Study: Flagstaff is the most dog-friendly city in the U.S.

If you're traveling Route 66 and need a pet-friendly destination, you won't do better than Flagstaff, Arizona. The venerable Route 66 town not only is the best on the Mother Road, but in the entire country, according to a Blueprint study with USA Today. The study reviewed the per capita number of dog-friendly lodging establishments, … Continue reading Study: Flagstaff is the most dog-friendly city in the U.S.

Revive 66 Campground closes less than four years after opening

The nonprofit organization that opened the Revive 66 Campground in Springfield, Missouri, has closed it permanently less than four years after opening it. Revive 66, at 3839 W. Chestnut Expressway, shuttered on April 22, reported the Springfield News-Leader after the Gathering Tree opened it in early 2021. Gathering Tree operates tiny-home communities for the homeless. … Continue reading Revive 66 Campground closes less than four years after opening

Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants

The restoration of the neon sign for the closed West Winds Motel in Erick, Oklahoma, is among the $6 million in grants recently awarded by the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. A list of the funds given from the state's Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program was posted in a document on the commission's website. Several grant … Continue reading Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants

Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die” (second edition)

If you think there are a lot of "100 Things to Do" books on the market, you wouldn't be wrong. A perusal of the Reedy Press website reveals more than 80 of them, detailing U.S. destinations from Amarillo to the Wisconsin Dells. And that doesn't even count the copycat books or clickbait articles. Reedy Press … Continue reading Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die” (second edition)

Did another Blue Swallow Motel exist near Shamrock, Texas?

Many, many Route 66 enthusiasts know about the landmark Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Smithsonian Magazine once called the 1939 establishment "the last, best and friendliest of the old-time motels." But the Texas Old Route 66 Association recently went through the files of longtime Texas Route 66er Delbert Trew and found an intriguing … Continue reading Did another Blue Swallow Motel exist near Shamrock, Texas?

Celebration of life for Munger Moss owner includes cleanup, fundraiser for National Register

The Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, is hosting a celebration of life on May 3-5 for its longtime co-owner that will include a cleanup of the site and a fundraiser to list the property on the National Register of Historic Places. The celebration of life is scheduled for 5 p.m. May 5 that will … Continue reading Celebration of life for Munger Moss owner includes cleanup, fundraiser for National Register

Apache Motel sign in Tucumcari taken down; motel’s new owner wants it repaired

The new owner of the closed Apache Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, took down its neon sign on Thursday, though she didn't plan to do so. Joanne Thompson, who in February acquired the Route 66 motel from her former business partner Wade Dirr, noticed the sign had twisted at an angle. Upon closer inspection, she … Continue reading Apache Motel sign in Tucumcari taken down; motel’s new owner wants it repaired

Restoration of Herring Hotel paused amid owner’s bankruptcy filing

The restoration of the historic but long-abandoned Herring Hotel in downtown Amarillo, Texas, appears to be on hold indefinitely after its owner filed for bankruptcy this month. According to the Amarillo Globe-News, the Herring Hotel Development Company LLC filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on March 5. That's about three years after the company purchased … Continue reading Restoration of Herring Hotel paused amid owner’s bankruptcy filing

Boots Court Foundation receives award from Carthage Historic Preservation

The Boots Court Foundation received the Golden Hammer award from Carthage (Mo.) Historic Preservation for its work in preserving the Route 66 motel. The organization also honored the Phelps Country House -- the first time it gave out two awards in one year. Steve Wagner, co-chairman of the preservation group, talked to the Joplin Globe … Continue reading Boots Court Foundation receives award from Carthage Historic Preservation

Relighting of Park Plaza Courts neon set for the evening of April 13

The Route 66 Association of Missouri recently announced it will hold a ceremonial relighting of the Park Plaza Courts neon sign at 8 p.m. April 13. The relighting will occur at the Holiday Inn Southwest at 10709 Watson Road (aka Route 66) in St. Louis. The association has reserved a block of rooms at the … Continue reading Relighting of Park Plaza Courts neon set for the evening of April 13