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More stories

Amboy Crater: A Black Volcano Rising from the Mojave

Rising from the Mojave Desert like a mysterious mountain from another planet, Amboy Crater is a nearly perfect volcanic cinder cone just off Route 66. Amboy Crater isn’t just a roadside oddity. It’s a geologic marvel. This cinder cone volcano last erupted over 10,000 years ago. Perfectly symmetrical and hauntingly beautiful, this National Natural Landmark […] More
History of Barbed Wire: Devil’s Rope Museum

By now you know that 66 is full of unusual, quirky, and eccentric attractions celebrating American kitsch – and of all the offbeat museums found along the Route, the Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean, Texas, might be the most unusual—at least at first glance. Dedicated to the history of barb, or barbed, wire (also known […] More
Sedona’s Vortexes: The Most Mystical Place in America?

There are sections of the Mother Road that are surreal, from another time, even David Lynch-esque in their flawed idealism. Veer towards Flagstaff, Arizona, and you’ll find yourself in a zone that feels otherworldly, yet deeply American at the same time. Claims of spiritual energy emanating from Sedona’s red rocks have drawn both tourists and […] More
It’s ‘Catsup’, Not Ketchup! World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Is In Illinois

Before “ketchup” dominated American markets by the mid-20th century, the alternative spelling “catsup” was used by brands like Brooks Catsup. That’s why if you travel 2 miles off Route 66 to Collinsville, Illinois, you’ll find The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle. Standing over 170 feet tall, you may ask yourself, “is it really full of ketchup?” […] More
66 in Chrome and Clay

A newer addition to the Mother Road is the Route 66 Monument, known as “Roadside Attraction,” located in historic Tucumcari, New Mexico. Commissioned by the New Mexico Arts Commission and the New Mexico Highway Department, the monument was designed by artist Thomas Coffin and completed in 1997. The sculpture features a larger-than-life chrome tail fin […] More
“Do it in a Tee Pee” Village #7

Of the original seven Wigwam Villages, only three still stand. Two of them—Village #6 in Holbrook, Arizona, and Village #7 in Rialto, California—are located on The Mother Road. Frank Redford, the creator of the Wigwam Villages, actually built the Rialto location himself (he also built Village #2 in Cave City, Kentucky). Construction began in 1947, […] More
Midpoint Cafe – Halfway Mark of the Mother Road

True to its name, the midpoint cafe lies exactly 1139 miles from 66’s origin in Chicago, and 1139 from its end point in Santa Monica. Thus, this café’s slogan aptly states, “when you’re here, you’re halfway there.” Established in 1928, in Adrian, Texas, this gas station and café grew in popularity as Americans set out […] More
Two Guns, Arizona: Myths and Realities of a 66 Ghost Town

Two Guns, Arizona is a ghost town located East of Flagstaff along the rim of Canyon Diablo. It’s abandoned now but it was once a tourist stop on Route 66. Tales of the Apache and Billy the Kid are told when one mentions Two Guns, but are these merely legends? Some even believe this stretch […] More
One Shell of a Good Time: The Nut House

The Nut House is a beloved Route 66 landmark with roots that run deep – quite literally. Found alongside the Mother Road in Claremore, Oklahoma, this destination started in the 1970’s as a humble pecan stand. Roger and Margie Peterson – without exaggeration – started their operation from the ground up. Their business began by […] More