Once upon a time, on route 66

One of Disney’s most recent animated films, Cars, clearly depicts the fate of many cities lying along the road that once held the heartbeat of America. Immortalized in the pages of John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” and in the tunes of Nat King Cole, Route 66 once held a status of Mother Road, joining the country from coast to coast, from Chicago to Los Angeles.

In its heyday, Route 66 was crowded with barbecue joints, diners and small service stations, many of which were family owned operated. Each hotel, while far from luxurious, had the distinct charm of the individuals that ran it and the people who had traveled through.
It’s not like that any more.

Richard Woolard, a 77-year-old who lives in Oklahoma, the state with the biggest chunk of Route 66 tarmac, has watched the deterioration happen from his porch. “Been a lot of changes in this old county,” he said.

Those changes include the abandonment, disrepair and general deterioration of at least 3,000 motels along the highway according to the nonprofit group, the National Historic Route 66 Federation, based in Lake Arrowhead, California.

Although Route 66 played a pivotal role in the history of America, its days were numbered when the interstate cut a more direct route across the country. Along the interstate sprung up a series of establishments that are well known and well recognized by any American: hotel chains such as the Holiday Inn, gas station chains such as Shell, and drive through restaurants like McDonalds.

Although with business drying up, many hotels have fallen into disrepair, others have taken up the challenge and have risen to compete with the interstate crowd.

The Chelsea Motor Inn has only six rooms but is currently building teepees where future guests will be able to camp overnight, sitting in comfortable chairs and staring out onto a piece of America’s history. A pet bison roams the grassy yard of the Motor Inn attracting visitors with it’s brown-eyed charm.

Residents of Flagstaff Arizona are putting in efforts to restore old building facades and neon signs. Albuquerque, New Mexico is fixing up some of its historic hotels from the old days when Route 66 was still jumping, tailoring the new establishments for a more up-market crowd.

If you’re heading out on the road this summer, think about taking a detour, or going on the slow road. There are still plenty of decent places selling home cooked meals, diners from the fifties and charming hotels. The interstate will get you there fast, sure, but the only thing you can count on from the experience is a headache, some traffic and maybe a fender bender. On Route 66, there is a piece of American history waiting to be discovered and who knows, perhaps even some adventure.

home.disney.co.uk