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| Flagstaff is sitting on a gold mine and many residents don’t even realize it! Among the many Route 66 cities and towns from Chicago to Los Angeles Flagstaff is unique. Many Route 66 towns faced oblivion once the Interstate replaced Route 66 and bypassed them. They had to scramble to encourage travelers to leave the Interstate and take the old road through town. Many failed and are Route 66 ghosts today. Route 66 towns such as Seligman, Arizona, through the leadership of people like Angel Delgadillo, had to recreate and promote an interest in Route 66 to survive. Their successes have brought new life to this legendary highway. We are seeing many towns revive their Route 66 heritage and capitalize on their remaining Route 66 structures and businesses. Flagstaff is unique because it truly is a resort destination town apart from Route 66. Tourists travel year round to visit the Grand Canyon, the Indian Reservations, the Snow Bowl ski area, and to just get out of the summer heat and enjoy the cool pines. |  Jim Conkle of the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation offers insight to Flagstaff's Route 66 revival. |
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| Flagstaff has a tourist base already! The Route 66 heritage in Flagstaff remains intact, yet few businesses capitalize on this tremendous tourism opportunity. Many visitors to Flagstaff are unaware of this wonderful attraction we call the Mother Road. Now it is time to get the word out!Friday October 29th 2004 Jim Conkle, Guy Randall and Dennis Karlstad traveled to Flagstaff to meet with the Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance, the Flagstaff Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Corvette ‘N America club, and Jim Nelson of Mother Company for a strategic planning meeting for creating and implementing an integrated tourism initiative based around Flagstaff’s Route 66 heritage. | |||
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Jim Conkle has been involved with the San Bernardino Route 66 Rendezvous since the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation was formed. The San Bernardino Rendezvous has become a tremendous success attracting 2,500 custom and classic cars and almost 400,000 visitors to Route 66 in this Inland Empire City. The Rendezvous has generated more than 38 million tourist dollars in revenue for the businesses of San Bernardino and the surrounding area. It is the most successful car and roadie event in the world. The Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance asked Jim Conkle to come to Flagstaff and discuss the possibility of having an event in Flagstaff the week before the famous San Bernardino Rendezvous. | ||
| This event in Flagstaff would augment the San Bernardino Rendezvous and provide Route 66 travelers with more Route 66 destinations and events leading up to the Rendezvous in San Bernardino. The Flagstaff Route 66 event would be held next year in 2005 and would be just the start of Flagstaff’s Route 66 tourist development. | |||
| Jim Nelson presented a proposal to capitalize on Flagstaff’s Route 66 heritage. The tourists already come through Flagstaff on Route 66. If the city could make the visitors aware of this unique attraction by utilizing the existing vintage Route 66 structures, more tourist dollars would stay in Flagstaff. Plans for a Route 66 park and visitors center were discussed. Many of the classic motor courts, gas stations, and neon signs that still exist in Flagstaff could be refurbished and generate even more income. Flagstaff could quite easily become a Route 66 visitor Mecca. Keeping these Route 66 businesses open is indeed a form of historic preservation too. Will the Flagstaff city fathers accept this proposal and promote their Route 66 heritage? Time will tell. |  Jim Nelson highlights Flagstaff's Route 66 Assets |
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| Jim Conkle and the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation support efforts to preserve and promote the entire length of Route 66, not only in California but also all the eight Route 66 states. Jim Conkle believes what is good for Route 66 in Arizona is good for Route 66 in California. When the Mother Road wins – anywhere – we all win! | |||
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