Bridge for Old Route 66 between Glenrio and San Jon won’t be ready by 2026, but path is passable

There is good news and bad news about traveling Old Route 66 between Glenrio and San Jon in New Mexico. The bad news is a new bridge that would replace another span destroyed by flash flooding in May 2023 won't be finished by Route 66's centennial in 2026. The good news is county road workers … Continue reading Bridge for Old Route 66 between Glenrio and San Jon won’t be ready by 2026, but path is passable

Obscure 1961 movie offers glimpses of Cedar Hill Grocery east of Tucumcari

An obscure drama from 1961 offers a rare glimpse of the Cedar Hill Grocery and gas station that operated along Route 66 east of Tucumcari, New Mexico. That includes the long-gone neon sign that was on the canopy (seen above). The movie also shows the interior of the business. According to a Wikipedia summary of … Continue reading Obscure 1961 movie offers glimpses of Cedar Hill Grocery east of Tucumcari

World’s largest flip-flop planned at forthcoming shop in San Jon

Operators of a forthcoming flip-flop-themed gift shop in the village of San Jon, New Mexico, are planning something big -- namely, a 40-foot-long flip-flop designed to draw visitors off Interstate 40 and adjacent Route 66. It's the brainchild of the husband-and-wife team of Jumah Culhane and Caryn Grzegorek, who plan to open the Fun-Key Junk … Continue reading World’s largest flip-flop planned at forthcoming shop in San Jon

Flash flooding closes Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee

A severe storm Thursday night into Friday morning washed out a new bridge on Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee, New Mexico, prompting the closure of the road indefinitely. That's part of the 17-mile gravel-road alignment of Route 66 between the border ghost town of Glenrio and San Jon. An estimated seven inches … Continue reading Flash flooding closes Old Route 66 between San Jon and Endee

Texas version of American Truck Simulator videogame includes sections of Route 66

The developers of the Texas DLC of American Truck Simulator videogame will include old Route 66 in Texas and a small part of eastern New Mexico in a forthcoming update. SCS Software reports the game will include the 15 miles of gravel-road Route 66 from San Jon to Glenrio in New Mexico. In the Lone … Continue reading Texas version of American Truck Simulator videogame includes sections of Route 66

San Jon has a former airmail beacon on the ground

Thanks to social media, people in recent years have become fascinated by so-called "arrows on the ground" that served as airmail beacons during the 1920s. Because these long-abandoned arrows were made of concrete, many still survive. To my surprise, I recently found out the Route 66 town of San Jon, New Mexico, also built a … Continue reading San Jon has a former airmail beacon on the ground

Old book provides a look back at Quay County, New Mexico

In the last few days, I've perused a book titled "Quay County, New Mexico, 1903-1985." It contains hundreds of stories and photos from the region, including the Route 66 towns of Endee, Bard, San Jon, Tucumcari, Polomas and Montoya. The book, edited by Mary Lynn Moncus and Marian Farmer Knapp, contains nearly 800 pages of … Continue reading Old book provides a look back at Quay County, New Mexico

More 1993 footage from Route 66

Anthony Reichardt has posted more videos from a 1993 journey he took on Route 66 in a 1959 Cadillac. The first is a visit with the legendary Lucille Hamons at Lucille's near Hydro, Oklahoma, a few years before her death in 2000 and subsequent closure of the gas station. The station, built in 1929, remains … Continue reading More 1993 footage from Route 66