Remembering Connie Echols

The Route 66 Podcast pays a special tribute to Connie Echols, who passed away on May 2, 2026, at the age of 76 years old. The Wagon Wheel Motel is the longest, continuously operated motel along Route 66.

The Route 66 Podcast pays a special tribute to Connie Echols, who passed away on May 2, 2026, at the age of 76 years old.

This episode was originally released in 2018 as Connie was nearing her 10th anniversary of owning and operating The Wagon Wheel Motel.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Connie about:

Website: The Wagon Wheel Motel

Website: Wagon Wheel Facebook Page

Connie Echols, owner Wagon Wheel Motel

Show highlights:

• Connie's other profession before purchasing The Wagon Wheel Motel
• Early history of The Wagon Wheel Motel
• Most popular items sold at The Wagon Wheel Gift Shop
• Why the original motel garages were removed from adjoining rooms
• The original Wagon Wheel Neon sign and why there's only one sign facing east, and no sign facing travelers as they travel west
• Keeping in touch with other historic Route 66 Motels
• Latest projects at The Wagon Wheel that Connie is working on
• Local area attractions for Cuba, MO
• Annual events in the area
• Famous guests who stayed at The Wagon Wheel Motel

The Cadillac Ranch is one of the most popular stops along Route 66, and on this very special episode, host Anthony Arno speaks with the only surviving who created the art installation. At 81 years old, Chip not only talks about establishing Ant Farm, the creative group behind the Cadillac Ranch, but two other "unimaginable" projects that honor the automobile.

Join Anthony as he talks with Chip about

• Pivoting away from a traditional career as an architect
• How Ant Farm was established and the origin behind the name
• Finding and burying 10 classic Cadillacs in Texas
• The intention was never to allow visitors defact the cars with grafitti
• Working with Amarillo businessman Stanly Marsh, who financed the project
• Bruch Springsteen sings about The Cadillac Ranch
• Quietly relocating the ranch down the road 23 years later
• Modifications to cars that were burried at the Cadillac Ranch
• Preserving the Cadillac Ranch
• Special anniversary celebrations
• The secret behind the Cadillac Ranch

MEDIA BURN

• Creating a "spectacle" was the goal
• Evil Knieval meets a lunar launch with a JFK impersonator
• Secretly renting the parking lot of the Cow Palace
• Setting 100 TV's on fire- you only get one chance

GM TRAINING VIDEO

• • 1950'S GM training video for sales force
  • Widely accepted for something so basic from decades earlier
  • Public performance at Whitney Museum
  • Chip played the rold of customer
• Age of Youtube culture
• What would be done differently?
• What happened to Ant Farm movement?
• Ant Farm fire
• Chip's public Persona and recognition today
• EALI & Columbia University Ant Farm Archives

It's our 66th episode, and that's a major milestone in the world of podcasting! In fact, less than 7% of all podcasts ever launched ever make it to thier 66th episode.

Join Route 66 host Anthony Arno as he is joined by his wife sharing his thoughts on the podcast along with some other things that listeners never knew about.