Roadside Attraction replacement signs installed at the Blue Whale
In the early 2000s, Hampton Inn’s Save a Landmark program launched a 66-day caravan along the Mother Road to highlight various sites along the famous highway. Led by preservationist and historian Jim Conkle and other advocates like Guy Randall, the tour was responsible for various cleanup projects and the installation of “Roadside Attraction” signs. Volunteers refurbished sites to varying degrees with sponsorship and support from AAA, TA Travel of America, Route 66 Associations, and other organizations.
These signs, now 20 years old or more, have worn and weathered over the years. Some have even gone missing entirely. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is proud to announce a project to help replace these faded and missing signs across Oklahoma! Over a dozen locations were originally signed by Hampton Inn in the state and the Association is in the process of identifying each location, its current status, and any updates to the text that may be needed to represent the last two decades.
The first replacement signs are now installed at the Blue Whale of Catoosa:
Once this project is completed, the Association plans to open up the ability for OTHER attractions to purchase similar signage to tell their story! Stay tuned to learn more as we work through eligibility and application requirements. We are very excited to help restore part of our Route 66 history, which itself was a celebration of keeping our history alive for the next generation.
Many thanks to the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona for their help on the sign templates and to Peak Sign and Design of Catoosa for the fabrication work!
