Route 66 2017

  • P9305519 Route 66 near Amboy, CA in the Mojave Desert.
  • P9174241 The beginning of our adventure on Route 66 at West Adams St, across from the Chicago Institute of Art. We drove as much of the old Route 66 as we could find, and stayed in classic motor courts where ever possible.
  • P9174265 Remember the "Cheezborger" skit on SNL? The Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago was the inspriation. It's located in a spooky area in "underground" Chicago.
  • P9174258 Janet in the Billy Goat Tavering eating a Cheezborger with a Schlitz beer.
  • P9170488 "Rich & Creamy" in Joliet, IL. Note Jake and Elwood dancing on the roof. Restored to 50's splendor.
  • P9170495-Edit cropped The famous "Gemini Giant" is one of the first "required" stops on Route 66. These "giants" were originally made to advertise a chain of muffler shops. This on was repurposed. Wilmington, IL
  • P9174279 Wilmington, IL
  • P9174288 Polka Dot Drive Inn, Braidwood, IL Originally a school bus painted in polka dots in 1926.
  • P9170538 Weeds taking over old 66 between Dwight and Pontiac, IL. The "new" 66 is to the right. I55 to the left. We could not drive any of this old section because of barriers set up every 200 yards or so.
  • P9174306 Gas station, Odell, IL.
  • P9184335 Pontiac, IL, obviously.
  • P9184348 Old 66 dedicated in 1926 in Lexington, IL. Burma Shave sign, not visible. "Big Mistake, Many Make, Rely on Horn, Instead of Brake. Burma Shave."
  • P9184373 Same figure as the Gemini Giant, but called "Tall Paul," because this one started "life" as Paul Bunyan, but the ax was swapped out for a hot dog. Atlanta, IL.
  • P9184377 Self Explanitory.
  • P9184380 Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's largest covered wagon (called the Railsplitter) with an outsized Abe Lincoln. Lincoln, IL.
  • P9180655 Original sign for world famous Pig Hip restaurant. Only the sign remains. Restaurant opened in 1937, closed in 1991. Opened as a museum until 2007, when the building burned to the ground. In Broadwell, IL.
  • P9184388 Beautiful 1.4 mile section of Old 66 is hand-lain brick road over concrete. Built in 1931, near Auburn, IL. On the National Register of Historic Places.
  • P9190680 13-star "Betsy Ross" flag is a photo favorite on Route 66. Nilwood, IL.
  • P9194390 Second night's lodging in Carlinville, IL. Basic, but comfortable. Real Route 66 nostalgia.
  • P9194420 Chain of Rocks Bridge crosses over the Missippi River at St. Louis. This view looks toward Missouri. Note the 30 degree bend, constructed to facilitate barge traffic on the river. Now open to hikers and cyclists only. Started in 1927, closed in 1968 when I270 opened just north of the CORB.
  • P9190733 Built in 1945, the Gardenway Motel was a famous and welcomed sight on old 66. Closed abruptly in 2014. In Villa Ridge, MO.
  • P9194438 Great lunch in Cuba, MO. Phil's dad was born in Cuba. Don't miss the BBQ when in Cuba.
  • P9190766 Service station at the Wagon Wheel Motel and cafe, Cuba, MO.
  • P9194444 Wagon Wheel Motel, Cafe and service station in Cuba, MO. The oldest continually operating motel on Route 66. Completely restored. Opened in 1935.
  • P9194460 The Red Rocker in Fanning, MO. Note the size relative to Janet.
  • P9204495 "Best sleep on the Mother Road." This iconic motel has been a must-stay for over 72 years. Our schedule precluded our staying there. In Lebanon, MO.
  • P9204509 One of the first motels Route 66 travelers encountered entering Springfiled, MO. The sign was added in the 1950s (the motel itself began operating in the late 1940s).
  • P9204513 Note the "Get your CUTS on Route 66."
  • P9204525 Established 1930. Three miles west of Halltown, MO. The station was a re-creation of a circa-1930 gas station owned by Fred and Gay Mason that stood in the tiny hamlet of Paris Springs, Missouri, until it burned down in 1955. During his retirement, Gary Turner rebuilt the station, and it quickly became a must-stop for Route 66 travelers because of his hospitality and quirky, homespun humor. Gary passed in 2015.
  • P9210879 There are only 12 miles of Route 66 in Kansas in the southeast corner. Taken in Galena, KS.
  • P9214551 Also Galena, KS. Corny? You bet!
  • P9214572 Commerce, OK, built in 1929 and 1930. The white sign on the chimney reads, "Allen's Fillin' Station - We Fix Flyin' Saucers." Gas wars were common in the 50's. Ethyl was 18.9 cents per gallon. Regular, 17 cents.
  • P9214592 This is the "Ribbon Road" running from Miami, OK to Afton, OK (about 12 miles). It is unique in that the "Ribbon Road is only 9 feet wide. It was built in 1920 and 1921, and was incorporated into Route 66 in 1926.
  • P9210915 Afton, OK. What does "billsspaid" mean? Note the spelling.
  • P9214596 Blue Whale near Catoosa, OK. A famous sight along Route 66. Swimming lakes like this were common in the 50s.
  • P9210930 Truss bridges over Bird Creek, Catoosa, OK. Note that here, Route 66 is four-lane divided!
  • P9210942 Bridge #18 across Rock Creek at Sapulpa, OK. Built in 1924, and became part of Route 66 in 1926. On the National Register. Note the brick surface.
  • P9214610 Skyliner Motel in Stroud, OK. Decent, comfortable room, but small. Great sign!
  • P9224617 Rock Cafe, Stroud OK. "From Chicago to LA, don't miss the Rock Cafe!" On Route 66 for 75 years. The owner, Dawn Welch, inspired the character Sally Carrera, the Porche in the Disney/Pixar movie "Cars." Made of local "Giraffe-style" sandstone, purchased for $5, according to the story.
  • P9224644 Round Barn in Arcadia, OK. Built in 1898. Now a museum and event facility.
  • P9221023 Old US 66 Canadian River Bridge. Celebrated bridge of the Mother Road. Thirty-eight 100-foot pony trusses. 3944 feet long. Completed July 1, 1933.
  • P9224661 Near Hydro, OK. It is one of only two upper-story, out-thrust porch style stations left on Oklahoma's Route 66. Opened 1927. Owned and run by Luciille Hamons until her passing in 2000.
  • P9234677 Sign for the West Winds Motel, a classic motel along Route 66 in Erick, OK. Opened in 1948.
  • P9234696 Texola, OK, now a ghost town, on the Tx - OK border. Intersting shop and informative lady owner. Dates to 1930, and is the oldest working restaurant on Route 66. The "new" Texola has moved about 1/2 mile to the north on I40, leaving the "old" Texola a ghost town. We bought drinks and T shirts.
  • P9234704 The U Drop Inn, built in 1936, in Shamrock, TX. Originanly a cafe and Conoco tower service station. A12 year old boy won a contest by entering the name, U Drop Inn.
  • P9231127 Groom, TX. Intentionally leaning water tower. Leaning 10 degrees. The mass is suported by the two right-most legs and the white pipe.
  • P9231139 Cadillac Ranch. A public art installation in Amarillo, TX. Built in 1974 by hippies imported from San Francisco. Yes, we did sign it, but our effort was probably painted over within a few hours.
  • P9234783 Nothing "fabulous," but comfortable. Established in 1966, it's located in Adrian, TX at the exact mid-point of Route 66. The sign is not neon because frequent hail storms in the area ruin neon signs. While our one-night stay was pleasant, there is no need for "no" in front of "vacancy."
  • P9234781 Phone booths are rare enough, but with Superman? Located in the back of the Fabulous 40 Motel, Adrian, TX.
  • P9244810 Half done, half to go. Adrian, Tx.
  • P9244800 Note the wind farm. These would stretch for miles along Route 66.
  • P9244818 Glenrio, TX on the TX - NM border. These buildings were built (diner on the left) in the 1950s. In1975, I40 was completed about 1/4 mile away, and Glenrio deteriorated. Now, it's mostly a ghost town.
  • P9244826 The desolate beauty of Route 66 from Glenrio to San Jon, NM.
  • P9244829-Edit Sunflowers along Route 66 between Glenrio and San Jon, NM.
  • P9244842 Simple, no doubt what it means. San Jon, NM.
  • P9241263 One of the most famous motels along Route 66. Built in 1939, opened in 1942, and has been carefully and authentically restored. Our schedule did not permit us to stay there. Maybe next trip. Each unit has an enclosed garage.
  • P9244863 Once a great resturant on Route 66 in Tucumcari, NM.
  • P9244886 We stayed here in Moriarty, NM. The photo is timed appropriately.
  • P9254893 These service stations (established 1926) were once common across New Mexico. This one, in Moriarty, NM, is the last operating (as of 2014) Whiting Bros. in existance.
  • P9251368 In Rio Puerco, NM, is a Parker through-truss bridge. Built in 1933. Became part of Route 66 1937. At 250 feet long, it is one of the longest single span steel truss bridges in NM. Currently closed to car traffic.
  • P9251380 Ruins along Route 66 between Rio Puerco and Laguna, NM.
  • P9254918 Laguna, NM. We had a lunch of the fry-bread toca here - they were delicious! One orders from the window at the far left.
  • P9251454 Gallup, NM. The interior is like a well-appointed ranch house, with walls covered by photos of famous (and some not so famous) Hollywood stars, many of whom stayed here while filming westerns in the area. Opened in December 1937. We stayed in the "Rosalind Russell" room. Guest book includes Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and many others.
  • P9261473 Chief Yellowhorse "Trading Post," which means "Tourist Trap." It sits on the NM - AZ state line.
  • P9264994 Painted Desert. This is a worthwhile 20 mile side trip off Route 66.
  • P9261545 This line of old wooden poles represents one of the old alignments of Route 66 in the painted desert in Arizona.
  • P9265020 On the other side of the road from the previous image is this staged car which supposedly sits on an old alignment. Photo taken with camera's "dramatic" tone.
  • P9265070 Petrified National Forest. These "logs" are estmated to be 225 million years old. Back then, this area was a lush green forest, and these "trees" were 200 foot tall conifers. Erupting volcanoes toppled the trees and covered them with volcanic ash and sediment. After millions of years, they became petrified, as sediment gradually replaced the wood fiber turning them to quartz. They were exposed by erosion over subsequent millions of years.
  • P9261651 The famous Wig Wam Motel in Holbrook,AZ. An old / classic car sits in front of each teepee. "Have you slept in a wig wam lately?" We did. They are actually made of concrete, and are more roomy than they look. Bathrooms are somewhat cramped, however. But there's a nice sitting area of original, hand made hickory furniture. On the National Register. If you want to stay here, make reservations.
  • P9261655 Front of WigWam Motel.
  • P9275136 The Jack Rabbit tourist trap, er, trading post. This is a famous Route 66 attraction in Joseph City, AZ. Opened in the 1940's and is still operating today.
  • P9275138 Janet and the chief attraction at the Jack Rabbit.
  • P9271740 Phil and the rabbit. "You're never to old to ride the rabbit." How did we get up there?
  • P9271763 Standin' on the Corner Park, Winslow, AZ. Based on the song "Take it Easy," by the Eagles. In the background is the girl in the flat bed Ford.
  • P9275161 A strong thunderstorm which fortunately bypassed us, but we did get a vicious wind.
  • P9275165 Started as a gas station in 1938, and became Meteor City in 1979. It closed in 2012, and soon became ransacked. New owners purchased the property in March of 2017 with plans to restore it by summer. But this is what it looked like in September 2017.
  • P9271822 Meteor Crater was created about 50,000 years ago when a meteor left a crater nearly a mile across and 550 feet deep. Twenty football fields could be placed on the crater floor. The bottom resembles the surface of the moon, so NASA made it an offical astronaut training site.
  • P9271843 The defunct Two Guns ghost town, 30 miles east of Flagstaff shows the effects of prolonged vandalism. This image shows the remains of 20th century buildings. Had we gone a bit further over the hill, we would have seen the remains of the 19th century village, with its Route 66 bridge over the Canyon Diablo River. Another road trip coming.
  • P9271871 The 1897 Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff, AZ. We didn't stay there, but enjoyed the lights.
  • P9285234 Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff. We did stay here. Nice, spacious room, well appointed. Opened New Year's day, 1927. Supposedly the most haunted place in AZ, but we saw no "haints."
  • P9285251 Parks, AZ. 'Parks in the Pines," since 1906. Elevation 7051. We stopped here for photos, and to get directions because we were lost.
  • P9281945 Cruisers Cafe 66 in Williams, AZ. Had lunch here.
  • P9285271 Inside Cruisers harkens back to the nostalgia of the 50s. The building was built in 1910 as a telegraph office. Then became a filling station in the 30s. Was remodeled into Cruisers in 1998. We had great burgers here. Williams was the last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by I40.
  • P9285280 Abandonded Hi-Line Motel in Ash Fork, AZ. Opened in the 30s, went out of business in the early 2000s.
  • P9285285 Zettlers Store in Ash Fork, AZ. Still open.
  • P9285286 Also in Ash Fork. Formally a 50s Texaco station. It was a number of businesses since, but is now closed.
  • P9281994 Ash Fork Settlers Cemetery. " In memory of Berta Sias, born April 1923, died September 1923." Many child's graves have small bed frames around them. The older parts of the cemetery reminded me of the desolate "boot hills" in many western movies.
  • P9281996-3 Between Ash Fork and Seligman (pronounced Se LIG man), AZ. "Don't stick your elbow / out too far / It might go home / in another car / BURMA SHAVE"
  • P9282000 Seligman (pronounced Sil LIG man, not SEL ig man). We included this photo because it is one of the few signs with "Mother Road."
  • P9285295 World famous Delgadillo's Snow Cap. Built in 1953, mostly of scrap wood. Menu features "Cheese burger with cheese" and "dead chicken." Delgadilol's son and daughter now work the counter, but be prepared for practical jokes.
  • P9285300 Restrooms at the Snow Cap. Note that the "MEN" sign is over the ladie's room but points to the men's, and vice versa. Beware the humor at the Snow Cap!
  • P9285310 Inside the Snow Cap. We got a couple of tasty shakes here.
  • P9285317 Frontier Motel in Truxton, AZ. Cafe and motel opened in 1957. Restored in 2003, still open in 2014. It was obviously closed when we were there. Caretakers abruptly resigned in 2015. It has really deteriorated.
  • P9285345 A famous landmark on Route 66 in AZ. A microcosm of Route 66 that punches all the right nostalgia buttons. "The mother lode of Mother Road memorabilia." Opened in 1934 as gracery and Conoco Station, closed in 1978, reopened in 1998 as a tourist stop / souvenir shop.
  • P9285363 The El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, AZ, is one of the few, pre WWII Route 66 motels still standing. Starting in 1937 as a filling station, a motel was added in 1939. Each room has a Hollywood theme; we stayed in the Clint Eastwood room. The rercently restored neon tower is 100 feet high. I believe it had only been on about a week when we got there. Note part of the 206 foot Route 66 mural.
  • P9282110 The front facade of each room is part of a continuous Route 66 map mural, which highlights the sights of Route 66. This is a part of that mural.
  • P9292133 The mural at room 148, named the Buggsy Siegel room, after the notorious mobster.
  • P9295397 Famous Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner in Kingman, AZ. A great place for breakfast in a classic 50s diner. Originally opened as a cafe and gas station in the 50s. Famous for its root beer.
  • P9292154 The menu of Mr. D'z.
  • P9295394 Mr. D'z interior. Restrooms are behind the large murals.
  • P9292191 The scenic and winding old Route 66 just out of Kingman goes through Oatman toward Needles, CA. This narrow and twisting section is the most challenging of all Route 66.
  • P9295402 The only stop between Kingman and Oatman on old Route 66. It had only been open about a week when we were there, so it was not well stocked. Built in mid 1926. In the 30s, eight cabins were added. In the 1950s, Cool Springs was bypassed by a newer alignment of Route 66, which later became I40. Cool Springs declined and Oatman became a ghost down. It burned in the 60s, leaving nothing but the pillars. But was purchased and rebuilt in 2002, and reopened in 2005.
  • P9295418 The top of Gold Road Hill on Route 66 caps a very steep climb to Sitgreaves Pass. Some cars in the 30s could not make it over the pass, so for $3.50, drivers could pay a tow truck to take them to the top. Awsome scenery!
  • P9292215 Undoubtedly, the most intersting and unique "ghost town" on Route 66. Founded in 1906 by gold miners, but in 1942, the last mines were closed. Named for Olive Oatman, who was kidnapped by an Apache tribe, sold to the Mojave indians, who treated her well, but was later rescued in a trade. Clark Gable and Carol Lombard spent their honeymoon here at the Oatman Hotel March 18, 1939. Oatman is advertised as a "Ghost Town," but it is the home to many shops and a few restaurants. It was really hot that day, and a Sarsaparilla Beer Float in the Olive Oatman Restaurant was mighty good.
  • P9292242 'I'm ready for my close up Mr. Phil."
  • P9292245 "DO NOT FEED ME ANYTHING" is stuck on the head of the young burros. Travelers can buy a bag of pressed alfalfa nuggets, but they are too big for the young burros.
  • P9295473 Savvy shop owners will "bait the field," knowing that the burros will attarct shoppers. Yes, you do have to watch your step in Oatman.
  • P9302288 Insulators, colorful background and Route 66 sign.
  • P9302295 Sage Motel, Needles, CA. Built in 1955 in an "L" configuration. Now being renovated into an assisted livign facility. Needles, CA is the start of Route 66 through Mohave Desert. Be sure to have plenty of water, snacks, and gas!
  • P9305494 Route 66 paralles the railroad through the Mojave Desert, and the train trafic is continuous. Most of the trains are at least a mile long. This one was photographed approaching the ghost town of Goffs.
  • P9302352 One time a railroad and mining town and the hightest point in the Mojave Desert. Goffs was a stop on the original alignment until 1931, when a more direct alignment was opened. The "town" is now an outdoor museum, specializing in mining history. But it was closed when we were there. No one know how Goffs got its name.
  • P9302355 Here's why you want a full tank of gas when you cross the Mojave Desert on Route 66. This station is in Fenner, CA, where old 66 crosses I40.
  • P9305511 Roy's at Amboy CA. Other than Roy's, Amboy is a ghost town. The motel part is closed. Oh, the gas is still $4.99/gal. Mid-century modern style architecture. In 1938, Roys opened as a gas and service station. In the 40s, a cafe and motor court cabins were added. Back in the day, Roy's operated 24/7. Sign, which can be seen for miles, was erected in 1959. When I40 opened, business went "to zero," to quote the owner at the time.
  • P9305526 We had just left Amboy when Janet remarked, "That looks like a volcano!" Almost immediately we saw the sign to Amboy Crater. There are volcanoes in Southern California - who knwe? It is 250 feet high and 1500 feet wide. The most recent eruption was about 10,000 years ago. From where this photo was taken it is about a three mile round trip to the crator. Considering the 95 degree heat, we enjoyed it from a shaded pavillion.
  • P9305530 Other than a stone foundation and part of a wall (out of view to the right) this is all that's left of Siberia, CA.
  • P9305553 The town of Bagdad, after being bypassed by Interstate 40 in 1973, was abandoned and eventually razed (that's right - we couldn't find it). The movie, "Bagdad Cafe," was shot at the then-Sidewinder Cafe in Newberry Springs, California, 50 miles west of the site of Bagdad. The café has become something of a tourist destination and to capitalize on the movie it changed its name to the Bagdad Café.
  • P9305565 The Route 66 Motel in Barstow, CA, opened in 1922. They advertise round beds, and we had one reserved, but after seeing it, we changed our minds. We feared we would roll off in the middle of the night.
  • P9305577 Many old cars and trucks are staged around the property including several Dodges, a Cadillac, and a La Salle.
  • PA012465 Elmers Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande CA. This is really a forest of bottle trees, each one different.
  • PA012500 VW hippy van in Oro Grande, CA. It really is the best pizza in Oro Grande, because it's the ONLY pizza in Oro Grande.
  • PA012513 From San Bernadino, we headed west, trying to stay on an alignment of Route 66 to the Santa Monica Pier. We found this section disappointing. It was 60 miles of four-lane sprawl with stop lights every block. One of the few interesting featuers was this Richland service station. After two hours and having still 30 miles to go, we used WAZE to get us to I10, which took us directly to the Santa Monica Pier.
  • PA015675 Mixed emotions seeing this sign. Happy to have completed Route 66 safely; sad that the greatest road trip ever, was over. At least for now.
  • PA012555 On the Santa Monica Pier.
  • PA015656 On the Santa Monica Pier.
  • PA012551 Yaaa! We Made it! Sixteen days and 2616 miles (includes side trips, getting lost, and dead ends).