by Rhys Martin, President

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association had a great meeting in Elk City on Sunday, January 26th. Many thanks for the National Route 66 Museum for hosting us!

We talked about all of the happenings along Route 66 in the Sooner State and held elections for a few board member positions. Here are the results of that election:

• Secretary: VACANT (no candidates)
• Treasurer: VACANT (no candidates)
• Western Region Vice President: Pam Shelton*
• Custer/Washita/Beckham County District Rep: Julie Lenius*
• Delaware/Craig/Rogers County District Rep: Linda Hobbs
• Ottawa County District Rep: Amanda Davis
• At Large Rep: Michael Jones

Pam Shelton and Julie Lenius retained their previous positions on the board. Linda Hobbs had previously been an At Large representative; she stepped forward for the District position when the previous representative, Liz Huckleby, stepped down. We thank Liz and our previous Ottawa County representative, Jordan Boyd, for their service and hope they remain involved in the greater Route 66 community!

We have reached the submission deadline for new Trip Guide advertising; we’ve been tracking a little behind where we’ve been in years past so if you want to advertise in the 2020-2021 guide, please reach out to us immediately! We’d love to put your business in front of travelers for the coming year.

It’s easy to see how the excitement around Route 66 has grown over the last few years. I drove down to Elk City from Tulsa and, as always, took the old road as much as I could. New attractions like the Muffler Man art installation near Calumet bring fresh attention to the road while a place like the Canadian River Pony Bridge keeps bringing people back. If it’s been a while since you’ve turned miles on Historic Route 66, be sure you make some time for it soon. You never know what you’ll encounter!

Road Ahead Promotion Working Group Comprised of State Marketing Professionals

In the fall of 2019, Jennifer Mullins, Oklahoma’s Director of Travel Promotion, became the new Chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s Promotion Working Group. In just 3 months, she has completed the task of recruiting members from the seven other Route 66 state tourism departments as new members of Working Group.

These tourism professionals will join the current members of the Road Ahead’s Promotion Working Group, Bill Kelly, former Executive Director of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Program and Brennen Matthews, Editor of Route magazine. This marks the first time representatives from tourism departments in all eight Route 66 states have committed to working together to promote the Mother Road.

“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to work collaboratively with my counterparts on ways to promote and increase visitation, both domestically and internationally, for Route 66,” Mullins said. “The Mother Road is such an important and fascinating part of our nation’s history and culture, and such a key piece of our state’s tourism economy.  Thousands of tourists visit Oklahoma each year to drive the highway. They stop in our cities and towns, bringing in millions of dollars and helping create jobs in both urban and rural areas.  With state leadership that recognizes the cultural and tourism significance of the Route, and who is committed to supporting economic development, historic preservation, and marketing initiatives, we have begun to see real momentum.  My goal is to bring that energy and collaborative enthusiasm to my role within the group to collectively effect real change on a national level.”

The first order of business for the newly formed Promotion Working Group will be setting goals, based on the challenges and needs associated with promoting Route 66.

The new tourism department members of the Route 66 Road Ahead Promotion Working Group include:

Jan Kemmerling, Director of Tourism, Illinois

Ashley Sneed, Marketing Coordinator, Missouri

Jennifer Mullins, Director of Travel Promotion, Oklahoma

Bridgette Jobe, Director of Tourism, Kansas

Brad Smyth, Tourism Director, Texas

Erin Ladd, Marketing Director, New Mexico

Tim DeClaire, Senior Director of Marketing, Arizona

Jennifer Walker, Director of Brand Advertising, California

Established in 2015, with the support of the National Park Service and the World Monuments’ Fund, The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s mission is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national and international icon through partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research and education, and economic development.

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Contact:

Bill Thomas, Chairman

Rt. 66 Road Ahead Partnership

rt66theroadahead@gmail.com

217-648-5077

by Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association

When it was announced this summer that the contents of Afton Station were going to be auctioned off, I was tremendously sad. Afton Station had been a great asset to Route 66, not just in northeast Oklahoma but throughout all 2400+ miles. It wasn’t just the old D-X station and the impressive Packard automobile collection inside that endeared it to everyone, but it was owner Laurel Kane and her loyal volunteers that really set the place apart.

I didn’t know Laurel very long, but we became friends in record time. In fact, it was Laurel that stood on the stage at Tulsa’s Cain’s Ballroom in 2015 and served as the officiant in my wedding. Her unexpected passing in early 2016 was a real heartbreak, both for me personally and for the Mother Road at large. I feared that Afton Station was not long for this world without her passion in residence. The shop and museum remained open for a time, but when David Kane also passed suddenly in late 2018 that was the end of the road.

On June 29th 2019, the day of the auction, I took the day off work and drove up to Afton. I hoped to secure some artifacts for the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and perhaps a small something for myself. Alas, my pockets were not deep enough to compete with the likes of Barrett-Jackson auctions out of Arizona and a few of the other attendees. I left that day disappointed on many fronts.

Imagine my surprise when I received a message in late August telling me that the item I most wanted to secure for Oklahoma Route 66 was once again available: the Bob Waldmire U-Haul Truck.

Bob Waldmire was an artist and who I consider to be the prototypical Roadie. He spent a lot of time wandering the country (especially Route 66) creating artwork and speaking out in support of preservation. He turned the vacant Hackberry General Store into a Route 66 destination in the 1990s and was the inspiration behind the Volkswagen Microbus character ‘Fillmore’ in Disney/Pixar’s Cars. 

In 2007, Bob painted a giant mural on one side of an old U-Haul truck for Ken and Marian Clark of Tulsa. According to Ken, Bob originally used the truck to move some items from Illinois (where his family runs the Cozy Dog Drive-In) to his off-the-grid home in Portal, New Mexico. Although Bob had originally intended to sell it, he passed before that became a reality. The Clarks donated to the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, but they didn’t have room for it. In 2012, it was given to Afton Station, where it was displayed until this summer.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is so proud to announce that this artifact has been secured in Chelsea, Oklahoma: Project Chelsea has stationed it near the restored Pedestrian Underpass. Travelers and roadies can continue to experience this beautiful work by one of Route 66’s most enduring artists.

Many thanks to Sylvie Kane, Samantha Extance, and Route 66 Germany for their donations that made this possible. Thanks also to Pam Stanbro and Project Chelsea for coming together and taking stewardship of this treasure. Through continued donations and support, we hope to restore the truck to working order and potentially restore the faded parts of Bob’s artwork. One step at a time…

The next time you’re in Chelsea, stop by and take a selfie with this one-of-a-kind Route 66 Artifact and tag #ok66!

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announced today that they are partnering with Harvest Hosts to build a network of varied destinations that invite self-contained RVers to visit and stay overnight. This network will provide unique lodging options for Route 66 travelers that bring a bit of home with them on the open road. Below is the full press release with more information.

Learn About this New Way for RVs to Travel Route 66

The Road Ahead and Harvest Hosts have partnered to provide RVs traveling Route 66 a new way to experience all the Mother Road has to offer. Harvest Hosts [www.harvesthosts.com] is a membership network that invites self-contained RVers to stay overnight for free at selected sites, attractions, and businesses across the United States. In conjunction with the Road Ahead, this unique experience will now be offered along Route 66. The goal of the new partnership is to expand the current listing of Harvest Hosts locations to include some of the unique sites along Route 66.

Harvest Hosts is a membership program that currently provides access to a network of wineries, farms, breweries, golf courses, museums, and other attractions that invite self-contained RVers to visit and stay overnight. For a small annual fee, Harvest Hosts members can visit and stay at any of its 700+ locations completely free. In return they are asked to support the local businesses they visit. The goal is to connect RVers with the hidden gems of Real America, where they find unique experiences and make lasting memories with family and friends.

Harvest Hosts has tens of thousands of members from the United States, Canada and around the world, including retirees, full-time families, business professionals, bloggers, and adventurers all of whom have one thing in common: the desire to experience unique locations as they travel. In an effort to support local businesses and make it beneficial for those who act as Hosts, members are encouraged to support the businesses they visit, whether that’s through buying some wine, shopping in the gift shop, making a donation to a museum, or buying some local produce.

The Road Ahead invites attractions, sites, and businesses along Route 66 to contact it if interested in becoming a Harvest Host site. Just email rt66theroadahead@gmail.com for information and details.

Established in 2015 with the support of the National Park Service and the World Monuments Fund, The Route Road Ahead Partnership’s mission is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national and international icon through partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research and education, and economic development.

Here is a full report on the 2019 Road Ahead Partnership Annual Board Meeting:

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership held its third Annual Board of Directors Meeting February 22-23, 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Highlights of the meeting included an update on efforts to designate Route 66 a National Historic Trail, the 2019 budget, a new partnership policy, reports from working groups and task forces, and the election of the 2019 Board Officers.

John Conoboy, Chairman of the Road Ahead’s National Historic Trail Task Force, and Amy Webb, representative from the National Trust for Historic Preservation reported that much progress was made in 2018 and hopes were high that HR801, the Federal legislation to designate Route 66 a National Historic Trail, would be passed last year. The government shutdown in mid-December, however, resulted in the legislation not moving forward. The bill has been reintroduced in the new Congress, with a goal of having it passed by Congress and signed by the President before the end of 2019.

The Board approved a budget for the 2019 fiscal year. In addition to approving basic administrative costs, the Board discussed and approved funding for several expenses related to achieving specific strategic goals established by the Road Ahead including:

Economic Development Working Group – $5,000 was approved to develop case studies illustrating successful efforts by communities across Route 66 to leverage Route 66 for economic development purposes. Funding of up to $10,000 was also approved to conduct additional research in conjunction with work done by Rutgers University to update its 2012 Route 66 Economic Impact Study.

Route 66 State Associations Advocacy Working Group – $6,000 was allocated to improve the Road Ahead’s ability to inform and educate Route 66 stakeholders and Roadies regarding what the organization is and what it is doing. Communication efforts will focus on the dissemination of press releases, Facebook posts, email blasts, news articles, etc. through communication channels used by state-based Route 66 Associations, including their newsletters, magazines, websites, Facebook pages, etc.

Green Book Task Force [GBTF] – $1,000 was allocated to cover potential research and/or travel costs for the GBTF as it initiates its work to address needs/challenges associated with Route 66-based Green Book sites.

Preservation Working Group – The Board approved up to $2,000 to cover potential travel costs for its newly appointed Historic Resources Specialist [HRS] Anne Haaker, retired deputy State Historic Preservation Officer from Illinois. Her focus will be the development, coordination, and implementation of the Road Ahead’s review of federal, state and local construction projects that may affect Route 66 historic resources, in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Promotion Working Group – $9,900 was approved by the Board to address one of the most frequently reported challenges faced by Route 66 travelers, i.e. navigating the Route. This funding is being used to design and develop a Route 66 navigation app in conjunction with the Arts Technology Program at Illinois State University.

Vintage Motel Task Force [VMTF] – Up to $5,000 was allocated to underwrite the work of the VMTF, including costs associated with providing benefits to owner/operators who sign up to become members of “The Route 66 Motel Collection” being created by the VMTF.

International Advisory Group –$1,000 in funding was approved to support implementation of an online survey designed to identify challenges, needs, and wants of international visitors traveling Route 66. The survey was piloted last summer at the European Route 66 Festival.

Executive Committee – The Board approved setting aside $14,500 into a reserve fund. The reserve will be called upon as needed, pending the organization’s ability to raise additional public and/or corporate sponsorship funding.

The Board adopted Policy 2019-01 that deals with establishing partnerships between the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and other not-for-profit organizations. Looking ahead, the Board will also draft a policy for establishing potential partnerships with for-profit entities. Chairman Bill Thomas will work with Board member Dr. David Dunaway, to draft the proposed policy.

Throughout the meeting, the Chairs of the Road Ahead’s several Working Groups, Task Forces, and Advisory Groups, presented updates to the Board. Those reports are presented in the minutes of the Annual Board Meeting and – once posted – can be read online in the Resources section of the Road Ahead’s website (www.route66roadahead.com).

Research 66 representatives Maria Felchlin, Sean Evans, and Audra Bellmore presented options to formalize a working relationship between the Road Ahead and Research 66. The Road Ahead Board endorsed the idea and directed Chairman Thomas to draft a Memorandum of Understanding to bring to the Board for discussion/action. Research 66 is a group of 10 archival institutions along Route 66, that focus on making research materials accessible to the general public and Route 66 stakeholders for the purpose of education, preservation, and management of the historic Route 66 corridor.

The Board also passed two resolutions of appreciation and welcomed three new members. Dora Meroney, who had served as the representative from Texas, and Brad Nickson, representative from Oklahoma, were recognized for their service as they ended their time on the Board. Each had served on the Board since the founding of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership in 2015. Sharon Foster, representative from California, Gary Dagget, representative from Texas, and Rhys Martin, representative from Oklahoma, were introduced and welcomed as new Board members.

Board members enjoyed the opportunity to become better acquainted during their time in Albuquerque, as they dined together and participated in a field trip of vintage motels and neon along Central Avenue [Route 66]. The field trip was led by Ed Boles, an historic preservation architect, who is also a member of the Road Ahead’s Vintage Motel Task Force.

Officers of the Board for 2019 were elected: Bill Thomas, Chairman [Illinois], David Bricker, Vice Chairman [California], Renee Charles, Secretary [Kansas], and Bill Kelly, Treasurer [Illinois]. Officer terms are for one year.

When completed, minutes of the 2019 Annual Board Meeting, a copy of the Treasurer’s Report, and the approved 2019 Budget will be posted on the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s website, accessible at: www.route66roadahead.com.

Members of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership Board of Directors in attendance at the Annual Meeting included:

• David Bricker – Chair of the Preservation Working Group
• Melissa Beasley – New Mexico Route 66 Association
• Renee Charles – Kansas Historic Route 66 Association/ Route 66 Association of Kansas
• Gary Dagget – Texas Old Route 66 Association
• Sharlene Fouser – Arizona Route. 66 Scenic Byway Program
• Bill Kelly – Chair of the Promotion Working Group
• Ruth Keenoy [sitting in for Tommy Pike] – Route 66 Association of Missouri
• Steve Mandrgoc – Interim Chair of the Research & Education Working Group
• Rhys Martin – Oklahoma Route 66 Association
• Bill Thomas – Chairman of Board, Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership

Also attending and/or presenting at the Annual Board of Directors Meeting were:

• John Conoboy – Chairman of the National Historic Trails Task Force
• Aaron Mahr – National Park Service
• John Cannella – National Park Service
• Kaisa Barthuli – National Park Service
• Amy Grant – National Trust for Historic Places
• Debbie Pogue – Vintage Motel Task Force

Board Members/Advisory Group Representatives not able to attend the Annual Meeting include:

• John Miller – Illinois Route 66 Association
• Jeff Fulgenzi – Chairman Economic Development Working Group
• David Dunaway – Chairman Research & Education Work Group
• Emerson R. Vallo – Chairman Tribal Advisory Group

At the conclusion of the Annual Board of Directors Meeting, members of the Board hosted the Second Annual Route 66 Stakeholders Reception and Update Event, to which any and all members of the public interested in Route 66 were invited. Approximately 25 stakeholders attended and engaged Road Ahead Board members in a discussion of their interests and questions. The Board of Directors looks forward to holding the Third Annual Stakeholders Reception and Update meeting following its 2020 Annual Board of Directors Meeting. The location of that meeting will be determined and announced at a later date.

Established in 2015, with the support of the National Park Service and the World Monuments’ Fund, The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s mission is to revitalize and sustain Route 66 as a national and international icon through partnerships focused on promotion, preservation, research and education, and economic development.

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For more information about the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, contact:

Bill Thomas, Chairman Rt. 66 Road Ahead Partnership rt66theroadahead@gmail.com 217-648-5077

Preservation takes many forms…

This is a behind the scenes video of the beginning stages of preserving some photo panels (think scrapbook pages) from the Blue Whale. There are a total of 33 panels.

These panels have been on public display and handled nearly daily for the past several years. They have started to show the wear and tear and the photos have also begun deterioration from age. This preservation project should enable the Blue Whale gift shop to allow future visitors to enjoy the “new” panels for years to come. The original panels will go back to the Davis family.

Thanks to Oklahoma Route 66 Association member, Apertures Photo, for use of the studio and lighting equipment!

On April 28, 2018 the Oklahoma Route 66 Association inducted two new members to the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. The plaques for the hall of fame members are located at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, OK.

~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ~

The Rt. 66 Road Ahead Partnership has released the 2017 1st Quarter Update Report.  2016 was a busy and productive year for the
Road Ahead and 2017 is off to a good start as the organization works to achieve the goals it has set for itself. The full version of the
Update Report can be found on the Road Ahead’s website at: https://sites.google.com/site/66roadahead/.
Several highlights from the report regarding the outcomes the Road Ahead is working to Achieve include:

Increased Collaboration
• The Road Ahead’s Board of Directors held its first meeting February 16-17, 2017. Representatives were present from each of
the states through which Rt. 66 runs.
• Dora Meroney, president of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas, was appointed Chair of the Road Ahead’s State Association
Advocacy Working Group
• Dries Bessels, The Netherlands, agreed to become Chairman of the Road Ahead’s International Advisory Group
• The Road Ahead’s Tribal Advisory Group held its 1st teleconference meeting and began work to identify goals

Effective Promotion
• HR66 was introduced in Congress to establish a Rt. 66 100th Anniversary Commission
• The Illinois General Assembly passed – 115 to 0 – a bill to establish an Illinois Rt. 66 100th Anniversary Commission
• A new Road Ahead Facebook pages was launched
• A new Road Ahead website was completed and will be launched in April after final proofing is completed

Purposeful Preservation
• A “Quick Reference Guide” designed to provide Rt. 66 stakeholders with historic preservation basic information, including
available resources, has been uploaded to the Rt. 66 Road Ahead website.

Increased Economic Vitality
• Pontiac, Illinois was chosen as an initial case study to use in the creation of a local economic development toolkit

Quality Research & Education
• Work is ongoing to construct two “toolkits” on education or research on Route 66

National Historic Trail Task Force
• HR801 was introduced in Congress to designate Rt. 66 a National Historic Trail – It has 11 co-sponsors
• The Task Force continues its work to recruit additional co-sponsors

Financial Sustainment Task Force
• To provide potential corporate sponsors with concrete examples of branding/marketing opportunities, the Task Force has
initiated discussions/planning with the Academy for Digital Entertainment at Breda University in The Netherlands to develop an
augmented reality-based gaming/marketing app. It has also initiated discussions/planning with the Arts Technology Program at
Illinois State University to develop an augmented reality-based directional/gaming app.

Questions or requests for additional information may be forwarded to:
Bill Thomas, Chairman, The Rt. 66 Road Ahead Partnership
theroadahead@gmail.com