You heard it here first! Will Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, New Mexico have a course on neon sign repair and creation in time for the Route 66 centennial?

On today's episode of Coffee With Jim, a conversation between David Brenner of the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico and Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley's America we talked about chasing dreams, the rewards and challenges of vintage motel ownership on Route 66, mid life career changes, and what makes Route 66 unique. And we talked about a future in which neon glows bright along Route 66 in Tucucmari.

And we also talked with some fascinating people that see Route 66 as the road of dreams that leads to Tucumcari, land of opportunity.

If today's program had a theme it would be inspiration. Inspiration to chase dreams. Inspiration to build a sense of community and community purpose. Inspiration to change careers. And inspiration to embrace life.

Horneytown, North Carolina. Yes, it's a real place. On this episode of Coffee With Jim the conversation with Professor Nolan Stolz about road trips, Route 66, U.S. 6, Amboy, California, time capsule villages, and the joy of adventures on the open road definitely had some interesting detours. That includes delving into a bit of juvenile humor.

Stolz is well known in the Route 66 community for interesting adventures, and for uncovering the sotries of forgotten places. These road trip inspiring journeys are shared on his YouTube channel named for Route 66 Suite, a musical composition he is developing to commemorate the storied old highway. Videos and stories also shared with supporters of his projects on Patreon.

Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for adventures in the United Staes or Canada. It is also sponsored by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, the mid century gem that is the Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas. and Uranus Fudge Company & General Store. The list of additional sponsors of Jim Hinckley's America projects and programs include Gilligan's Route 66 Tours and Route 66 Navigation.

On today's program it's a free range, smile inducing, road trip inspiring discussion with Chris Tuttle about the changing face of broadcasting, road trips, the allure of Route 66, podcasting, and how to engage a younger generation. Chris is the developer of the acclaimed Arizona Podcast, and the fascinating Mother Road Minute.

After a 30 year career in southern California broadcasting Chris and his wife Mary relocated to Arizona. They became enamored with the state as well as Route 66, and that was the inspiration for his road trip inspiring podcast and programs.

Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for an adventure in the United States of Canada. It is also sponsored by the iconc Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and the living time capsules that are the Roadrunenr Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico and the Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas. Also counted among the sponsors of Jim Hinckley's America is the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, and Route 66 Navigation.

Arizona 9 Motor Hotel, the vintage motel along Route 66 in Williams, Arizona with the unusual name, has quite a story. The first chapter was written in the late 1920s. And now Antonio and Paulina Rico are writing a new chapter with preservation, renovation, hospitality, and a passion for Route 66.

Inspiring road trips by telling people where to go. Sharing America's story. It's what we do at Jim Hinckley's America. And on today's episode of Coffee With Jim we do both during a lively conversation about the motels fascinating history, Route 66, delicious pie, chasing the dream, road trips, and historic property preservation.

Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for an adventure in the United States or Canada. It is also sponsored by Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas, and Route 66 Navigation.

Driving an automobile from New York City to Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1910 was not an easy task. But undoubtedly it was even more challenging if you were ten and six years of age, and were traveling alone!

But this was only one of the exploits that made the Abernathy brothers celebrities in the early 20th century. And it was just one story in a program about epic road trips - yours, mine, and theirs.

Sharing America's story and adventures. Inspiring America's story. It's what we do at Jim Hinckley's America.

Our sponsors all have the Jim Hinckley's America seal of approval. So, you are assured a first rate Route 66 tour, a restful nights sleep, or a hearty meal with our sponsors.

Built in 1929, Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield, Missouri is a true time capsule. As a bonus it has been lovingly restored with the tasteful addition of modern amenities and it is located on Route 66. On today's fast paced and inspirational program we talk with Phyliis Ferguson who gave this unique property a new lease on life.

It's another shared adventure from Jim Hinckley's America. And it's another free range conversation about Route 66 history, historic preservation, events, road trips, adventure, changing times, and the Route 66 centennial.

Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucucmari, New Mexico. It is also sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialists, the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, and the Cactus Inn Motel in Mclean, Texas.

Destination Tulsa! This episode was a great road trip inspiring visit with Wade Bray, developer of the AAA Route 66 Road Fest scheduled for June 22 and 23 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Imagine being able to experience the history, the magic, the food, the culture, the colorful characters, and the magic of the Route 66 experience in one air conditioned location!

In our free range conversation we also discussed the dynamic transformation of the Route 66 corridor in Tulsa, plans for the upcoming Route 66 centennial, Wade's first trip west on this storied highway, the international nature of the Route 66 community, and what might be in store for this American icons second century.

Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists, and the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. It is also sponsored by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, Route 66 Navigation, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas.

Oklahoma's ghost towns, vanishing towns, and towns persisting against the odds was the topic of conversation on today's episode of Coffee With Jim. In his new book, Here Today, Jeffrey Schmidt tells the story of 100 faded and nearly forgotten ghost towns, and the people that once called them home. Needless to say, this makes for some very interesting reading. And it provided ample fodder for a fascinating program.

Highlights of our conversation include:

• A town built on the slippery economic slope of a vaseline well
• The story of forgotten all black communities in Oklahoma
• A ghost town with a Route 66 connection
• Time capsule cafes

Sharing America's story, and inspiring road trips by telling people where to go. It's what we do at Jim Hinckley's America. And that is what Jeffrey Schmidt did with this fascinating book.

Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialist. It is also sponsored by the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, the delightful Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico, AAA Route 66 Road Fest, Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas, Route 66 Navigation, and Gilligan's Route 66 Tours.