Welcome to Roadside Peek News. This section
will feature a news peek of what's happening out on the road. While
not pretending to be comprehensive, we hope you'll visit this section
from time to time to keep up on just a sample of issues that are
roadside related. Don't forget to check out the Roadside
Peek main page for the day's update.
Los Angeles, CA - As part of the Los Angeles
Conservancy'sCurating
the City: Wilshire Boulevard event, the Modern Committee
will re-open the long-shuttered googie-style Johnie's
Coffee Shop for one day only!
Designed by famed L.A. architects Armét & Davis, it
first opened in 1955 as Romeo's Times Square. By 1957 it had become
Ram's and by 1966 Johnie's. Johnie's closed in 2000.
Tucumcari, NM - The historic Blue Swallow Motel
on old Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., is reopening for business.
Although it remains for sale, owners Dale and Hilda Bakke recently
returned to their motel and will be running it indefinitely. They
had announced the motel's closing in winter 2005 when a relative
in
Minnesota had become seriously ill.
The motel's phone number remains unchanged at 505-461-9849. The
motel, along with its Web site at www.blueswallowmotel.com,
should be fully operational before the Labor Day weekend. Call the
Blue Swallow for more information.
Many thanks to Ron Warnick for update
Roadside
News - Friday, August 19, 2005
Georgia
Welcome Station At Risk of Closure
GA - The old Georgia Welcome station on US 301
is at risk of closing down and being demolished due to budget cutbacks.
This building was opened to the public in 1962 and is a good example
of googie. It is the oldest continually operating state Welcome
Station in the USA.
This station needs more than anything else to have visitors stop
by and sign their GUESTBOOK to show Georgia that there is enough
interest to continue funding it.
Look at the cool early 60's architecture, particularly the space
ship influenced roofline. How many old Buicks with portholes and
outrageously finned Cadillacs must have stopped here?
Las Vegas, NV - The familiar restaurant along
Fremont Street has now been bulldozed. Yes, we're talking
about the Green
Shack.
Said to be the oldest restaurant in Vegas
back in the late 1990's, the Green Shack began serving its famous
friend chicken and mashed potatoes back in the early 1930's. However,
dwindling business proved fatal and the Green Shack went belly up
in 1999. The restaurant was a notable part of Vegas history and
had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
Many thanks to Chet Wilson for update
Roadside
News - Friday, August 12, 2005
There
Goes Another Vegas Roadside Motel
Las
Vegas, NV - After being closed down this past May due to
alleged prostitution, the Del
Mar Motel along Las Vegas Boulevard was bulldozed this past
Tuesday, August 9. According to the August 10 edition
of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Del Mar was sold by the owner
after it was shut down and the new owners may plan to build a hotel
or condominiums at the site.
Apparently the marquee and lettering on the motel were not saved.
It was hard to miss this motel as you raced down Las Vegas Boulevard
north towards the downtown area away from the strip. Another roadside
icon has now become a memory.
Del Mar
Motel (back when it was still open)
Del Mar
Motel (fenced off and closed)
Many thanks to Allen Sandquist for contacting
us with demolition news update
Wendover Will is Back
After A Short Hiatus
Wendover, NV - During a Fall 2004 trip to see
the third of the Nevada neon cowboys, news was that Wendover Will
had been removed just the week prior with its fate unknown. A little
discouraging piece of news, especially after a 900+ mile trek.
Well, sounds like his disappearance was just temporary. On June
9, 2005, the City of West Wendover dedicated the Wendover Will Monument
(which includes Will) at its new location at the city center along
Wendover Boulevard. Wencover Will had been donated in 2004 to the
City of Wendover.
Historical Route 66
Harvey House For Sale
Barstow, CA - The historic Harvey House and railroad
depot in Barstow is now up for sale or long-term lease by the City
of Barstow. According to the August
5th edition of the San Bernardino Sun, there is a possibility
that the Western America Railroad Museum will attempt to obtain
grants and make a bid to purchase the site.
The Barstow Harvey House closed down as an operating train station
in 1973 after being built back in 1911 by the Atchison, Topeka Santa
Fe Railway.
Roadside
News - Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Last
Summer for the Marysville Drive-in Theatre?
Marysville, CA - Since 1966, the Marysville Drive-in
Theatre (formerly Sierra Drive-in) has been entertaining residents
and visitors to Marysville with its open air entertainment. The
drive-in owner and operator Bob Golding states on his website
that after running the drive-in since 1978, he has lost his lease
and property owners have sold out to developers. One potential scenario
has this site turned into a mini-mall.
Drive-in theatres have been disappearing at an alarming rate over
the past years, and it's always more of a shame when the theatre
is shut down against the wishes of the drive-in owner and operator.
The Marysville Drive-in will be open until at least October 30,
2005. If you're in the area, stop by and support Bob in his efforts
to save his business.
Many thanks to Sean Jones for communication of news.
Mid-Century Roadside
Mecca Still On the Endangered List
Treasure Island, FL - For the last year or so,
the popular Florida resort Treasure Island and its dozen or so mid-century
themed motels have hit the endangered list. Much like the situation
facing Wildwoods, NJ, Treasure Island has seen property values skyrocket.
With the aging of the properties, the old mom and pop motels have
become the focus of investors and developers with intentions of
tearing down the old treasures and replacing them with condos.
Many thanks to Kevin Powers for communication of news.
Roadside
News - Wednesday, July 6, 2005 (Updated July
25)
Historic Route 66 Town Hit by Fire
Williams, AZ - The famous Route 66 town of Williams,
AZ faced the lost of a landmark building when
a fire broke out on June 20 along what is sometimes called "whiskey
row." The building, next to the Canyon Club and Red Garter
Bed and Bakery, was subsequently demolished about a week later.
Whiskey Row view from Route 66
The middle building has been demolished Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Whiskey Row view from railroad side Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
According to the Williams-Grand
Canyon News, the fire to
the 100 year old building is of a suspicious nature as no gas or
electricity service was available in the building.
The Red Garter Bed and Bakery Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
A second fire broke out around 5pm and the Canyon
Club's dance floor was wrecked. The Red Garter faced some smoke
and water damage.
Many thanks to Jodey Elsner for communication of news.
Update July 25, 2005:
Fashion Apartments
Williams, AZ Photo and info courtesy Jodey Elsner
Here is a photo of the back of the Canyon Club as well as a
photo of the Railroad Avenue side of the building that was destroyed,
and what it looked like last summer. The facade is most likely all
black now and all the windows are gone. It's the only part that's
left.
Many thanks to Jodey Elsner for this latest
update.
when
a fire broke out on June 20 along what is sometimes called "whiskey
row." The building, next to the Canyon Club and Red Garter
Bed and Bakery, was subsequently demolished about a week later.
to
the 100 year old building is of a suspicious nature as no gas or
electricity service was available in the building.
