All that remains of the Road Runner’s Retreat is its sign and a skeleton of a building. It was a bustling restaurant and truck stop as recently as the 1960’s.

Historic Route 66 Through California’s Mojave Desert

Heading on I-40 east in California, Route 66 closely parallels the interstate almost as a frontage road. At the town of Ludlow, fifty miles east of Barstow, the historic route veers well away from the interstate for about 75 miles before returning east of the town of Essex. This route through the heart of the Mojave Desert is highly recommended… More…

Roy's Cafe & Gas Station in Amboy, California on Historic Route 66.

Historic Route 66 Through California’s Mojave Desert (Part 2)

Heading on I-40 east in California, Route 66 closely parallels the interstate almost as a frontage road. At the town of Ludlow, fifty miles east of Barstow, the historic route veers well away from the interstate for about 75 miles before returning east of the town of Essex. This page covers Historic Route 66 from Amboy to Essex, California. More…

Town of Goffs, California on Historic Route 66.

The Goffs Schoolhouse and Cultural Center on Historic Route 66

Surprisingly, our final stop, the town of Goffs, California, population 23, is alive and well. Years of efforts by Mojave Desert historian and enthusiast, Dennis Casebier, have created a well-kept and fascinating historical center in this remote outpost, known as the Goffs Schoolhouse and Cultural Center. More…

DeSoto’s Salon in Ash Fork, Arizona, a classic Route 66 attraction.

Historic Route 66 through Northwest Arizona, Topock to Kingman to Ash Fork

Northwest Arizona features two long segments of Historic Route 66 that veer well away from Interstate-40. If features beautiful desert mountain scenery and an old west town that refused to die. The second is a roughly 110-mile segment from Kingman to just west of Ash Fork, Arizona. It features a higher elevation with more moderate summer temperatures, access to Grand Canyon attractions, and other cool things. More…

Painted Desert Inn, Petrified Forest National Park (1978).

Historic Route 66 – Personal Remembrances, Then and Now

In 1978, Route 66 was not really viewed as historic or nostalgic. Interstate-40 had largely opened and bypassed the route through the Southwest in the early 1970s. It simply wasn’t gone that long. There was no plethora of museums and visitor centers along the old route, as there is today, none of those brown signs along the interstate indicating an exit with Historic Route 66 access… More…

Petrified Forest National Park – The Blue Mesa Trail

Petrified Forest National Park – The Blue Mesa Trail

The Blue Mesa Trail winds through very colorful badlands which are eroding out of the mesa. The predominant color of the badlands is blue due to bentonite clay present in the mesa. This is a rare coloration which is best seen early and late in the day. More…

The Wigwam Hotel, Holbrook, Arizona

Holbrook, Arizona – Gateway to the Petrified Forest

We spent a night of our brief Thanksgiving tour brought us to the Historic Route 66 town of Holbrook, Arizona. This is the town closest to Petrified Forest National Park and therefore offering various traveler services. Like most Route 66 towns it offers a variety of oddities and minor attractions… More…