Flagstaff has much to celebrate this year. The nation’s birthday cake has 250 candles. It’s been 150 years since pioneers on July 4 raised the stars and stripes here on a stripped pine tree for the American centennial of 1876. Plus, don’t forget Winona and the Route 66 Centennial. The year-long Centennial will be celebrated across Arizona and seven other states the Mother Road bisected on the 2,448-mile road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles. These celebrations include car rallies, street … [Read more...] about Flagstaff Gears up to Celebrate One Hundred Years of Route 66
route 66
The Historic Rescue That Redefined Downtown Flagstaff
A shared passion for the past and vision for the future inspired Henry and Sam Taylor to restore the Weatherford Hotel When the doors of the Weatherford Hotel opened Jan. 1, 1900, The Coconino Sun called the grand Victorian “elegant in every way.” More than a century later, it holds the distinction of being Arizona’s longest-operating hotel and one of Flagstaff’s most beloved landmarks. That legacy was nearly lost in the mid-1970s, when the building was slated for demolition. What saved it was … [Read more...] about The Historic Rescue That Redefined Downtown Flagstaff
Why Strong State and Federal Partnerships Matter
Funding for city projects is often complex. The City of Flagstaff depends on state and federal grants in addition to local dollars to complete infrastructure projects, highlighting the importance of strong relationships with our state and federal delegations. As I write this, I’m in the Phoenix airport waiting on what was originally a five-hour layover and what is now a nine-hour layover due to winter storms. I’m on my way to Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting, … [Read more...] about Why Strong State and Federal Partnerships Matter
The Museum Club’s Next Chapter is Yet Unsung
The Museum Club closed its doors indefinitely on Halloween, leaving the 90-year-old Route 66 roadhouse dark and silent after a long history of entertaining Flagstaff with country music, dancing and drinking. Is this the year the music died? The establishment’s latest operator bowed out of the business after four and a half years, but not before scheduling an auction to sell all the furnishings and memorabilia within the log-cabin walls of the “Zoo Club,” as it came to be called. The Nov. 8 … [Read more...] about The Museum Club’s Next Chapter is Yet Unsung
A Must-Stop on Route 66: Gateway Sandwich Co. Draws Hungry Travelers to Williams
Launching their business with the goal of creating the most delicious and satisfying sandwiches, Gateway Sandwich Co. did even better by gulping up a spot on Yelp’s list of the Top 100 sandwich shops in the nation. The Williams family-run business opened its doors in 2020 with the simple idea of making the best fresh sandwiches using the finest locally sourced produce, with quality ingredients being key. “We had no idea of our rating until a customer came in and told us,” said Greg … [Read more...] about A Must-Stop on Route 66: Gateway Sandwich Co. Draws Hungry Travelers to Williams
Americana Reimagined as ‘Retro-Futuristic Oasis’
Americana Motor Hotel was Flagstaff’s swankiest midcentury inn when it opened in 1962, but its glory years on Route 66 faded over the decades, eclipsed by newer properties and marooned far from Interstate 40. Elvis slept here. Robert F. Kennedy campaigned at the Americana in 1968. A year later, Peter Fonda stayed in the roadside haven with the cast and crew of “Easy Rider.” B.B. King played the blues in the hotel lounge. Now, Dallas-based Practice Hospitality is restoring the Americana … [Read more...] about Americana Reimagined as ‘Retro-Futuristic Oasis’
Cycling Miles to Capture Milestones
It was a winter of discontent, as the COVID pandemic began to peak in January, followed by the Polar Vortex storm that hovered over much of America in February, shutting down electrical grids from Texas to much of the Midwest. At this historic moment, journalist and author Michael Sean Comerford, 62, had a dream: to record this unprecedented year as it unfolded. “Bicycling along Route 66 is slow. Everywhere I stop, I interview people about COVID. By March, we were going to cross the … [Read more...] about Cycling Miles to Capture Milestones
