The Albuquerque Journal on Tuesday kinda sorta came out against the preservation of the circa-1947 Horn Oil Co., which is slated to be bulldozed for multi-use infill but the decision is being appealed. (For more on the background of the Horn Oil Co. fight, read last week’s Journal story here.)

First, the editorial — which is quite muddled — compares the Horn to El Vado Motel, which was saved from demolition by the city with the help of the mayor and Route 66 preservationists. But the newspaper’s editorial questions whether the Horn deserves to be saved.

Here’s where the editorial runs off the tracks:

A glimpse of the golden era of Route 66 is neat, but a glimpse of the outside is as much as most tourists want. The small rooms, lack of amenities and a location left behind by interstate traffic doom the landmarks to a lower-rent clientele. One residential neighbor describes the Sleaze Land ambience (sic) after dark: “You hear fights out there and you hear— well, I guess the way I can say it is — ‘ladies of the night’ back there, like a lot of them.”

West Central isn’t a theme park. City officials have to figure out how to unchain the economic potential of enough of a property from absolutist dictates to support preservation of the rest. Drive-by tourism in the daytime can’t keep these landmarks respectable at night.

First, I don’t trust the media reports about crime and prostitution at the Horn, especially when previous stories got it so wrong. There’s a big difference between the reported 250 police calls a year at the property and the confirmed number of 25. And quoting an unnamed “residential neighbor” doesn’t add credibility, either.

Second, any editorial that uses statements from El Vado owner Richard Gonzales is highly suspect. With the lies or falsehoods or loaded language Gonzales used during the El Vado fight, Gonzales has zero credibility.

Third, the editorial makes the rash assumptions that 1) Route 66ers wouldn’t be interested at staying at a refurbished Horn Oil Co. because of the small rooms and lack of amenities; and 2) a preserved Horn Oil Co. has no other viable use. The first part of the argument is demonstrably wrong, with the Blue Swallow Motel as a prime example.

The second part of the argument is also rebutted by Albuquerque’s own De Anza Motor Lodge, which soon will be remodeled. The Horn also is close to downtown, which is undergoing a major revitalization. There’s no reason to believe a well-conceived re-use of Horn Oil Co. can’t be part of that.

And razing a property that’s on the National Register of Historic Places is just plain immoral.
The biggest problem I see, after inspecting the property last week, is that Horn Oil Co. is set back from Central Avenue and that it doesn’t have a sign pointing it out. One nicely done neon sign could fix the problem easily.

If you’re interesting in preserving Horn Oil Co., here’s what to do. Write a letter to the Albuquerque Journal, stating you want the Horn Oil Co. preserved. The form to write and submit a letter is here.

It doesn’t need to be long; just state that you would like to see the property saved. Our goal is to have 500 letters submitted to the Journal — this rebutting the notion that there is little interest in saving the property.

Public Eye, which is sort of an ombudsman of CBS News, received a question from a New York Times reporter about the CBS “Evening News” story about Route 66 and the impact of the interstate highway system.

CBS correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi paid John and Lenore Weiss, two Illinois Route 66 preservationists who also conduct tours of the Mother Road. There was no effort to hide the fact the Weisses were paid; it’s there in the video.

So Public Eye asked whether paying the Weisses was proper:

We asked Alfonsi for a little background information, and she emailed the following:

“They are full time Route 66 tour guides, and drove us around about 100 miles in their car. We paid them to show us the road, like any other customer.”

I asked Linda Mason, CBS News senior vice president, standards and special projects, whether paying for the tour was a violation of CBS News standards.

“No, of course not,” said Mason. “Especially because we disclosed it. He knew Route 66 – he was a specialist – and by disclosing it we’re being totally transparent with our viewers.”

Mason said disclosure was the key issue. “We disclose when we’ve paid somebody,” she said. “Sometimes we do it by saying that the person is a CBS News analyst. Or a CBS News consultant. That’s code for we paid this expert. Otherwise we would just say they’re an energy analyst.”

Since CBS made it clear that the Weisses were paid for their expertise, I don’t have a problem with it. They know about Route 66 in Illinois as much as anyone, and their involvement in the story gave it more credibility. But I would suggest that CBS stop with the self-admitted “code” words on other stories and be more upfront about the use of paid consultants.

Hank Stuever of the Washington Post has some interesting ruminations about the 50th anniversary of the interstate highway system. It seems he’s trying to praise it and, at the same time, deflate Route 66 a little. But he’s mostly unsuccessful at both.

Go read it. It’s food for thought, at least.

With the 50th anniversary of the interstate highway system, CBS News decided to take a look at its impact on society.

And it’s not been all good, says Columbia University historian Kenneth T. Jackson.

Jackson also says the highway that was supposed to bring us closer together actually pushed us farther apart, as suburbs blossomed, quirky signs for roadside stands disappeared, and American became dependent on cars and fast food.

“We now drive much more,” says Jackson. “We don’t want to walk anymore… it’s helped undermine our sense of community. It really killed the Mom and Pop stores in the United States.”

So driving historic Route 66 is way to re-connect with the people in this country. As CBS reporter Sharyn Alfonsi says:

It’s an America that many Americans have never seen at all.

The story on the page includes a link to a video of an interview with Illinois Route 66 preservationists John and Lenore Weiss, who also confirm that the Mother Road is a way to truly see the country.

The Washington (Mo.) Missourian reports that the new Route 66 Mini Golf is set to open next month in Gray Summit, Mo., on Highway 100, aka Route 66, next to the Diamond Inn Motel.

It’s at the site of a mini-course that closed a few years ago. If you want to learn more about the 18-hole course, e-mail owner Ben Homeyer at bjhomeyer (at) netzero.net

The group of Norwegians who are driving pre-1966 automobiles the entire length of Route 66 is nearing the end of its trip, reports the Big Bear Grizzly of Big Bear, Calif.

The group encountered mechanical problems, difficulty acquiring insurance, and dealt with a hit-and-run in Chicago. But they had a lot of fun, too.

“We’ve had very, very good reception,” said Jon Grasto of Sarpsborg, Norway. “We got the thumbs up from truck drivers and especially elderly people. Our cars are a rembrance of a very nice time, a very nice period in America.”

To check up on the group’s adventures, go to its Web site here.

Syd, the proprieter of the super Roadside Peek site, sent me some photos of the Green Spot Motel along Route 66 in Victorville, Calif. This was spurred by an earlier post about an article from the Los Angeles Daily News.

Syd concurs that it appears that the formerly run-down motel is on an upswing.

I have to admit, the architecture is unique. Sounds like the Green Spot deserves further investigation from roadies.

The newly published “Exploring Route 66 in Chicagoland” by David G. Clark, aka the Windy City Road Warrior, is not just a guidebook of the Mother Road in Chicago, but a history primer of that great city.

The book is about 150 pages, filled with dozens of black-and-white photos, maps, driving directions, a walking-tour guide, and listings of attractions and restarants along Route 66 in Chicago.

But I wasn’t anticipating all the history and detail. The book not only provides historical capsules of the buildings and places along Route 66, but also of the streets themselves — Odgen Avenue, Jackson Boulevard, Adams Street and Joliet Road.

And Clark isn’t content to concentrate on after Route 66 was commissioned in 1926. No, his research plunges even into the 1800s, when the City of Broad Shoulders was a mere pup of a town.

Here’s an excerpt on the Adams Street chapter that should give you a taste of Clark’s book:

Intersection: Wabash Avenue. Two storefronts to the north on Wabash (right) we see the current home of Miller’s Pub. From 1952, when it was purchased by the Gallios brothers, through the 1980s, we would have found Miller’s Pub at 23 E. Adams, on the left where a parking garage now stands. In its prime, it was a celebrity hangout for the like of Jimmy Durante, Tony Bennett, Jackie Mason and Bill Veeck. Once, when I was new to Chicago, I saw Bob Keeshin [sic] eating there; if you do not recognize the name — he was better known as Captain Kangaroo.

Although the new Miller’s Pub is not technically “on” 66, it is still so close as to make the distinction nearly meaningless. And to this day, the restaurant follows a marvelous tradition of serving fine food at modest prices. It’s a great place to revel in the Chicago of yesteryear and enjoy gazing at the autographed photos of celebrities that line the walls. Since Miller’s was on Adams Street before, during AND after Adams was officially U.S. 66, I feel strongly that it should be recognized as a Route 66 icon as well as a Chicago Landmark.

The $19.95 price of the book (plus shipping) is worth it along for the restaurant and lodging listings alone, which are much more complete than any Route 66 guidebook I’ve seen regarding Chicago.

I haven’t been in Chicago in several years, and “Exploring Route 66 in Chicagoland” made me re-appreciate the magnificence of the Windy City. Here are page samples of the book. Here’s the Web page to order it.

Highly recommended.

Ace Jackalope has had impeccable timing lately. First, the blogger encounters the Coleman Theatre Beautiful sign in Miami, Okla., shortly after it was refurbished and relighted.

Now, he’s cruising Tulsa and finds an electrician doing maintenance on the historic neon sign of El Rancho Grande restaurant on 1629 E. 11th St., on Route 66. Ace reports the restaurant’s owner will do painting touch-ups and nothing more on the sign — he doesn’t want to alter its character.

I also recall from an article in the Tulsa World a couple years ago that El Rancho Grande is the oldest surviving business on the 11th Street alignment of Route 66, dating to 1953.

The Amarillo Globe-News ran into a group Tuesday that’s crossing the United States — much of it on Route 66 — on motor scooters.

Top speeds of the contraptions are about 45 mph, so for obvious reasons the Wandering Wheels group is sticking to secondary roads like old 66 so to not tie up traffic.

The scooters may not go fast, but they have one distinct advantage:

“We get about 100 miles per gallon,” said Cyrus Johnson from Auburn, Ind. “That’s about a half day’s fuel.”

Red Fork Hippie Chick shot dozens of night photos of Albuquerque’s neon lights along Central Avenue, aka Route 66. Check out the gallery.

Well, it looks like he’s going to make it.

Dennis Kinch, the man who’s walking Route 66 for the National Pain Foundation, has made it through the intense heat of the Mojave Desert and now is in Barstow, Calif. He’s walked about 2,100 miles so far and has fewer than 150 to go. He’s scheduled to reach the end of the road July 14 in Santa Monica.

You can read his Notes from the Road to get a feel about his arduous trek. Alas, he didn’t walk Route 66 through the desert because it’s too remote for him to feel safe if he gets into trouble.

I found this Associated Press article about Drew Knowles’ newly expanded, third-edition version of the “Route 66 Adventure Handbook.”

I haven’t perused the new version, but I’ve read earlier editions of Knowles’ book. I recommend it highly, because it not only concentrates on main attractions along the Mother Road, but also worthwhile side trips.

This excerpt from the preface summarizes the book nicely:

I wrote this book because it’s exactly what I need to take with me whenever I travel Route 66, and it is my sincere hope that it can be of similar service to you in your own explorations of the Mother Road.

…

The problem I had, which this volume seeks to solve, is this: each time I get out on the Mother Road, there are many things I’d like to see and experience myself which I might only have heard or read about up to that time. Invariably, while out exploring the Route, there are things which I remember to investigate, but there are others which I simply forget about until after I’ve returned home. This book solves that problem by putting all of that Route 66 information in one volume which I can easily take along and refer to, so that each Mother Road excursion can be as jam-packed as possible.

The Cibola County Beacon is reporting that eight of 10 motels in Grants, N.M., are full for the Fire & Ice Route 66 Bike Rally weekend on July 14-16. The local campgrounds have spaces. Better act fast if you want to attend, though.

Voice of America radio recently broadcast a program about Route 66 on its 80th anniversary. Here’s the transcript. Here’s the Mp3 of the program. Here’s the RealAudio file of the program.

When David and Mary Lou Knudson of the National Historic Route 66 Federation announced they were stepping away from festival-organizing in late 2005 because of health concerns, it was a given that the 2006 festival in Albuquerque would be a transition year because many inexperienced people would be running the show.

Now that the festival is over, we can proclaim that the first Will Rogers Awards Evening was a success, with memorable moments and deserving homages to people who make the Mother Road great. The Route 66 Summit also was productive and interesting session for many of the road’s movers and shakers.

However, the car show on the Hotel Albuquerque grounds was reportedly a disappointment, vendors in the artists and authors exhibition hall reported mostly poor sales, and general attendance by non-roadies appeared sparse. Considering the 80th anniversary of the road and the Disney-Pixar “Cars” movie generating huge amounts of publicity for the road, the festival should have done better. The cause of these problems were behind the scenes — beyond the control of Jim Conkle and Helen Baker, who each did a yeoman’s job keeping the festival on the tracks despite the numerous difficulties.

Now that many of the problems have been identified, the 2007 festival in Clinton, Okla., promises to be a terrific event. Clinton’s enthusiasm also has made me very optimistic.

I personally think it was time to take the festival back to smaller towns, where the spirit of Route 66 burns brighter and grass-roots support is greater. Holding the festival in big cities sounds good in theory. But larger cities also offer many more entertainment options, so the Route 66 festival tended to get lost in the shuffle. In smaller towns, where entertainment options are sparse, festivals tend to perform better.

It’s also my belief that the authors and artists need to be given the option of setting up their booths outdoors. Years ago, I was a volunteer for a hugely successful small-town festival in Illinois where vendors would make literally thousands of dollars on one weekend. The key was that these vendors were outdoors in high-foot-traffic areas. There were a couple of buildings where vendors could set up indoors, but sales there were much poorer.

At this Illinois festival, the only thing that suppressed sales was rain. Hot weather, cloudy weather, cool weather didn’t make much of a difference — just as long as the rain stayed away.

I think setting up booths in a concentrated, high-traffic pedestrian area would be ideal for the authors and artists. Yes, it may be a bit more expensive and a hassle for the city to set up tents and electrical hookups. But I’m firmly convinced the payoff would be so much greater.

Just a thought.

In recent weeks, there has been not one, but two, terrific magazines that have focused on Route 66.

The first is Oklahoma Today, which is devoting its entire July/August issue to Route 66 in the Sooner State. It will be out on newstands in July, but subscribers are getting it in the mail now.

The issue features a Q&A with Michael Wallis, Route 66 travel tips from Jim Ross, a story about the Deep Fork Tree Farm in Arcadia, a preview of the Vinita Summer Fest Car Show, five don’t-miss restaurants on Route 66 in Oklahoma, photo essays, and lots more.

I’ve perused the magazine, and it’s a terrific issue that all roadies will enjoy.

The second standout is the Summer 2006 issue of Route 66 Magazine, which features a scene from “Cars” on its cover. I meant to pick up a copy when it appeared on local newstands shortly after the release of the movie, but I got too busy. I picked up my copy at the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas, on the way to the Route 66 Festival in Albuquerque. I’m glad I did.

Executive editor Bob Moore’s interview with “Cars” director John Lasseter about the making of the movie is one of the best of many I’ve read.

Here’s what Lasseter said about one of the key inspirations to the film:

Probably one place that affected us the most was Glenrio, Texas / New Mexico. You can’t help but stand there, right in the middle of the street, and marvel at what used to be. The road is four lanes wide, two in each direction with an island in the middle. You can tell this was a vibrant place with thousands of cars passing through it every day. Now it’s a ghost town.

And that great motel! With the First in Texas on the sign if you were coming in from Tucumcari or Last in Texas if you were coming in from Amarillo. As you walk through the abandoned motel and cafe it is just kind of heartbreaking.

In the film we have a scene were Sally takes McQueen for a drive and they wind up at a place called the Wheel Well Motel. That location was inspired by Glenrio, just imagining what it must have been like in its heyday.

The interstate came along and just killed the town.

Also choice are Johnnie Meier’s piece about the new owners of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., a story about Airstream trailers, and an article about the planned restoration of the Pecos Theatre in Santa Rosa, N.M.

It’s one of Route 66 Magazine’s best-ever issues. Get it before it’s gone, as I hear it’s been a fast seller in some areas.

Here’s a few odds ‘n’ ends I collected during our journey from Tulsa to Albuquerque and back for the Route 66 festival:

• We’ve seen a marked decline in Clines Corners, the Route 66 stop that dates to 1937. In the last couple of years we’ve visited there, prices on merchandise have gone up while the quality of amenities have gone down. With the latter, that’s especially true with the bathrooms, which are a borderline disgrace and need remodeling in the worst way. If you need a make a stop in that area, try the Flying C Ranch about 20 miles east. It’s a competitor to Clines Corners, and the Flying C appears to be winning.
• Tucumcari is a town in transition. The Blue Swallow Motel and the Motel Safari have new owners, while the Pony Soldier Motel has closed. Del’s restaurant reburbished its main sign with neon lighting, and it looks nice. There is a new Route 66 Motel in town, but they took down the Royal Palacio neon sign that came with it (Aaargh!!!). The closed Apache Motel continues to languish. La Cita, the famous Mexican restaurant housed in a giant sombrero, is open but is having management and employee problems, according to one local we talked to. The food there was OK, but not as good compared to the previous operators.
• Albuquerque continues to look more vibrant with each passing year. Occasionally a historic neon sign is lost, but it seems to be replaced with two or three new ones that add to Central Avenue’s allure at night. Nob Hill and the downtown area are especially thriving. The Duke City, once long-overlooked, is now becoming a hot spot in the Southwest.
• I’ve already weighed in with my dim view of Hotel Albuquerque. However, the Hotel Blue and Monterrey Non-Smokers Motel certainly made the grade with their amenities and moderate prices of $55 to $75 a night. Subjects of further research on a future trip: El Don Motel, Silver Moon Lodge and La Puerta Motor Lodge.
• This isn’t on Route 66, but it’s worth a mention to two-lane roadies. Instead of taking I-40/Route 66 back home, we took U.S. 412, which traverses virtually all of Oklahoma. This is where we encountered the Glass Mountains, aka Gloss Mountains, near the northwest Oklahoma town of Fairview. It’s spectacular. If you want a fix of the Painted Desert in Arizona but can’t travel that far, the Glass/Gloss Mountains are a good alternative. Red Fork Hippie Chick will have photos of them and other images soon.

It sounds like the folks who wanted to have the city of San Bernardino, Calif., drape a 30-by-22-foot flag on the side of City Hall are abandoning their efforts, reports the San Bernardino Sun.
Attempts to pass the proposal failed twice, mostly because of logistical problems and that it would cost $3,000 to $5,000 in taxpayer money. The proposal also seemed redundant, as several American flags already fly in front of City Hall.

One of the pro-giant-flaggers, Lyman Stucky, threatened a boycott of the annual Route 66 Rendezvous over the flap. But he wisely called it off. 

Instead, the group says it will try to raise private money to defray the cost of draping the giant flag. Considering the meager attendance of a pro-giant-flag rally last week, it may take them awhile to get the cash.  

The Albuquerque Tribune reports that the city is drafting a proposal to limit the size of free-standing signs in the city. Those that are over the proposed size limit of 5 feet in height would have 10 years to replace them.

Fortunately, there's this item in the story:

Details being worked on include how to handle historic Route 66-era signs and signs for businesses that rely on tall signs to draw interstate traffic, Dineen said.

Most neon signs along Central Avenue are not free-standing, so this proposal wouldn't affect them. However, the plan should be closely scrutinized. The Environment Planning Commission is scheduling a meeting about it Aug. 17, and the city council will address it after that.