Reviews for Mother Road literature and establishments - old faithfuls, new ventures and lesser known restaurants, hotels and tourist sites included.

The Race to the Rocker is back. And the accolades are pouring in.

“You have one of the best-organized events in all of the St. Louis area. The food

and drinks at the end are at the level of most marathons and well appreciated,” said participant Ed Hiss.

Australian John Riley noted:  “I am working in St. Louis for a few months - and I am from Melbourne Australia - and I love the quirky Big Things. Saw your race and had to sign up.”

Route 66’s Race to the Rocker in the Mural City, population 3,200, is growing into a well-attended event, despite less than ideal weather in past years.

“About 3 minutes after the race started (last year), there was lightning and thunder. Then it rained and sleeted and after the race was over, we had about two inches of snow,” race director’s assistant Rachelle Austin said, adding, “Not sure we should print this, but it was cool - we still had 550 people show up and walk/run in every kind of weather imaginable.” The feedback?

“I am still on such a big ‘high’ from this morning. What a GREAT race! I am happy with my run, and time, etc...but I was especially happy with the peripheral experience,” participant Laura Wulf beamed.

In a town that’s hosted Harry Truman, Amelia Earhart and Bette Davis, the twelve famous murals along the Route 66 corridor, Wagon Wheel Motel and the World’s Largest Rocking Chair (four miles outside of town and featured race destination), the race highlights a community’s successful efforts engaging state and national participants.

With at least twelve states represented last year, Director Brad and assistant Rachelle Austin aim for 1,000 runners this year for a scenic four-mile route starting downtown on 66 and heading to the Guiness-recognized 42-feet-tall chair.

In addition to the historic scenery, the race also features local Backpacks for Kids non-profit, with proceeds supporting a worthy cause of sending students home with back-packs full of food from school each weekend.

“Last year we gave about $5,000 to that program and hope to do that amount or more this year,” Rachelle said, noting, “We are also raising money for three other areas as well.”

In addition to multiple possible prizes, participants each receive Babycakes from the Route 66 fudge shop, located next to the starting line. “(I) hope no one gets lost in there before the race,” Rachelle muses. Several race photographers join the festivities and there’s even discussion of possible mini-massages for finishers.

Whether you remain a committed athlete looking to shake off winter rust on March 31 or just a casual jogger searching for scenery, Cuba’s Race to the Rocker is an event that can’t be missed, rain, shine or lightning.

“It's always incredible to hear the way people feel after they've run the race and we get so many compliments about how it's run,” Rachelle said. From a spaghetti dinner and race expo the night before to the Rocker, the Austin’s hope to see you receive your Babycake at the finish line following a fun and historic weekend.

Mentioned in the award-winning 1988 Rain Man film and featured in 1960’s Rawhide starring Clint Eastwood, Tucumcari is no stranger to many Americans…and the Tucumcari Historical Museum intends to keep it that way.

Few small-town museums maintain the active schedule of the Tucumcari Museum, led by curator Linda Moore. Featuring a rare iron lung and multiple special events, such as hosting a New Mexico Centennial event and Van of Enchantment, the city’s chamber of commerce, other (dinosaur) museum and local community meritoriously collaborate to keep the east New Mexico city of about 6,000 residents effectively on the map.

Founded two years before the incorporation of Quay County, Tucumcari serves as the county set. Native author Gene L. Duke and his latest Route “66”: May They “Rust” in Peace, was recently featured at a museum book signing and in the Road Trips Exhibition – A Brief History of Route 66’s Van of Enchantment arrives in May, with the exciting Wheels on 66 Festival following its heels June 7 – 9. Without question, museum staff maintain a hectic schedule, particularly during busy summer months.

Now for that iron lung, which was used in the local hospital during polio outbreaks in the 1940’s and 1950’s. 

“The younger generation has no idea what this is, how it was used, or how it helped the patient to breathe,” Moore lightheartedly relays.

For those interested in war-time pieces, the Historical Museum’s Fort Bascom exhibit is rather unique. The fort, located nine miles north of Tucumcari on the south side of the Canadian River, operated from 1863 to 1870.

“It was established under the direction of Brigadier General James H. Carleton,” Moore said. “It was built on land leased by the government from the then-owners of an old Spanish land grant, known as the Pablo-Montoya Grant.”

The fort’s purpose? Moore provides useful insight: “The fort was used to stop the Comanchero trade between Santa Fe and Tascosa, and to prevent Commanche and Kiowa Indian invasions.”

Perhaps most interesting to Route 66 enthusiasms is the firehouse building, complete with five murals by local artist Billy Ray Curry, depicting the Route across Quay County.

“We have numerous pictures of businesses that were in use during that time,” Moore said “Such memorabilia of water bags, inner tubes and patch kits, license plates from the '30's, down to a stuffed coyote show what life was like during the early travel (period).”

So the next time you stop by the Blue Swallow Motel or Motel Safari, be sure to check out the infamous iron lung and other great exhibits at the ever-happening Tucumcari Museum.

Not even a broken writing arm slows Richard Talley down these days. Despite fighting the recent debilitation for the past six months, the owner of Motel Safari in Tucumcari, New Mexico, remains steadfastly involved in Route 66 initiatives, the Lodger’s Tax Board, local politics and overseeing day-to-day motel operations with his wife, Gail.

“There’s never a dull moment around here,” Richard exclaims, laughing.

Purchasing the motel in 2007, the Talley’s follow only a few previous owners, including Route 66 icons Ron and Arlene Frey, who owned and operated the property for over 30 years - the bulk of the hotel’s existence following 1959 construction. At one point, the motel returned into bank possession due to an owner’s business ventures leveraged against it, but an investor purchased it from the bank, “flipped” it and promptly sold to the Talley’s. The second owners, however, still live in town on a small “ranchette” overlooking Tucumcari Mountain.

“Mr. Frey still cruises up and down Route 66, with his dog beside him, and still stops in from time to time, to visit us and our guests,” Richard said.

As a member of the largest motel chain on the Route, the Best Western Motel Safari served as a beacon to weary travelers alongside the famous Blue Swallow Motel. In 1962, the Best Western Motel Safari sign was replaced with “Clyde” the flying camel, likely paying homage to U.S. Camel corps camels that roamed the area, circa 1880.

Previously Denver residents, the Talley’s left a nearly 4,000 square foot house to live on-site at the Safari.

“The only down side is it’s pretty hard to get away from work, but now our so-called work is doing what we love, and we do try to get away every once in a while,” Richard said. Gail’s designer education and background, coupled with Richard’s hospitality experience led to the formation of Smalltown America Inns-Lodges-Motels.

“This was before the recession was in full swing,” Richard said, “and we had plans to operate or franchise anywhere from 30-90 old motels all across the country on great driving adventure roads, from Route 66 to Hwy. 101 up the Pacific Coast.” Later, the plan was scaled back to focus on Route 66, with a goal of one motel in each of the eight represented states.

“We had no idea that just a few months later, the bottom would fall out of the financial markets worldwide and both the banks and government would stop lending to small businesses, no matter the circumstances,” Richard relayed. “So now Smalltown America Inns-Lodges-Motels is in limbo, like so many other small businesses, still waiting for our country’s economy to recover enough, so that banks will freely lend again to the markets, and small businesses can begin growing again.”

Nevertheless, Richard and Gail forge ahead, creating the first Tucumcari Lodger’s Association, serving on the City’s Lodger’s Tax Board, supporting the local Chamber of Commerce and now as members of the new Tucumcari Route 66 Association.

With Posturepedic pillowtop mattresses, HDTVs and free wi-fi, it’s easy to discern that the Talley’s understand how to keep the spirit of Route 66 alive while serving today’s customers’ needs.

“Route 66 is a passion for us,” Richard explains, “and we do just about anything we can to help out, whenever there’s any extra time.” Regardless of available free time and functional limbs, the Talley’s clearly exhibit the best of Route 66 business owners, forging ahead as active members of both local and “Route 66” communities.

Of course, one expects General Manager Barbara Casey to think Tulsa’s Campbell Hotel, Event Center and Spa has “no equal.” But overwhelming on-line review support is hard to ignore. From a honeymooning couple (“[t]his place is a wonderful hidden gem”) to college football fans (“we were treated like royalty”), the hotel’s motto “Where history meets hospitality” seems to fit.

Local company, Group M Investment, purchased former Route 66 1927-built Casa Loma hotel and retail shops in 2008, hoping to transform the space into lofts, following previous successful area projects. Refurbishing the 36-room upstairs hotel to 26 rooms with luxury amenities was no simple task, as the cleaning process presented numerous challenges.

Don Warnick of Route 66 News relayed, “During (a) tour, Casey and (co-owner and contractor David) Meek regaled us with stories about the things they found during the renovation — old newspapers, military dog-tags, unused condoms still in their metal casings.”

A particularly fortuitous occasion occurred when Casey started a chance discussion about the hotel with designers Stacy Turnipseed and Susan Fielstra; thus Designer Showcase 2011 was born, a fundraiser event for Tulsa Foundation for Schools with the Campbell Hotel as host project.

“They were able to compete on a much more even basis than if someone were doing a kitchen and someone a porch,” Casey told Main Street 66. “All the ideas were interesting, and many were used.  We ended up with 26 themed rooms, some created after showcase, all based on Tulsa and Oklahoma history.” 

Opening doors on August 1, 2011, Casey endeavors to feature the Hotel on various travel sites and takes satisfaction in gaining recognition on the Register of Historical Places, both at the federal and state levels.

In addition to event receptions, Christmas and private parties, a full service spa, Spa Maxx, opened as well. It’s safe to say Route 66 in Tulsa has been changed for the better.