by jimhinckleysamerica | Apr 28, 2024 | Adventure, community development, ghost town, Lifestyle, Route 66 authors, Route 66 centennial, Route 66 Events, Route 66 history, Route 66 restaurant, Travel, Travel Tips, urban exploration
Screenshot of the Route 66 Experience from Ace Sign Company website.
The Main Street of America is the perfect place to celebrate milestone events. In 2026 there are two events that are worthy a full year of festivities. First, this will be the centennial year of iconic Route 66, a highway branded as the Main Street of America in a 1927 marketing campaign. And I can’t think of a better place to celebrate the semiquincentennial ot the Declaration of Independence signing in 1776.
The Main Street of America
The Route 66 centennial was a primary topic of discussion of the April 28, 2024 episode of Coffee With Jim, the weekly livestream podcast from Jim Hinckley’s America. Considering that the guest was Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
After all, Oklahoma is at the forefront of creating Route 66 centennial initiatives as catalysts for tourism and economic development. The state established a Route 66 centennial commission back in 2019.
Our conversation was wide ranging, but even when discussing the innovative Canadian River Bridge rehabilitation, there was a centennial component. Likewise with the endangered “ribbon road”, a highway engineering oddity.
Coffee With Jim
The podcast was conceived as a platform for sharing fascinating chapters of America’s story. And it was also a means of inspiring road trips. But it was also envisioned as a venue for shining the spotlight on issues that require immediate attention. The podcast with Rhys checked all three boxes.
The “ribbon road” between Miami and Afton, Oklahoma dates to 1922. For reasons unknown, it was built with a width of just nine feet, and wode shoulders. Incredibly, it carried Route 66 traffic for several years. State plans to rehab the old road would destroy its historic integrity.
A reading recommendation from Jim Hinckley’s America about ghost towns along Route 66, including a few along the Main Street of America.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association has launched a petition drive in the hopes of preserving this rarity into the centennial and beyond. Information about the road, the petition, and how to sign it, are on the associations website.
One More From Oklahoma
Since we are talking about Okalhoma, this seems like a good time to pitch a new book. I haven’t had a chance to delve to deep into Here Today by Jeffrey Schmidt. But what I have read leads me to believe that this is a winner. And for fans of the empty places, it will become a road trip companion while traveling in the Sooner State.
In a recent blog post I speculated on why these faded and forgotten towns are so alluring. Like Route 66, the ghost town has an international appeal.
This book doesn’t seem to have speculation about reasons why, just simple histories and fascinating stories. And it has provides detailed directions.
Centennial Notes
To wrap this post up, I have a couple of additional Route 66 centennial notes. First, an update on the centennial anthology.
I am working with Joe Sonderman, Cheryl Eichar Jett, Gregory Hasman, Rhys Martin and Dries Bessels on this exciting project. A few weeks ago it was noted that I was running behind. Well, I am happy to say that things are back on track. So we are going to meet the deadline. Stay tuned for details on the publication date.
In recent weeks several indicators about the growing interest in Route 66 as we draw closer to the centennial have had noticable upticks. The Historic Route 66 group page on Facebook has surpassed 225,000 members. That’s up more than 10,000 people since the first of the year.
The Facebook page for the Route 66 New Mexico Association has also experienced some pretty impressive growth in recent weeks. And this is in spite of an attempt to derail the association.
A key component in the marketing of Route 66, and the centennial, is growth in development of cooperative partnerships within the international Route 66 community. From its inception the idea that the highway was a linear community has played a role in its marketing. In the era of renaissance since the highways decertification, surprisngly, that concept has been slow to catch on with even the staunchest enthusiast. This is another topic Rhys and I touched on during the podcast conversation.
Stay Tuned
So, what is coming down the pike?
Well, the list of engagments for summer and fall is gorwing. Full details are provided here on the website as they become available.
The next episode of In Search of Lost Highways is nearing completion, albeit a full month behind schedule. This popular series is available on the Jim Hinckley’s America YouTube channel.
The second edition of 100 Things To Do On Route 66 Before You Die is now available. It is one part guide book, and one part customizable souvenir. So pick up a copy, take to the road, use it to find the best pie during your adventure, and grab an autograph. Thank you for that idea Sam Fiorella.
I have had to go to Plan B on the creation of an offical Jim Hinckley’s America Route 66 centennial vehicle. That, however, will have to be a subject of discussion in a future blog post.
by jimhinckleysamerica | Apr 24, 2024 | Adventure, ghost town, Lifestyle, Travel, true crime
The ghost towns of Arizona have an entrancing allure. ©Jim Hinckley’s America
Ghost towns have an almost universal appeal. But as with Route 66, and the decades of our youth, the reality is different from the perception.
In my minds eye, I am still 20, maybe 30. And then I shave in the morning and reality overcomes the illusion. People envision a ghost town as empty streets where tumbleweeds roam free. The reality is often a foundation or two amongst the brush.
Ghost Towns
I suppose that for many folks of my generation the allure of ghost towns began with childhood. Tales of lost treasure and gunfighters, and hours watching high riding heroes on the silver screen kicked the imagination into high gear.
A conversation about ghost towns figured prominently in the April 21 episode of Coffee With Jim. Historian Ron Stewart was the guest on the Jim HInckley’s America podcast.
Ron has a passion for things like the Coronado expedition of 1540, the history of the San Pedro River country of southern Arizona, and the old town of Fairbank.
Fairbank
Fairbank was a railroad town. But there is ample evidence to indicate that folks were living at this site along the San Pedro River long before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
Like Route 66, Tombstone to the south has always had better press and publicity than Fairbank. Likeiwse with Wyatt Earp compared to Jefferson Davis Milton.
It’s funny how that works out. Most everyone is familiar with Tombstone, Wyatt Earp, and a little incident at the OK Corral. But who remembers Milton, or the gunfight in Fairbank back in 1900?
Jefferson Davis Milton
Earp, like many lawman and heroes of the western frontier, straddled the line between legal and illegal. His law enforcement career, mostly in Dodge City and Tombstone, was relatively short.
On the other hand Milton apparently never stepped across the line. He was a lawman. His career kicked off in 1878. And he was forced to retire in 1932. Incredibly thirty two of those years was spent as a one armed lawman as a result of the gunfight in Fairbank.
His long career was diverse. It started when he lied about his age and joined the Texas Rangers. He was assigned he Bend Bend country, one of the most lawless places in America at the time. He also served as a stock inspector with duties that included chasing rustlers. And he had a stint as the chief of police in El Paso.
He also worked as an express agent for Wells Fargo. That was the job he had when Three Fingered Jack Dunlop, Bravo Juan Yaos, and another outlaw tried to rob the train. When the gunsmoke cleared, Milton’s arm was shattered by gunfire. Dunlop and Yaos were mortally wounded.
Milton was the nations first official border patrol officer. And he was also tasked with escorting anarchists back to Russia under guard. All of this is just a small part of the Fairbank and Milton story. And it is a sneak peak at this epsiode of Coffee With Jim.
Ghost Town Adventures
Do you have a ghost town story? When did your passion for ghost towns begin? Please, share them in the comment section. And take a listen to the recent episode of Coffee With Jim.
by jimhinckleysamerica | Apr 23, 2024 | Adventure, community development, Lifestyle, Route 66 centennial, Route 66 Events, Travel, urban exploration
It may be two years until the world celebrates the centennial of Route 66, but you will have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of that celebration at the 2024 European Route 66 Festival.
A centennial celebration in 2026 is more than an example of opportunity knocking. The Route 66 centennial is a rare opportunity to put some lipstick and a gown on the hog, and pass it off as the prom queen. It is a chance to build a network of cooperative partnerships that foster development of a sense of community in America’s longest small town – Route 66 between Chicago and Santa Monica. And it is a very unique opportunity to share America’s story with the world.
A Centennial Celebration
A few communities and states launched Route 66 centennial initiatives before the year of the apocalypse, 2020. Others are just starting to realize what an opportunity the centennial represents. But even the folks that are arriving to the party late can still benefit.
Towns, cities, and villages can use this historic event to foster development of a sense of community. By creating events and initiatives that support historic district revitalization and investment, the centennial becomes a catalyst for long term economic development. And by working with other Route 66 states, associations, and communities, the return on the investment of marketing dollars is exponentially magnified with each partnership.
The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri is an excellent example of what might be accomplished by tapping into the Route 66 centennial. It has been developed in partnership with city and state tourism, government, and historic district business owners. And utilizing a diverse array of marketing venues, inclduing the event section of the Route 66 Naviageion app, it has morphed into one of the largest events on Route 66.
Imagine the impact of an annual event that attracts more than 60,000 people. Now, imagine this taking place in a town with a population of less than 200,000 people. As planning and marketing is well underway for an even larger centennial version of the festival, Springfield will be transformed.
An Even Bigger Celebration
There is another anniversary taking place in 2026. That will be the 250th anniversary of the United States. The opportunities represnted by these two anniversary celebrations is not being overlooked by tourism directors with vision.
Scott Dahl, CVB director in Springfield, Illinois is already working on creating partnerships that will provide opportunities to benefit from both anniversaries. Granted, the city is chock full of Abraham Lincoln associated sites. But in addition to promoting association with the 16th president, he has already initiated dicussions with organizers of the annual Miles of Possibility Conference. And plans are being made for that conference to take place in Springfield during the Route 66 centennial.
The Coffee With Jim is one way that we are helping to build a Route 66 community for the centennial celebration.
Tulsa is another coomunity to watch. Working with state officials, and the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, this city initiated Route 66 centennial initiatives several years ago. Plans and projects initiated since then are transforming the Route 66 corridor. And they will have an impact into the centennial and beyond.
Jim Hinckley’s America
Jim Hinckley’s America is working on a variety of projects to ensure that we are a community building link. The Route 66 Centennial Initiative group on Facebook is one example. Another is Coffee With Jim. That is the weekly podcast on Podbean.
On recent programs we have talked with a diverse array of guests including the president of the Route 66 Association of New Mexico. We have also talked with Scott Dahl, CVB Director in Springfield, IllinoisAnd in the next few weeks we will be visiting with the president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. Also on the schedule is Angela Moreland, a leader in McLean, Texas historic business revitalization.
We have a few other projects simmering on the back burner. A Route 66 centennial anthology is being written. Programs and presentations are being scheduled. Educational programs are being developed. Road trips are being planned.
So, let’s get excited about the fast approaching cetennial. And let’s unleash the imagination. Opportunity is knocking. Let’s see who answers.
by jimhinckleysamerica | Apr 14, 2024 | Adventure, community development, Hollywood history, Kingman Arizona, Lifestyle, Route 66 centennial, Route 66 Events, Travel, Travel Tips, urban exploration
Lights, camera, action! It’s the Tucumcari Film Festival!
Lights, camera, action! What a great conversation with Bobby Hockaday, vice president on the board of directors for the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce and the Executive director of Film Tucumcari! It was a free range conversation about the Clint Eastwood-Tucumcari connection, the upcoming Tucumcari Film Festival, Tucumcari as a filming location, relocation, Route 66 and the Route 66 centennial, and AI in film production on this episode of Coffee With Jim, the Jim Hinckley’s America podcast. And this was just in the first half hour!
Coffee With Jim
Sharing America’s story. Inspiring road trips by telling people where to go. It’s what we do at Jim HInckley’s America.
We do this with books and feature articles, presentations and blog posts. And we also offer our services to companies as a tour development consultant. On occassion we also lend support to communities in search of creative ways to harness tourism, and the international obsession with Route 66 as a catalyst for economic development.
Coffee With Jim is another component. The podcast is an opportunity to share America’s story through conversations with fascinating and inspirational people. The program of April 14 and the discussion with Bobby Hockadaywas an excellent example.
Lights, Action, Camera
There are several ways that small rural communities can tap into motion pictures and Hollywood history. Fim Tucumcari is one example. The upcoming film festival in Tucumcari is another one.
Kingman, Arizona, a town with an astonishing film and celebrity association, is awakening to the possibilities. The narrated, self guided historic district walking tour developed by Kingman Main Street includes film and celebrity associated sites as points of interest.
The earliest major motion picture filmed in the area that I am aware of is Ace of the Saddle. This was filmed in about 1918 at Tap Duncan’s ranch near Hackberry east of Kingman. It starred Harry Carey.
Clark Gable and Carol Lombard married in Kingman. Route 66 in the city is signed as Andy Devine Avenue. Buster Keaton stayed at the Hotel Beale while filming Go West in 1925. At least six major motion pictures were filmed entirely in the Kingman area, or had major scenes shot in the area.
Location, Location, Location
Sunrise walkabouts are my time for clearing the head, sparking the imagination, and thinking of how best to share America’s story.
Location, location, location is key to a succesful business or selling real estate. And it is a hot commodity for communities lookiinig to sell themselves as a filming location. Tucucmari has it, and so does Kingman.
Fans of our Decade With Jim series on Instagram and the Jim Hinckley’s America Facebook page comment on the morning walkabout photos. Many of these are taken within a few miles of downtown Kingman, and Route 66. Most are easy to access.
A film company would be hard pressed to find more spectacular locations. So, perhaps, in the near future Kingman will follow the lead of Tucumcari. Soon, perhaps, the words lights, action, camera will be heard echoing in the picturesque canyons near town.
by jimhinckleysamerica | Apr 11, 2024 | Adventure, community development, Lifestyle, Route 66 centennial, Route 66 history, Travel, Travel Tips, urban exploration
Route 66 corridor signage in Illinois iillustrates the evolution of a highway known as the Main Street of America. ©Jim HInckley’s America
The Main Street of America. First coined to promote the National Old Trails Road, predecessor to Route 66 in the southwest, it was the visionaries that established the US Highway 66 Association in early 1927 that made it the cornerstone of a marketing campaign that still resonates today.
Route 66 in the era of renaissance is no mere highway. It is the very essence of the American experience.
But it is also a commodity. And it is also a catalyst for economic development as well as a unique opportunity to build a community that isn’t confined to a thin corrdior of asphalt that stretches across the heartland from Chicago to Santa Monica.
The Main Street of America
Even in the era of I Like Ike buttons, Edsels, and tail fins, Route 66 had an international nature. After all, it was the Main Street of America.
Jim, George, and Pete Kretsedemas opened the Falcon Restaurnt on Route 66 in Winslow, Arizona on July 9, 1955. They were Greek immigrants.
The Osterman brothers established a motel along Route 66 in Newberry Springs, Califonia. And in Arizona they established a gas station and garage in Peach Springs and in Kingman. They also operated the Dodge dealership and established KIngman Cafe, now Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner. They were immigrants from Sweden.
Even the ’57 Chevy that seems a fitting classic for a Route 66 cruise has an international orign. Louis Chevrolet was born in Switzerland.
Renaissance
Underlying the Route 66 renaissance are travelers from throughout the world that see a trip along this highway as the quintessential American experience. Then, as now, immigrants are also playing an important role in ensuring Route 66 businesses, now landmarks, survive into the centennial and beyond.
In Kingman, Arizona the El Trovatore Motel built before WWII was saved from the wreckers ball, and given a new lease on life, by an immigrant from Israel. The historic bank building in Elkhart, Illinois was transformed into the Wild Hare Cafe by a Dutch immigrant. One of the largest Czech cutlural events in the world outside the Czech Republic takes place in Yukon, Oklahoma.
A presentation before an interested crowd at the second European Route 66 Festival.
But the international contributions to Route 66 isn’t limited to the money spent by travelers or the restoration of properties. There are companies based in Europe, Australia and New Zealand that specialize in Route 66 tours.
And there are companies that are owned by passionate Route 66 enthusiasts that develop projects to enhnace the travelers experience. Every year they also spend weeks on the road building a network of cooperative partnerships, developing a deeper understanding of the needs in the Route 66 community, and contributing to restoration projects.
Myopia
But in the era of renaissance on the Main Street of America, some enthusiasts and business owners suffer from terminal myopia.They develop a narrow mindedness that makes it possible to look down a beer bottle with both eyes.
And so they overlook opportunities to highlight the unique nature of America that is made manifest in the Route 66 experience. Even worse, they become so obsessed with the idea that Route 66 is solely an American highway, they villify innovators, investors, and enthusiasts that happen to call someplace other than the United States home.
They create divisions. The same with people that place their self serving agenda over projects or initiatives that build a sense of community. Ironically, these are the folks that taint the Route 66 experience and discourage people from traveling Route 66 to discover the real America.
Jim Hinckley’s America
The cornerstone for Jim Hinckley’s America is a passion for sharing America’s story. This multifacted project is also an opportunity for me to use my God given talent for telling people where to go. And so much of my work centers on Route 66, the international Route 66 community, and the people that infuse this old highway with an infectious enthusiasm.
People have come to depend on me for honest recommendations about businesses, restaurants, side trips, and how to get the most from an adventure on Route 66, or the great American road trip. So, I take this responsibility seriously.. I stake my reputation on every recommendation.
And that is why I am careful about the sponsoring partners selected, businesses that we work with, and books I recommend. Likewise with the places that are linked to my name. These associates and recommendations reflect the international nature of Route 66 in the era of renaissance. They also share my old fashoned idea that a man’s word is his bond, and that a handshake can be as good as a contract.
My Partners
Touch Media, the company behind the Route 66 Navigation app and Mother Road Route 66 Passport, may be based in Bratislava, Slovakia but the owners are passionate about supporting the Route 66 community. This is made evident in the development of a Route 66 planning guide offered at no charge in eight languages. And it is made evident in the weeks that they spend on the road each year.
As they are located in Slovakia they are knowledgeable about what the European Route 66 traveler expects and needs. To ensure that they also meet the needs of the domestic traveler, they retain the services of American artists and consultants such as me. And as they share my business ethic, I have no qualms providing my services as a consultant.
I work with a number of companies that are based on foreign shores. Many of the owners I consider as friends. And we share a common passion for ensuring that the traveler experiences the real America on their road trip holiday. So, when I am asked for a tour company recommendation, with confidence I can point to Chicago based Two Lane America, Route 66 Germany, New Zealand based Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours, UK based RouteTrip USA or Australian based Route 66 Tours.
When I receive a note asking for motel recommendation, I can point to the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari. I can also suggest, with confidence, the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. And I can recommend the Cactus Inn Motel & RV Park in McLean, Texas.
The Centennial
The Route 66 centennial is fast approaching. Will it still be relevant at the time of its bicentennial? Fifty years from now, will Route 66 still be the Main Street of America? I ten years will this iconic old highway still provide an opportunity to experience the real America?
That all depends on how we treat self serving, myopic folks. If we look at these people, their initiatives, and their divisive rhetoric as speed bumps, the Route 66 community survives and thrives. However, if we magnify their divisive rhetoric, Route 66 simply becomes another old road.
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