least a reprieve. Volunteers with the Route 66 Association of Missouri and other Route 66 enthusiasts will hold work days at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday to clear brush from the long-abandoned … Continue reading Lurvey Courts in Springfield may have earned a reprieve

Switch is flipped on Ariston Cafe’s neon restoration

At 8:10 p.m. Saturday, the switch was flipped to show the restored neon signs and window accents for the Ariston Cafe in Litchfield, Illinois, during a relighting ceremony. The aim of the restoration was to show what the Route 66 restaurant looked like shortly after it opened in Litchfield in July 1935. The Ariston originally … Continue reading Switch is flipped on Ariston Cafe’s neon restoration

Neon sign installed at Kum & Go at old 66 section in Springfield

The owners of the soon-to-open Kum & Go convenience store at a corner in Springfield, Missouri, that contained an original stretch of Route 66 pledged it would pay tribute to the Mother Road. It appears to have kept that promise. Jonathan Sharp posted these pictures on Facebook of an elaborate neon sign on the side … Continue reading Neon sign installed at Kum & Go at old 66 section in Springfield

“Roamin’ Rich” Dinkela ousts longtime Missouri Route 66 Association president

"Roamin' Rich" Dinkela, a popular social-media promoter of Route 66 based in the St. Louis area, defeated longtime Route 66 Association of Missouri president Tommy Pike of Springfield during the group's election Saturday. Judy Wallmark, former secretary of the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society and also of the St. Louis area, defeated incumbent association secretary … Continue reading “Roamin’ Rich” Dinkela ousts longtime Missouri Route 66 Association president

UPDATED: Original section of Route 66 to be paved over after convenience-store chain buys it

The fate of an original section of Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, remains up in the air after the Kum & Go convenience-store chain recently bought the property on which it sits. The Springfield News-Leader reports the piece of road on 2.9 acres on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street (map here) … Continue reading UPDATED: Original section of Route 66 to be paved over after convenience-store chain buys it

The man behind many Route 66 neon sign restorations

KSDK-TV in St. Louis recently produced a story about neon signs along Route 66 in Missouri -- especially signs restored by the Route 66 Association of Missouri's Neon Heritage Preservation Committee. The fellow behind many of these restorations is David Hutson of Neon Time in St. Charles, Missouri. Hutson said: “When people tour Route 66, … Continue reading The man behind many Route 66 neon sign restorations

Restored Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign is dedicated

  The newly restored neon sign for Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket restaurant along old Route 66 in Willowbrook, Illinois, was dedicated Monday afternoon with a relighting ceremony. About 200 people attended the event, which included a car show, live music and commemorative T-shirts. Below is an image of the restored sign at night: The ceremony … Continue reading Restored Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign is dedicated

Fran Eickhoff plaque being moved to Missouri Hick Bar-B-Q

A plaque commemorating longtime Route 66 business owner Fran Eickhoff is being moved from Fanning 66 Outpost to the Missouri Hick Bar-B-Q restaurant in Cuba, Missouri, after the former closed. The plaque will be re-dedicated by the Route 66 Association of Missouri at 11 a.m. Saturday at the restaurant 913 E. Washington St. (aka Route 66; … Continue reading Fran Eickhoff plaque being moved to Missouri Hick Bar-B-Q