Route 66 forgotten

[robbyfoxxxx]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/apn_forgotten_motels

[cannon_fodder]

While it is true that many of the road side attractions and motels along old Route 66 are falling apart, it is because they are outdated, unused, and not financially viable.  While I like to see old buildings revamped and remaining useful, such is not always possible.  I suppose I am of the opinion that not everything old is necessarily WORTH saving just by virtue of being old.

Case in point:


There is nothing special about this place.  I wouldnt stay there even if it was fixed up.  If it were a museum, I would not visit.  I'm afraid it is just of no value to me or most people and like many neat old structures will just fade away - for better or worse.

Times change and America drives on I suppose.  The keepers of the Pony Express trailers probably said the same thing when Route 66 stole their traffic and their stops were abandoned.

[TheArtist]

I wish someone would save and refurbish a collection of those signs and place them up and down rt66 in Tulsa.  Some of the more kichy little hotels, gas stations and other businesses should be saved or even moved to certain areas as well.  I remember a hotel that had rooms that were individual teepees arranged around a pool.  If someone had the ability to move something like that near tallys cafe or by the rt66 museum or park, it would make for a nice stop over point for people who tour rt66.

[cannon_fodder]

Take the old 11th street bridge and line it with these old signs.  Renovate the bridge to be walkable and the signs to work - it would make for a damn neat walk after dark.  

One more thing to do downtown and right next to the new R66 Museum.  I'd be willing to help on a project like that!

(Copyright me, 2007)

[sgrizzle]

I think the point of the signs was them being very visible at night and larger than life. I think they should be in dirvable areas only at route 66 "destination" areas like the museum, train depot, etc.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

I wish someone would save and refurbish a collection of those signs and place them up and down rt66 in Tulsa.  Some of the more kichy little hotels, gas stations and other businesses should be saved or even moved to certain areas as well.  I remember a hotel that had rooms that were individual teepees arranged around a pool.  If someone had the ability to move something like that near tallys cafe or by the rt66 museum or park, it would make for a nice stop over point for people who tour rt66.

There are a lot of people like myself who love the nostalgia of Rte. 66 and I have a small collection of items I found in the late '80's early '90's and was involved in some of the local goings-on w/ Rte. 66.  It only takes money, time, and people to preserve things.

Driving past the Blue Whale in Catoosa, it looks like interest in that has flagged as well.

Problem is these days, I don't take the time and lack the energy to get involved in preservation like this.  With two teenage daughters bound for college and saving for retirement, I don't have a lot of extra $$ to spread around to help out either.

[mr.jaynes]

One thing I remember about Route 66 along Tulsa's 11th Street is the sheer history of it all.

A memory, kind of bittersweet, was going along 11th and seeing the Will Rogers theatre, trash strewn in the parking lot, but the theatre itself standing proudly in the midst of it all. Not long after, they demolished it, but what tales it could have told! Let this be a lesson: never forget your history, but preserve it, cherish it, restore it. Once it's torn down to make way for a Wal-Mart or a new parking lot, it's gone forever.