With the Route 66 Centennial barreling down on us, there’s just too much news, information, and events to cram into the quarterly newsletters. The Association has decided to temporarily send out supplemental newsletters each and every month to keep all Mother Road travelers informed.
I’m Roger Naylor, an Arizona author and travel writer, who pens these bulletins and I’ll crank them out as fast as I can. Please note that you can find all Centennial information and events on the website.
Now here’s the latest on what’s happening.
With much of 66 broken into pieces in the eastern half of the state, the isolated outposts are more important than ever. We need them to keep the essence of Route 66 strong. Although it can be tough to coax interstate travelers into unexpected stops, Meteor City, about 20 miles west of Winslow, is back and gives travelers plenty of reasons to aim for the off-ramp. Housed in a distinctive geodesic dome, the old trading post has been reimagined as a vintage roadside attraction, brimming with games, gifts, and photo ops. The high-ceilinged dome contains a quirky mix of activities. Ride a dinosaur, enter a hurricane simulator, mine for gemstones, test your skill at a shooting range, pose with an alien, drive though a lane of dinosaurs, and plenty more.
Meteor City reopened at the end of May and is being run by Kyler and Wilder Gardener. They’ve got a lot of great plans going forward so be sure to stop next time you’re passing by. And fyi, this is a great reminder to watch the underrated 1984 sci-fi film, Starman with Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen, and directed by John Carpenter. A crucial scene in the movie takes place at Meteor City with the big finale occurring at the nearby crater.
Holbrook has always served as the gateway to Petrified Forest. Now it has an even stronger presence since the Bend on 66, a new educational and retail center opened in July. It’s not a large building but is packed with goodies, and staffed by knowledgeable rangers and volunteers. The Bend on 66 serves as an outlet of Petrified Forest National Park. It’s a great place to ask questions, purchase books and collectibles, and plan your day in the national park. There’s plenty of Route 66 info as well.
This is a nice addition to Holbrook and comes at a most opportune time. The July 11 grand opening came just days after it was announced that the oldest-known pterosaur in North America had been discovered at Petrified Forest. The new species of the sea gull-sized winged reptile dated back to the late Triassic Period some 209 million years ago. If you’ve ever wondered about all the dinosaur statues found along this section of the Mother Road, it all goes back to the rich discoveries from the fossil beds at Petrified Forest National Park. The Bend on 66 is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 222 Navajo Boulevard. 928-524-1286.
Since I’m working on a new Route 66 Arizona travel and dining guide, I’ve been all across the northern half of the state this spring and summer. I’m eating more than I should and discovering so many great restaurants that are new or flying a bit under the radar. Here are just a few places travelers need to check out.
Cajian, Winslow – Chef Chance Hebert started out slinging grub from a tent at special events before opening this small brick-and-mortar place near the famous Corner. Winslow residents and Mother Road travelers couldn’t be happier. This is where Cajun spice meets Asian rice, a fusion of cuisines that opens up new worlds of possibilities. They’re known for their ramen creations using egg noodles, poke bowls, and heaping mounds of fried rice, vibrant with flavor. The char siu pork fried rice is a perennial favorite using the red seasoned pork that marinates for 48 hours and is then basted until it’s ready to melt in your mouth.
Kusina de Maynila, Kingman – This humble Filipino restaurant opened for carryout-only in 2022 and developed a big following among the locals sampling the lumpia, dumplings, curries, and lineup of specialty drinks. After relentless demand they opened added a cozy indoor dining area last year. A few booths line one wall that’s splashed with a colorful mural and a few tables. Order at the counter, then sit back and enjoy the sounds coming from a busy kitchen. The hot sizzle of the wok, the clatter of pans, add a righteous soundtrack to ache meal. The pancit is a delight, a medley of stir-fried rice noodles, vegetables, and chicken. Each bite is a soft complex mouthful.
Tseebii Sisters Coffee Company, Lupton – Occupying the old Stateline General Store building in Lupton, this small café opened earlier this year. Right now, they have a limited menu but you can almost always grab a rack of lamb ribs cooked on a rotisserie, meaty and moist. Drinks, pastries, soft serve ice cream and specialty java are also available.
Scoops on 66, Kingman – There are so many reasons to love Scoops on 66. Start with its setting. This women-owned business saved the historic Little Stone Building. Built before 1911, it served as a small café until the 1970s but had been abandoned for decades. Now it breathes again. The premium small-batch ice cream comes in a dozen flavors and is made using organic milk, organic eggs, and organic sugar. Order at the walk-up window, and then you can sit inside a vintage Airstream outfitted with a couple of small tables.
In Holbrook, you can sleep in a wigwam and now in Kingman you can bed down in a silver torpedo. Tin Can Alley anchors a whole complex of nostalgia that includes the previously mentioned Scoops on Route 66, as well as Kingman Rental Bikes housed in an old gas station, and Mudd on 66 coffee shop. But the most eye-catching of all is the shiny splendor of Tin Can Alley.
Nestled in a cozy graveled park downtown, four restored and stylish Airstreams offer unique lodging. While each unit retains its retro charm, they feature plenty of modern upgrades. These are the kind of nights you’ll always remember. The common area includes lounge chairs, shady sofas, a gas fireplace, and cornhole. And it’s all just footsteps away from the Powerhouse, downtown Kingman, and Mr. D’z. The revival of Kingman is going strong! Bookings at Tin Cany Alley are managed through Airbnb.
It’s easy to cast a gaze skyward in Flagstaff. This is where Pluto was discovered, where NASA trained astronauts for moon landings, and is also the first International Dark Sky City. Yet another world, a mysterious world, lurks beneath your feet. Take the new Flagstaff Underground tour to find out for yourself. Discover the wild west history secreted away in Flag, above and below ground on these informative and entertaining 90-minute tours. Scott Mclaughlin shares his passion for the town’s rowdy past as he leads guests into old speakeasies, saloons, and even the morgue. Tours highlight the system of underground tunnels beneath the downtown streets as you enter coffeehouses and hat shops, then creep down hidden stairways to find an unexpected world in cellars and basements. Flagstaff Underground tours are for ages 16 and up.
On the first weekend in August, Flagstaff becomes the hottest town in Arizona during this Route 66 chili cook-off. It’s two flavorful days of bean slinging in Thorpe Park on August 2-3. Saturday features the First Responder Chili Challenge, and come Sunday it’s the showdown for Best Restaurant Chili in Flagstaff. The event draws serious competitors. If you think car enthusiasts are the only ones that pay so much attention to details, show up here and start comparing chili recipes. Free admission. Tasting kits are $10. The fun goes from 10:30am to 3:30pm on Saturday, and 9:30am to 2:30pm on Sunday. 191 N. Thorpe Rd.
On Saturday August 16, the shady streets near downtown Flagstaff are lined with 200 classic vehicles for this Route 66 car show. It’s another turn-back-the-clock moment when all that stylish metal and those bright colors are parked along tree-lined lanes adjacent to City Hall and Wheeler Park. The Mother Road Classic highlights the beauty of the community and the giving nature of car enthusiasts. Sponsored by the Route 66 Car Club, the event raises money for local charities. In 2024, they distributed more than $8,000 to organizations that directly benefit Flagstaff residents.
The Americana Motor Hotel, at 2650 E. Route 66, is the official lodging place for the show. They’re having a poolside party on Friday evening and everyone is welcome to attend. So we’re talking a fiesta of photo ops with all those vintage vehicles parked at the beautifully restored retro motor court. The Mother Road Classic car show takes place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 📷:Discover Flagstaff
Consider this your reminder that the Route 66 Centennial officially kicks off with this swinging bash on November 15, 2025 in Kingman.
That’s when the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona becomes a time capsule for a 1920s-style Night at the Route 66 Museum. The fundraising event in the Powerhouse features live jazz music, casino-style games in a speakeasy atmosphere, food, magic, and guided tours of the Route 66 Museum’s new exhibits. Guests are encouraged to dress in appropriate attire to get in the swing of things.
Night at the Museum will mark the official kickoff to the year-long celebration of Route 66’s 100th anniversary. It also coincides with the unveiling of the newly completed Route 66 Museum Centennial Renovation Project, with vibrant new exhibits and unbridled passion for the Mother Road. Tickets for the event cost $100 and proceeds benefit the Route 66 Museum so they can continue their work with preservation projects and educational outreach. Purchase your tickets today!
If you have items of interest you’d like to share in upcoming newsletters, you can email them to me, Roger Naylor, at [email protected], or to Nikki Terlesky, Director of Operations at Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona at [email protected].
Thanks for being part of the Route 66 family. Happy motoring!