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Five communities have been designated Official Satellite City status for the Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off on April 30, 2026. The five satellite cities will join the live, online media event combined with Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off celebrations in Springfield, Missouri, the Official Host City. The five Official Satellite Cities include Joliet, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Amarillo, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Santa Monica, California. The five Official Satellite Cities were selected through an RFP process to promote themselves and attract visitors to their Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off events and activities. Joliet, Illinois Joliet will host its satellite city celebration at the historic 1858 Old Joliet Prison Site. Joliet Area Historical Museum chief executive officer Greg Peerbolte said, "The 'Joliet' in Joliet Jake, was made famous in The Blues Brothers and Prison Break movies and was known for many years as 'America's Toughest Prison.’ The property is now an economic development engine and community gathering space, welcoming nearly 100,000 visitors since the project's inception.” St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis will celebrate a century of the Mother Road with concerts, car displays, a 6.6-mile bike ride, documentary screenings, presentations, and family activities. Amarillo, Texas Amarillo's iconic 6th Street will feature archived photos, recordings, and Route 66 memorabilia during its kick-off event by day. At night, festivities will explore the evolution of Route 66 and Amarillo's role in shaping American travel. The city is also planning the installation of a commemorative monument in Amarillo's Historic Route 66 District. Amarillo, Texas, executive director Kashion Smith said the city is classic Texas: cowboy boots, wide-open skies, and friendly, down-to-earth people. "But there's more beneath the surface. Discover the awe-inspiring beauty of Palo Duro Canyon, the retro charm and local flavor along Amarillo's Historic Route 66 District, and a community proud to preserve and promote its Route 66 heritage." Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque's celebrations will feature music events downtown at the historic KiMo theatre, incorporating the nearby crossroads at 4th and Central, where the original and then final Route 66 crossed. The city will also feature an art-fueled road trip, which will have four stops within a two-block radius of the KiMo. Santa Monica, California Santa Monica will host its kick-off ceremony at Mel's Diner on Lincoln Boulevard, featuring live performances by California musicians. Santa Monica travel and tourism president and chief executive officer Misti Kerns said Route 66 holds a significant place in Santa Monica's history. "As the 'End of the Trail' for Route 66, Santa Monica became emblematic of the American Dream and the promise of the open road. The highway officially concluded at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard, near the Pacific Ocean. This final stretch of Route 66 represented the culmination of countless journeys across the United States, embodying the spirit of adventure and exploration that defined an era." The virtual Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off will feature a Centennial Kick-Off concert with a-list entertainment in Springfield, Missouri, a two-hour simulcast of the live-streamed event worldwide, and cut-ins during the simulcast from each Official Satellite City. Satellite Cities will also benefit from recognition on the Route 66 Centennial website and in all publicity for the Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off event. Bill Thomas, chairman of Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, said, "We are so excited for our Official Satellite Cities to join Springfield, Missouri, the Official Host City, in kicking off our year-long celebration."  The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is a national nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing and sustaining Route 66 as a national icon and international destination. It is responsible for the Route 66 Centennial website, a key component of the Route 66 Centennial Communications Plan recommended by the Route 66 Centennial Commission. The website focuses on Route 66 preservation success stories and spotlights future needs.
Donatella Davanzo is an Italian American cultural anthropologist and documentary photographer whose body of work focuses on the connection between communities and their landscapes. Photography is the key vehicle and tool in Donatella Davanzo's visual ethnographic research and documentation of the unique cultural practices and spatial organizations of diverse human communities in the Southwestern United States and abroad. Donatella is widely recognized for her in-depth exploration and lectures centering on the acequias—centuries-old, communally managed crop irrigation systems in New Mexico. She is also known for her visual ethnographic studies and document analyses of the stretch of Route 66 that runs through New Mexico. Based on visual documentation contained in her doctoral dissertation, Donatella’s grant-funded Route 66 Centennial project, Route 66 Connected, comprises an innovative interactive exposition of original commercial properties developed between 1937 and 1970 along Route 66 in New Mexico that are still in operation today.   Most recently, Donatella participated in the 2025 New Mexico Route 66 Association Motor Tour, taking photos and preparing the tour guide with her numerous photographs and detailed descriptions and history. The guide is an invaluable resource for the motor tour participants, and for the New Mexico Route 66 Association that hosted the event. To date, Donatella has authored two books. Tango in Venice: Expression of a Rite views tango dancers from an anthropological perspective, concentrating on their use of movement and space, and their use of dance as a ritual. Through International CultoMusica: An Ethno-Photographic Account by Donatella Davanzo, she documents eleven different religious cults still present in Trieste during eleven different musical concerts. To learn more or to connect with Donatella about her photography, visit her Route 66 Connected website at: https://donatellaabq.wixsite.com/route-66-connected    By Jonathan Bullington and E. Jason Wambsgans Source: Chicago Tribune It was created to connect us, a fused chain of existing roadways many unpaved that stretched 2,448 miles across eight states and three time zones, starting steps from Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago and ending near the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica’s famed fishing pier. Route 66, “The Main Street of America.” There is perhaps no better-known highway anywhere in the world. In its 100-year history, it has offered safe passage to Dust Bowl refugees, World War II transports and vacationing families. John Steinbeck called it “the mother road, the road of flight.” Nat King Cole crooned about its kicks in a 1946 hit song. Disney and Pixar took inspiration from it for a 2006 blockbuster. The famed highway conjured images of quirky roadside attractions, mom-and-pop diners, neon-signed motels and art deco service stations. Each mile promised freedom, escape, adventure, exploration. It introduced countless Americans to their country, to vast lands that previously existed only in the collective imagination. Despite being decommissioned in 1985 in favor of a faster and wider interstate highway system, Route 66 continues to capture our imaginations in the remnants of its past glory that remain today. Now, Route 66 boosters in all eight states (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California) are gearing up to celebrate the iconic route on its centennial in 2026. Ahead of next year’s anniversary, the Chicago Tribune will set out across Route 66 to introduce readers to the people and places it was designed to connect the entertaining characters and roadside oddities, the business owners trying to revitalize their pieces of history and the voices that had been previously obscured in the roadway’s lore. In pursuit of the unknown, we're starting our journey at the farthest point from home, in Santa Monica, and working our way back to Chicago. Along the way, we’ll explore whether the highway still has the power to unite a deeply divided country and learn what it has to tell us about the current state of our nation. Read full story and learn about each of their stops along the way: https://www.chicagotribune.com/route-66-turns-100/  By Fallon Fischer, Junko Featherston Source: KRQE (Copyright Nexstar Media Inc.) A 1950s-era motel on historic Route 66 in Albuquerque is set to get a new lease on life. El Don Motel is now owned by Albuquerque native Randy Bowen, who plans to completely renovate the 24-unit property into a boutique motel. "So the plan for it right now is to have 20 high-end, kind of like chic boutique hotel rooms. And then the two-story section that’s behind us here with the deck is hopefully going to be a cocktail lounge," Bowen said. Bowen purchased the property in October and plans to bring an operating partner on board. He is currently working with an architect on the design and the city to get everything up to code. "So currently, right now, it’s being used as an apartment. The initial pitch when it was brought to me was to try to keep it as an apartment. But unfortunately, with the amount of money that has to go in to get it to being safe and functional, it doesn’t pencil out with making it affordable housing,” Bowen explained. The U-shaped motel needs a lot of work, according to Bowen. The 1950s-era plumbing will need to be updated along with the electrical wiring; the building also needs a new roof, HVAC system, windows, stucco, flooring, and more. The property’s iconic neon sign, which features a cowboy lassoing the motel's name, will be redone too. Despite the extensive repairs and new additions planned for the motel, Bowen said he is eager to work on what he calls a passion project. "I just, I like the idea of the history of this. I like the idea of preserving this rather than just scraping it and starting over with something new," he said. Bowen hopes to get started on the project in about two months. He previously has worked on residential projects, including multi-family developments. Read full story: https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/1950s-era-route-66-motel-in-albuquerque-to-undergo-major-renovation/  El Don Motel on Route 66 in Albuquerque. Photo courtesy Tadson Bussey.
By Larry Baker Source: KRQE News (Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. ) ‘Build it and they will come.’ It’s not just a memorable line from a movie. Consider a weed-choked vacant lot on Albuquerque’s West Mesa. Beginning in 2021, construction crews transformed barren acreage into a multi-million-dollar, two-story architectural masterpiece. And then, a year later, a parade of community leaders and politicians celebrated with a marathon ribbon cutting ceremony complete with music, food, specially designed t-shirts, and a host of political and community leaders. Among the 36 guest speakers, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “This is a celebration bigger than the West Side, bigger than Albuquerque. This is about the Land of Enchantment and about the story of America,” Mayor Keller proclaimed. And, State Senator Michael Padilla. “You’re going to be able to tell your children, your babies, your grandbabies, your great grandbabies, ‘I was there the day that they opened the Route 66 Visitor Center’. I’m so excited,” Senator Padilla said. Welcome to Albuquerque’s newest government attraction, the Route 66 Visitor Center. But don’t be deceived by the enthusiastic ribbon-cutting crowd. Once the hoopla died down and the politicians headed home, reality set in. It has been three years since that ribbon-cutting celebration. However, as a tourist destination, the project has been a bust. Today, the parking lot is empty, the gates are locked, and the building is closed. Over the last decade, city, county, and state politicians have poured more than $13,000,000 into a facility plagued by mismanagement, financial improprieties, and procurement violations. In fact, from the very beginning, the Route 66 Visitor Center had all the tell-tale signs of a pricey government venture gone wrong. “This was probably not the best use of public funds, but officials pushed forward with it anyway,” said Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas. Read full story at: https://www.krqe.com/news/larry-barker/politicians-sink-13m-in-closed-new-mexico-tourist-attraction/ See article from Route 66 New Mexico magazine, Spring/Summer issue regarding this subject: Association Meets with West Central Community Development Group in Albuquerque to Discuss Proposed Route 66 Visitors Center  Left to right: Rendering of Route 66 Visitor Center; locked gate at the Route 66 Visitor Center; Route 66 Visitor Center
An Underrated City In New Mexico Makes Retirement Feel Like A Sun-Soaked Dip Into Route 66 Nostalgia By Leslie Veliz Source: Islands.com Choosing where to spend your golden years is one of life's most important decisions. From Florida to Portugal, the possibilities are endless. Retiring in New Mexico, known as the "Land of Enchantment," is also a wonderful choice. The state is home to beautiful retirement-friendly cities including Santa Rosa, an underrated sun-soaked destination where you can savor this chapter of your life. In fact, Santa Rosa has been rated one of the top places to retire in the American Southwest. Located about two hours from Albuquerque — one of the best film cities in America — Santa Rosa is home to a section of the iconic Route 66 and is steeped in nostalgia. However, it's the city's affordability that truly makes it stand out. Real estate and rental prices in Santa Rosa are lower than the national average. With a population of less than 3,000, Santa Rosa is a small and laid-back community. Residents enjoy convenient access to nearby amenities such as grocery stores and the Guadalupe County Hospital. Thanks to Route 66 bringing travelers through town, Santa Rosa flourished in the 1930s. While those days are long gone, retirees will discover that traces of the Mother Road's glory days remain. This stretch is laden with vintage inns, motels, and eateries, including the retro diner Joseph's Bar & Grill. There's also the Route 66 Auto Museum, packed with many classic vehicles that undoubtedly once traversed this legendary highway. The city is ideal for those who prefer to venture off the beaten path and spend time in the great outdoors. Santa Rosa offers a variety of outdoor adventures for retirees Having an active lifestyle after retirement is key to physical longevity and mental wellbeing. That said, there are plenty of ways to stay happy and healthy in Santa Rosa, nicknamed the "City of Natural Lakes." Aside from its Route 66 claim to fame, this destination is renowned for its aquatic destinations, including the Blue Hole. This serene body of water has been named one of the best swimming holes in the country. The water is a cool 62 degrees Fahrenheit, an inviting temperature for a dip. The Blue Hole is 80 feet deep, so you can even get your certification to go scuba diving. Retirement grants you the opportunity to discover new interests and hobbies, so why not embrace it? There's so much more to discover in Santa Rosa. A few minutes outside of town is Santa Rosa Lake State Park, another breathtaking site that puts New Mexico's natural beauty on full display. Aside from hiking, visitors can swim, fish, and go boating, all for a nominal entrance fee. Those with grandkids will be happy to learn that Santa Rosa's Park Lake transforms into a bustling inflatable water park during the summer. Beyond this, Santa Rosa is a great location for retirees who are eager to explore the Southwest. New Mexico's own Las Vegas is just an hour's drive away. Santa Fe, a world-renowned artsy and cultural paradise, is about two hours away. And if all of this is not enough incentive to retire in Santa Rosa, seniors earning under $100,000 a year don't have to pay taxes on their Social Security benefits in New Mexico. Read full story at: https://www.islands.com/1858114/retirement-hidden-gem-santa-rosa-new-mexico-sun-soaked-route-sixty-six-nostalgia/  This year, 50 historic small restaurants across the country will each receive a $50,000 grant. Now in its fifth year, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are once again supporting 50 small or independently owned restaurants across the country through the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program. Each restaurant—all places that contribute to their neighborhood's unique history and identity—will receive $50,000 in funding to help them improve their businesses and positively impact their communities. Grant applications and public nominations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. ET on May 30, 2025. Since it began, the Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant program has granted nearly $5.7 million to 130 historic restaurants (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) to help restaurants address critical needs amid ongoing economic challenges. This critical financial support helps small restaurant owners better navigate economic challenges, disasters, or other hardships so that their establishments' legacies can continue. Restaurant Enthusiasts: Historic small restaurants—tangible connections to our communities’ histories—face ongoing economic challenges. Submit your favorite spot today to help save it for years to come. Nominate Restaurant Owners: Owners can apply today for a $50K grant to address their restaurant’s critical needs. Apply May 12: Application Launch May 30: Applications Due Late June: Applicants Notified July: Recipients Announced More Information   The US Route 66 Centennial website has launched.
The Route 66 Centennial will celebrate and commemorate the historic milestone of the 100 anniversary of Route 66 and honor the Mother Road by helping the millions who live, work, and travel along it. The dedicated Centennial website highlights the magnitude of the occasion with information about the vast array of activities, programs, events, and projects during the year-long festivities across the Mother Road. The website highlights Official Route 66 Centennial events and projects, including the recently announced National Centennial Kickoff Event in Springfield, Missouri, a cavalcade of three Centennial caravans, AAA Route 66 Road Fest, and the Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road. It also focuses on Route 66 preservation success stories and spotlights future needs. Individuals and businesses interested in participating in the Route 66 Centennial are invited to register on the new website, subscribe to the monthly Route 66 Centennial Newsletter, become members of the Route 66 Centennial Club, and stay informed about official Route 66 Centennial activities. Bill Thomas, Commissioner for the US Route 66 Centennial Commission and Chair of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, said, "Look no further if you're seeking the one-stop source for official Route 66 Centennial activities, programs, events, and projects. The Route 66 Centennial Website also provides opportunities for the public to directly participate in all the fun and excitement the 100th Anniversary of the Mother Road will offer, including becoming a member of the ‘Route 66 Centennial Club’, securing Route 66 Centennial Certified status for your local Centennial activities and projects, and purchasing Centennial merchandise." The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is a national nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing and sustaining Route 66 as a national icon and international destination. It is responsible for the Route 66 Centennial website, a key component of the Route 66 Centennial Communications Plan recommended by the Route 66 Centennial Commission. Discover more at route66centennial.org. On the morning of April 4, 2025 there was a devastating fire at the beloved Kix On 66 Restaurant in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Owners Todd and Donna Halfhill have poured their money, heart and soul into rehabilitating this Route 66 icon. They are a 2024 New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Award recipient in recognition of preservation and enhancements to the classic dining establishment, providing a fun, energized experience contributing to the roadside culture of Route 66. New roof, paint, signage, murals, a cool retro truck out front are the most visible changes they have made. Even more important they have invested countless dollars and time completely replacing plumbing. With Donna's permission, a GoFundMe account has been established to help with expenses in rebuilding after the fire. You know what to do Route 66. Donate if you can to the GoFundMe or send checks made out directly to: Kix On 66 and mail it to the New Mexico Route 66 Association, 1415 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.  Presented by: New Mexico Route 66 Association Location: Kix On 66, 1102 E Route 66 Blvd., Tucumcari, New Mexico Date and Time: Monday, April 7, 2025. 1 p.m. Todd and Donna Halfhill, owners of Kix On 66 restaurant, along Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico, will receive the New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Award in recognition of preservation and enhancements to the classic dining establishment, providing a fun, energized experience contributing to the roadside culture of Route 66. New Mexico Route 66 Association president, Melissa Lea Beasley-Lee, along with fellow officers and board of directors will be presenting the award at 1 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2025. New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Awards are presented to people and businesses that invest time, money, and resources to renovate and restore classic or iconic places of significance along Route 66 throughout New Mexico.  Chase Waters of Del’s Restaurant to receive 2024 New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Award4/1/2025
Presented by: New Mexico Route 66 Association Location: Del’s Restaurant, 1202 E Route 66 Blvd., Tucumcari, New Mexico Date and Time: Monday, April 7, 2025. 2:30 p.m. Chase Waters, owner of Del’s Restaurant, along Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico, will receive the New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Award in recognition of preservation and enhancements to the classic dining establishment, providing a fun, energized experience contributing to the roadside culture of Route 66. New Mexico Route 66 Association president, Melissa Lea Beasley-Lee, along with fellow officers and board of directors will be presenting the award at 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2025. New Mexico Route 66 Association Heritage Awards are presented to people and businesses that invest time, money, and resources to renovate and restore classic or iconic places of significance along Route 66 throughout New Mexico.  SOURCE: ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL Award-winning Albuquerque architect and entrepreneur Mark Baker has unveiled plans for the Route 66 National Research Center—a new, federally funded initiative of the University of New Mexico, which will serve as a global mecca for Route 66 scholars under the umbrella of UNM’s library system and its Center for Southwest Research. Gracing the corner of University and Central—the old Route 66—the Research Center will house an archive of documents and materials related to the storied highway, including oral histories, and will host academic conferences. As Baker’s floor plan and renderings show, it will also feature an exhibition space and a bookshop. Full Article: The Cadillac of cultural preservation: Architect Mark Baker unveils plans to convert a historic dealership into UNM’s new Route 66 research center  Architectural renderings of UNM's proposed Route 66 National Research Center, designed by Mark Baker, on the corner of Central and University in Albuquerque, New Mexico (courtesy of Baker A+D).
Season seven of Fast TV Network’s popular TV show Legends of Route 66 has been recommended as an “Official Route 66 Centennial Project.” The letter received from commission member Bill Thomas stated: “Congratulations, Fast TV Network’s Legends of Route 66 Centennial Season Seven project has been recommended by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission as an Official Route 66 Centennial Project.” Fast TV Network President and CEO Mike Lee states, “We couldn’t be more honored than to receive Official Status from the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission. Planning for this special season of Legends of Route 66 began over three years ago. We are excited to get back on the Mother Road. Over the next several months we will be working hard to bring the excitement of the Centennial Celebration to our viewers. We would like to thank the commission and the New Mexico Route 66 Association for making this possible.” Fast TV Network Vice President of Production and Programming, Melissa Lea Beasley-Lee states; “This is a great honor for Fast TV Network. Creatively, this will be one of our most diverse seasons yet. Covering all eight states in one season is challenging, yet exciting as we showcase the Mother Road to the world. As president of the New Mexico Route 66 Association we are working with Fast TV Network to not only promote New Mexico, but our seven other sister Route 66 states as well.” Fast TV Network C.O.O. Rob Wagner states; “We have a lot of surprises in store for season seven of Legends of Route 66. As we celebrate 100 years of Route 66 it is an honor to bring this to our viewers who have been so loyal to us over the past seven years. Creatively, this will be our coolest season yet!” Pre-production has already been in progress for several months. Production begins May 1, 2025, and will continue throughout the summer. Legends of Route 66 Centennial Season Seven will begin streaming in November of this year. Fast TV Network is available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and online at FastTVNetwork.com.  Thank you, Visit Gallup, for inviting the New Mexico Route 66 Association to speak last week at January’s Route 66 Think Tank to engage in creative, thoughtful dialogue about Gallup’s Route 66 future. We were excited to hear ideas Gallup has for the upcoming centennial and share information on our association’s Route 66 neon sign restorations, roadside attraction sign project, the upcoming Motor Tour, and other projects coming up in preparation for the 2026 centennial. We’re also pleased to welcome our new members who signed up to reap the benefits the association has to offer and be listed in our business directory. The association is currently scheduling and planning to join other meetings or gatherings along the route. If you would like the association to come to your town, please contact us: email [email protected] or drop us a message.  BY NICK GERLICH
Dream Maker Station Route 66 Souvenir and Gift Shop opened last April in Adrian, adjacent to the celebrated midpoint of the Mother Road. Jason and Kelly Snyder moved from Ohio to open the shop, the culmination of a dream hatched after their 2018 trip down 66. It wasn’t until 2021, though, that they discovered the former Sunflower Station was for sale. Frank Hauser, who had previously owned the Midpoint Cafe next door, had run a small gift shop there before deciding to retire. While the Snyders went west hoping to find a suitable commercial property in Arizona, opportunity knocked several hundred miles east, something that Kelly attributes to divine intervention. “I am an avid prayer,” Kelly said. “I believe in God. If this is something we’re supposed to be doing, I know He will show us where it’s at. “We pulled up to the Midpoint Cafe, saw the ‘For Sale’ sign next door, and I kept hearing, ‘Call that number’.” She did, and they wound up buying the station. When asked how two Midwesterners ended up in Adrian, her answer is simple: “Our story was in Arizona. God’s story was right here.” They had planned on a 2023 opening, but health issues caused them to delay that for a year. The shop carries a wide line of Harley Davidson merchandise, as well as Route 66 souvenirs ranging from wearables to knick-knacks, signs, blankets, mugs, Christmas ornaments and more. The couple plans to grill burgers and hot dogs during summer evenings in 2025 on a donation basis, as well as build cabins behind the shop. “We started out with $2,500 of merchandise on April 4 when we opened, and we have plowed every penny back into it,” she explained. “Getting a business on Route 66, you have to really love the road to do what you do there. You have to love the people. For me, it’s the excitement on everybody’s face that comes in there,” she said. “It’s not about the money; it’s about the people, keeping the road alive.” The station was built in 1934 at a time when the road through Adrian was little more than 20 years old, having begun as part of the Ozark Trail network of roads, and then added as part of Route 66 in 1926. West from here the road drops off the Caprock Escarpment, and towns become few and far between. Jason and Kelly Snyder are excited to be in business on 66, and love meeting people from across the country and the world. They plan for Dream Maker Station to be their semi-retirement jobs. |
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