Destination Road
A ghostly apparition. I stumbled upon Dilia, New Mexico while traveling along the original 1926 alignment of Route 66. The old road goes northwest from Santa Rosa, up and over to Santa Fe, before looping back down south to Albuquerque. I headed towards the source of the ancient Pecos River, whose waters originate from the [ ] The post Forgotten Town, Forgotten Route: Dilia, NM appeared first on…
Back in the early 1940’s Ed Waldmire was traveling through Oklahoma when he stumbled upon something called a corn dog. It was a unique lunch consisting of a hotdog baked in corn bread. While delicious, Ed couldn’t help but notice that it took too long to prepare. Perhaps it was the wait for this one-of-a-kind [ ] The post Getting Corny Cozy Dog Drive In appeared first on Dustbowl Highway .
The Weatherford Hotel was constructed in 1897 by John W. Weatherford, a local businessman. The hotel was strategically built along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line, and soon became a hub for travelers visiting the booming city. During the Prohibition era, the Weatherford operated a speakeasy in the basement, where patrons could gather [ ] The post Haunted: The Weatherford Hotel,…
Out in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County lies Oro Grande, a small unincorporated community which is home to less than 1,000 residents. One of those residents is Elliot Long, son of Elmer Long, founder of the Bottle Tree Ranch which lies on a rural stretch of Route 66. Elmer Long was no stranger [ ] The post Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch A Father and Son Story appeared first on Dustbowl…
The Kan-O-Tex was once just another regional oil refinery along the Mother Road. Back in 1934 when the station was built, the 13 mile stretch of Route 66 which runs through Kansas was bustling. Small towns like Galena, Riverton, and Baxter Springs were once mineral rich boom towns which attracted tourists and workers alike. Diners, [ ] The post Kan-O-Tex Service Station on The World Map appeared…
Heading west from Amarillo on the Dust Bowl Highway, what is now Interstate 40, time begins to slow down. Time dilation. The tumbleweeds and dust cloud the vision, an old windmill spins far in the distance. Endless miles of brown grass, an occasional cow, or was that a pronghorn? Then, like a mirage, a sign [ ] The post The Ghost Town on the Texas / New Mexico State Line appeared first on Dustbowl…
The Monte Vista Hotel, located in downtown Flagstaff, AZ has been a prominent stop along Route 66 since its construction in 1926. Offering weary travelers food and swanky accommodations, this hotel has scene a lot over the last 100 years. Its location is ideally situated between the midwest and the West Coast, making the [ ] The post Ghosts along the Route: Hotel Monte Vista appeared first on…
The story of Red Oak II (as you might suspect) begins with Red Oak I or Red Oak, Missouri, that is, and a man named Lowell Davis. He, like many residents along the Dust Bowl Highway, was an imaginative and creative man who had a vision. Davis, born in 1937, grew up in Red [ ] The post Living Ghost Town Red Oak II appeared first on Dustbowl Highway .
Still Glowing Brightly The U-Drop Inn lights up the night on historic route 66. However, instead of neons, it’s LEDs that have brought this landmark brightly into the modern age. Constructed in 1936 in Shamrock, Texas, the unique design for the U-Drop came from a sketch in the dirt. It was John Nunn who etched [ ] The post Still Glowing Brightly appeared first on Dustbowl Highway .
Kansas has the shortest stretch of Route 66 totaling only 13.2 miles. Baxter Springs is one of a few towns along that piece of road. It’s here that you’ll find the Independent Oil and Gas Service Station, a proud tribute to the DBH and its history. What immediately stands out about The Independent upon first [ ] The post Historic Site along the Shortest Stretch of the DBH appeared first on…