Down Da 66-- Airstream Ranch-- Andy Payne Ran Here--Glendora, Ca Tourist Camps

Just some news about the dear old Mother Road. The first two items were taken from the Route 66 News website/blog.

1. Airstream Ranch-- Orlando, Fl.-- Frank Bates has created an Airstream Ranch near this city. Eight vintage Airstreams are buried straight up in the ground, including one from 1957 and a 1963 mini-Airstream known as Bambi. The other six are scrounged from junkyards.

There is an RV from each decade Airstream has been in business as the company has just celebrated its 75th year. The Bambi represents the half decade.

Of course, this idea of burying items in the ground began with Cadillac Ranch, west of Amarillo, Tx, right there on Route 66.

2. Andy Payne ran Through Lincoln, Illinois. The Lincoln Courier recently had an article about the role Lincoln played in 1928's Bunion Derby which ran the length of the then two year old Route 66 before continuing on to NYC. The winner got the princely sum of $25,000.

As in other towns, the arrival of the runners, down to just 71 from the initial 2250 who started, was a really big deal. A large tent was set up and 25 cent admission for adults (10 cents for children) to view the runners as they crossed the finish line for the 31 mile segment from Springfield.

One of the runners was Harry Abramowitz who served as the grand marshal for the 1990 Route 66 Association of Illinois' annual motor tour.

3. I'm glad to hear the long vacant Witmor Farms Restaurant by Buckhorn, Missouri is to be reopened and redeveloped. The restaurant is slated to remain.

4. The Glendora, Ca. History Blogspot had an entry on 1920s era tourist camps in the town. They had four photos of the local auto camp and a history of it. There were also several other entries of interest to 66ers for the Small Town, Big History.

http://glendorahistory.blogspot.com

Keep on Down That Two Lane Highway. --RoadDog