If you've ever driven down Missouri's highway system through the Ozarks in the last 50 years, chances are you either drove the interstate or you drove down Route 66.  You probably remember driving past a number of businesses regardless of when or which road you took.  The Mule Trading Post has been a long standing business over the decades.  Countless amounts of grape stands have been part of the roadside scenery.  You may even remember businesses peddling Ozark baskets or walnut bowls.  Business is what makes Route 66 so alluring. 

As a child, my family went on many road trips to the Branson area starting when I was just 4 years old, in the early 1980’s.  Looking through the window of our family car, I became fascinated with the creative establishments many of the roadside entrepreneurs fashioned.  To a child, these were inviting landmarks that indicated to me how far along we were on our typical road trip.  Seldom was I lucky enough to visit some of these places along the road when my Mother would ask to stop for some quick shopping or if Dad just needed a break from driving.  Most of the time I just had to rely on my imagination to wonder what kind of neat stuff was in all of those businesses.  Johns Modern Cabins always caught my attention and piqued my interest. 

My recent involvements in Route 66 have led me to ponder about the evolution of businesses on Route 66.  Why do some places thrive for decades while others struggle to make it for months???  In my opinion it all comes down to the people that are passionately committed to surviving as a Route 66 business.

There’s probably nobody else more qualified in Missouri to be experts on Route 66 Survival than Tim and Alice Jones.  Have you ever driven down I-44 or Route 66 headed west out of Rolla, MO?  Either way you couldn’t miss the Jones’ business.  Certainly the colossal advertising of Totem Pole Trading Post standing tall above everything else over the Ozark horizon would have beaconed for your attention.  You know the place and the Totem Pole Trading Post is where you can find Tim Jones on most any day. 

The Jones’ establishment is credited of being one of the oldest Route 66 businesses staying in operation on Missouri’s section of the Mother Road.  Starting in 1933 Harry Cochrane opened up the first Totem Pole Trading Post on Arlington Hill just 10 miles to the west of the existing location.  They erected a small building with a Totem pole on top and they sold souvenirs and gifts to Route 66 travelers.  In addition to the souvenir stand they also had a tourist camp.  Ralph Jones, Tim’s father purchased the trading post from Harry around 1950.

Keeping your business alive on Route 66 has always been about carving out a unique identity for your store, making sure you have quality goods at fair prices, making sure competition doesn’t beat you out… But many people didn’t expect to consider progress as a formidable hurdle on the road to economic success.  As our needs evolved so did our infrastructure.  After World War Two there was no denying that our highways needed be made larger and more efficient.  Expansion of the highway system managed to wipe out many businesses, especially in Missouri.  The Stoneydell Resort was one of those casualties that we all wish we could patronize today.

The Totem Pole wasn’t exempt from national progress.  Around 1954 the state bought some the property where the campground was located.  The cabins had to be moved to make way for an extra set of lanes to be brought through.  In 1967 the Highway Department came knocking again.  This time they were taking the property where the store was at in order to make service roads for the new interstate.  This shut Ralph and Tim down for the moment.   One of the original buildings still stands in the Arlington Hill area.  According to Tim Jones the Missouri Highway Department saved it and used it as a planning office while constructing a new highway through the area.  It’s a little red building resembling a small cabin.  It sets just west, across from Johns Modern Cabins off Arlington Outer Road.  The little building was part of the Totem Pole Tourist Court.  The original totem pole that stood atop of the souvenir shop is now located inside of today’s Totem Pole Trading Post. 

Ralph’s father more determined than ever moved the store to its second location.  They were now operating in a new building even closer to Rolla.  As luck would have it old Route 66 was located behind their building and the new Super 66, 4 lane highway was out in front complete with driveways connecting their business to a plethora of travelers driving between Chicago and Los Angeles.  The second location was at what is now 15990 County Road 8140 in Rolla MO.  The building still remains and is now used as an auction house.  Tim and his wife Alice took over complete ownership in 1974. Yet again, progress determined the fate of the Totem Pole.  In 1977 Tim was forced to close this second location as well because four lane 66 was being changed to an interstate which meant businesses could no longer be provided direct access from the highway.  The state removed their driveways and yet again disrupted their livelihood.    

With that same fighting spirit that Ralph instilled into Tim he closed up and moved to the final location just 3.5 miles east of the second location where he and Alice have been surviving since 1977.  They started over from scratch moving the Totem Pole Trading Post to an old two bay Shell Station right at the western edge of Rolla, MO.  Tim has fought to reinvent and to improve his trading post over the last 3 decades.  The 1970’s through the early 1980’s saw the elimination of Route 66 from our National Highway System.  The economy was stagnated during the oil crisis.  The way people travel would forever change.  The destination became increasingly more important that the trip.  Despite the hurdles thrown at the Jones family they have constantly been able to evolve; keeping their doors open and the travelers coming in.  In 1994 he performed an extensive renovation that involved installing a roof over the entire structure of the trading post and the gas station canopy.    Tim and Alice have been selling hand crafted goods from the Ozarks, antiques, oddities, fireworks, books and a large amount of Route 66 souvenirs.  They had to stop selling gasoline about 5 years ago because they were unable to make any money on it due to credit card fees.  They stopped selling gas, but set out to make a café to refuel travelers in a different way.  Aim for their bellies.  This year they are opening their newest creation, The Route 66 Lunchroom.     

With the help of James Crabtree, he and Tim created a great little lunch menu to help travelers get their fix on 66 without breaking the bank.  You’ll find homemade affordable lunch fare like sandwiches, salads, chili, and even a large range of desserts.  You can count on getting your favorite Route 66 soda as well.  This latest endeavor didn’t come easy.  Alice is still suffering from a severe car accident that happened about 5 years ago.  The city health department and community development department handed Tim an extensive list of hurdles to overcome in order to operate as a food service station.  Tim has also had break-ins where thieves made off with valuable merchandise.

Tim and Alice still have plenty of fight in their spirits.  With the help of James and a whole lot of creative resourcefulness, it looks like The Totem Pole Trading Post will be a landmark for years to come.

Be sure to stop in and visit the Trading Post on your next trip down Route 66.  There is something for everyone.  Tim is a wealth of knowledge on local history and has plenty of great memorabilia on display.

On Tuesday December 23rd, a successful rally was held at the Gasconade River Bridge in Hazelgreen, MO.  The focus of the rally was to gain attention from local, state, and federal officials that the people want the bridge restored.  This Route 66 bridge was closed December 19 by the Missouri Department of Transportation because of safety factors stemming from deterioration of the bridge structure. 

MoDOT had officials on site at the bridge during the rally, which chiefly included Bob Lynch, the area engineer for MoDOT. A large variety of media was also on hand at the event. Officials were met with concerns brought forth from the Route 66 community, local residents, farmers, and even some tourists from China. 

Route 66 roadies brought forth a barrage of testimony citing tourism as the number one chief concern for the area.  Tens of thousands of tourists, mostly traveling abroad from continents outside of North America, descend upon the Mother Road to live and experience the past.  To them, it’s the dream of a lifetime.  Replacing the bridge with a modern structure would alter the canvas of Route 66 through the Ozarks, consequently interrupting that dream.  According to a Rutgers University study released in 2012, more than 5 million people live and work along Route 66, more than 85% of Route 66 tourists visit historic places, and spend over $38 million dollars a year in Route 66 communities.  Route 66 tourism boasts annual gains of $262 million in overall output.  Our historic landmarks and pieces of infrastructure such as the Gasconade Bridge should be kept available for tourists to experience.  On hand at the rally was a local couple from China traveling Route 66 from California.  The young man proudly displayed a tattoo of a Route 66 shield on his leg.  He and his wife chose to travel Route 66 as their vacation over any other place in the world.  They were spending 2 weeks along the mother road, traveling east towards Chicago.  He went on to say that they were planning a return trip next year and would be making the opposite trip heading west to Santa Monica.  It’s a fact. – Tourists come from all over the world to experience Route 66 and they spend their money to do it.

Testimony from all over the world:

·       Pierre Marc (France):   Thousands of French people like us travel each year on Route 66. We have done it in 2010 and will probably do it again in the following years. Last time, we spend three weeks along this road leaving $ to the US treasure with pleasure and next time, it may be even longer and with more $ !!!

·       Anja and Wolfgang Werz (Germany):  Several thousand tourists from Germany traveled each year the Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. An important reason for them is to ride on the trail of American history, including historic bridges such as the Gasconade Bridge near Hazelgreen, MO. If all the historic attractions of Route 66 are gradually removed, it is for the tourists no longer interesting to come to the U.S. and travel The Route 66.

·       Christian Bradtke (Germany):  I want to see, live and feel the American way...the American history. With every lost "original" the rt66 loses one more reason to be loved the way it is. I don't want to ride the best, shortest or most comfortable way. I want to ride the true road, with true attractions. It doesn't matter if you "loose" some time by traveling the old historic route66 with all their side trips.  Because you will win impressions you will never forget in your live. And the Gasconade Bridge is absolutely one of it.

·       Monique and Willem Bor (Netherlands):  Many tourists from the Netherlands like to drive the Route 66 and see all the old buildings, bridges and stretches off Route 66. Please be careful with the remaining attractions because else tourist will no longer be interested in Route 66. Lately many old motels are disappearing, they were demolished or they burned down. Preservation is very important so………preserve the historic Gasconade Bridge!! Be proud of what's still there!

·      Dale Butel (Australia) I fell in love with Historic Route 66 on my honeymoon, as travel agents, my wife and I thought others might like to travel this amazing bit of blacktop and concrete, with all its café’s, motels, bridges, all a glimpse into yesteryear. Well a decade later our business is focused on bringing Australians and New Zealanders to road trip the USA on Historic Route 66. The joy we get from seeing our clients re-live a piece of the past is worth more than any amount of income. It is truly a privilege to be able to introduce more and more people to this amazing time capsule. Every bit of it is important, every rotting motel, every rough bit of road and every classic old bridge or culvert. It all represents America from another time, and a piece of our collective childhood. If they are lost, then the experience will also be lost, and visitors from other countries will stop coming. They will stop, and the amazing amounts of money they bring with them will also stop. Let’s be very careful how we manage this amazing and somewhat confusing draw card to so many international visitors. Historic Route 66 has again become a “Avenue of Revenue”. 

Michael Garret, a neighbor to the bridge and volunteer fireman raised concerns that not having the bridge repaired quickly would leave many nearby homes vulnerable because the fire department would be forced to use a much longer detour to get to nearby residents. 

Local farmers also made their voices heard at the rally.  Without the bridge how would they get their farming implements back and forth across the river?  They were candid with Mr. Lynch, insisting on whether MoDOT was willing to allow passage via I-44 located a couple hundred feet away.  Lynch was unable to give an answer to their dilemma.

Citing another study performed by Great Rivers in conjunction with Missouri Route 66 Corridor they found that 96% of respondents interviewed in Laclede County felt it was important to preserve the Route 66 Corridor.  The Gasconade bridge is located in Laclede County.

MoDOT has not confirmed what the fate of the bridge will be at this moment, but they have listed three options they are faced with:  Permanent closure until funding is secured, replacement with an entirely new bridge, or repairs to the existing bridge. 

Bob Lynch said they should have some conclusion based on more inspections and studies within the next 2-6 weeks. For now, the structure will remain barricaded to prevent anyone from accessing the bridge. 

One factor influencing the decision is the location of the bridge.  The bridge is located on what was considered until last week an "Incident Bypass Route."  Meaning in case of a highway closure, traffic would be routed from the interstate onto this old section of Route 66 and through this bridge crossing the Gasconade River.  This factor will also play heavily into the decision whether or not the bridge should remain or be replaced.

Below is a video from a news report at the scene of the rally:

There was a common consensus among all attendees: Repair the historical bridge and add it to the National Register of Historic Places.  Preserve this landmark and preserve the community.  Restoring the bridge back to its original beauty should be made a high priority.  MoDOT has an opportunity to shine in the spotlight of the public if it decides to preserve this historical landmark.  It is in the best interest of everyone to encourage MoDOT and the scenic byways program to find funding to save the Gasconade Bridge.   

Several months ago, Pulaski County and MoDOT reopened a similar type bridge to the east after an intensive restoration project. It was a joint venture to repair and preserve the Devil's Elbow Bridge in Devil's Elbow, Missouri. The Devil's Elbow Bridge project was heavily funded by grant money.  There has been much fanfare surrounding the accomplishment of restoring the bridge at Devil’s Elbow.  It was a process worth repeating for the Gasconade Bridge.  We hope officials will investigate and implement the practices used at Devil’s Elbow. 

To ensure the restoration of the bridge it is the duty of all local residents and Route 66 roadies to make contact with the list of people below. We need to make it known how important the bridge is to the world.  Take the time to write emails, send letters, and make phone calls.  Share this article containing important info to all concerned citizens and people in the Route 66 community. 

Photos taken by Roamin' Rich at the bridge rally on Tuesday 12-23-14:

Important contacts   -Please let them know how you feel!-

1. Katie Steele Danner with Missouri Tourism:   DirectorMoTourism@ded.mo.gov         573-751-3051
2. NATL Parks Route 66 Corridor Act: IM_Rt66@nps.gov   http://www.nps.gov/rt66/contacts/index.htm    505-988-6701 
3. Federal Highways: raegan.ball@dot.gov   http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/modiv/programs/oversite/chap16.cfm  573-638-2620
4. MO State Bridge Engineer:  Dennis.Heckman@modot.mo.gov 573-751-4676
5. MoDOT Comment Line:  http://www.modot.org/central/contactus.htm   573-751-3322 
6. MO HWY Commission:  MHTC@modot.mo.gov   573-751-2824
7. MO Senator Roy Blunt:     http://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-roy#     202-224-5721
8. MO Historic Preservation office:  moshpo@dnr.mo.gov                           573-751-7858
9. MO REP Diane Franklin:  diane.franklin@house.mo.gov     573-751-1119
10. MO Rep Steve Lynch:  steve.lynch@house.mo.gov      573-751-1446

Get involved quickly and easily!

1. Sign the petition to save the bridge! http://www.petitions24.com/route_66_gasconade_bridge_repair_dont_replace
2. Let MoDOT know your story about the bridge: http://www.modot.org/central/contactus.htm
3. Join discussion on Facebook!   https://www.facebook.com/groups/927919350559347/ 

Articles related to the rally:

Route 66 bridges in Missouri

http://www.boonvilledailynews.com/article/20141224/BLOGS/312249981/-1/sports?template=printart

World Monuments Fund - Route 66

http://www.wmf.org/project/historic-route-66http://

Smithsonian - Endangered Site: Historic Route 66

 http://http//www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/endangered-site-historic-route-66-usa-52145829/?no-ist=

Pulaski County Devil’s Elbow Bridge over the Big Piney River

http://www.rollanet.org/~conorw/cwome/article51&52combined.htm

http://www.route66news.com/2013/10/16/groundbreaking-devils-elbow-bridge-repairs-set-oct-24/

http://www.pulaskicountydaily.com/county-plans-saturday-ceremonial-reopening-of-devils-elbow-bridge-on-route-66-cms-3511

http://www.waynesvilledailyguide.com/article/20131015/BLOGS/310159943/196/features

Laclede County Hazelgreen Bridge (Endangered) over the Gasconade River

http://www.waynesvilledailyguide.com/article/20141224/NEWS/141229491

http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/news/local/article_3f13cbd6-8964-11e4-92d2-1b18b976e88b.html

http://bridgehunter.com/mo/laclede/gasconade-66/

http://www.route66news.com/2014/12/22/missouri-closes-gasconade-river-bridge/

http://www.ozarksfirst.com/story/d/story/deteriorating-bridge-closed-down-on-route-66/35155/ELsPb4Ut-0qqGJPKKit3MA

http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/news/local/article_9c53483a-8aef-11e4-8149-af68fe3461ec.html

http://www.route66news.com/2014/12/24/route-66-fans-rally-endangered-bridge/

http://www.waynesvilledailyguide.com/article/20141224/NEWS/141229491/1995/NEWS

http://www.kimulmanis.com/2014/12/help-save-gasconade-bridge/

 Important images and documents:

I've tackled the hill at Labajada just outside of Santa Fe many times.  This time I bring a duo of drones to help capture the beauty and splendor of this magnificent trail.  Check out part 1:  The old alignment.  Go your own way!

I am in the process of recreating a little known piece of art that stood along a popular section of Route 66 and National Old Trails highway.  I can't give the complete details of what the piece is, but it will be on the road soon for everyone to see and share.  If you are planning to drive west out to the International Route 66 Festival in Kingman, Arizona, this beauty will be available for you to check out.

Follow the progress on my Facebook page!  https://www.facebook.com/rich.dinkela/media_set?set=a.672139502864568.1073741826.100002055733540&type=3

I tag along with Joe Sonderman and Cheryl Eichar Jett at the big car show in Carlinville.

Lots of great cars and friendly people filled the square.

I really liked the old trucks on display and enjoyed seeing the original site of the Ariston cafe.

Www.hookedonroute66.com

Ricky loved the California Route 66 sign!Lily and Emma pose with the Route 66 sign.Lily was inspired to draw her own Route 66 sign.

During an interview with KC Keefer, Rich explains his motivation for becoming so involved with the modern revival of Route 66.  Roamin' Rich has his own ideology of how Route 66 is thriving today and what people can do to become apart of the Route 66 family.

To share the adventure with Roamin' Rich, follow him or Friend him on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/rich.dinkela 

Check out his very own video library on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/HookedOnRoute66 

You can also find him on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/HookedOnRoute66 

Or check him out at his own website:  http://hookedonroute66.com/ 

Have fun and always, "Go Your Own Way!"

Here's the damage sustained to the Blade 350qx we crashed behind the painted desert trading while filming the area. 40+ MPH winds made piloting the quad copters a stressful experience.

We lost sight of the aircraft when the wind took control of it and blew it northeast of our location. We spent about 2 hours searching the scrubby desert. We have lost one drone before which is somewhat costly, a more devastating toll is losing the footage on the GoPro camera. We faired pretty well. We only broke the landing gear, a prop, and cracked some of the body. All can be repaired inexpensively and easily.

We also flew our highly outfitted DJI PHANTOM modified by DSLRPROS. The phantom did fairly well under the conditions and was easier to control with the FPV Viewer, and remote telemetry. It did lumber against the winds to return home to its point of origin.

All in all it was a great adventure. It seems like nearly every time I visit the painted desert trading post near the painted desert national park I always encounter something new or memorable.Pictured is a Route 66 roadie favorite: The Painted Desert Trading Post. Located on Route 66 between Navajo and Holbrook In Arizona.

http://www.hookedonroute66.com

#drone #dji #phantom #blade350qx #route66 #quadcoptercrash #dslrpros

It was quite windy today. I lost a drone quad copter and had to search for it for 2 hours. On top of that I suffered a flat tire when I attempted to use the Route 66 adventure truck in recovery measures.

Despite those two setbacks, I found the drone only lightly damaged and we obtained a lot of great footage of the area.

#arizona #route66 #painteddesert #tradingpost

http://www.hookedonroute66.com

Judging by the photo you would think I was in Los Angeles. The flagstaff and Sedona area in Arizona are affected by two area forest fires at the moment. Highways were shut down and areas evacuated. High winds aren't helping matters. Hopefully the fire comes under control soon. #flagstaff #sedona #arizona #fire #forrest.

http://www.HookedOnRoute66.com

Oldham County took advantage of some my offerings last year and purchased a set of large Route 66 stencils. Thanks to their hard efforts travelers along this stretch of Route 66 have great photo opportunities and can be reassured they are on the mother road.

I made sure I was able to take advantage of the great photo opportunity.

Down the road at the Midpoint of Route 66, located in Adrian Texas is another contribution of mine. I was able to design and offer official Midpoint Stencils. Now travelers from all over the world can immortalize their experience when arriving to the official midpoint of a Route 66.

Http://www.hookedonroute66.com

Sent from my mobile phone. 314-369-4366

I seldom get to chat with many of you out there on Route 66.  I know a subject that comes up many times in conversation is being apart of Route 66.  Lots of roadies and tourists get hooked on route 66 and feel compelled to commit themselves to the road by taking on the role of being a business owner on Route 66.  I think that's great.  Route 66 needs more people to bring more new business to add to the landscape.  As a business owner myself, I would caution anyone against making snap judgements on starting something with brick and mortar on the mother road.  Although it may be a ticket to instant popularity and fanfare, its a daunting task to wake up to everyday.  It is a huge commitment that requires lots of energy, focus, and resources.  And guess what.... making big stacks of cash probably isn't in the cards.  It's a passion.  Your payoff is mostly spiritual I believe. 

Even though I'm not remotely close to throwing in the keys to the adventure truck, and putting my paint covered stencils on the shelf.  - Hypothetically, there are a few places I wouldn't mind restoring or improving at the least.  Should I share with you just a couple of places that have tempted me into becoming a static fixture on the road???  Sure why not....  maybe you or someone else will be inspired to take on managing or organizing a restoration of one of these great places.

FIRST on my list:

THE LUNA CAFE! - Yes!  This place oozes potential and screams, "Somebody put me on Bar Rescue with Jon Taffer at the wheel!!! - PLEASE!"  The management, seems to be blind to what's in front of them, even though significant efforts on the behalf of the Missouri and Illinois Route 66 Associations raised money to restore and recreate the beautiful neon signs for this old, "joint."  Without exaggeration, myself and some of my other Roadie gang have all met the same proverbial, "Record Scratch" when we walk through the door.  Seriously, nearly every one of the 5 people that work or occupy the place on a near daily basis stop what they are doing, smoking, or what they are rambling about to give you a thorough judgmental once-over before going back to their vices.  It doesn't, or at least hasn't for me got any better once crossing the threshold and slipping through the hurdles of gazing eyes from the patrons.  Taking a seat and looking around prompts the very frank barmaid to indicate to you that they do not accept nor appreciate any form of payment other than cash - This all before she even thinks about asking you what she can help with.  WOW - what a welcome.  Even if you did shower her (and she needs one) with confetti comprised of bills with Abe Lincoln you will have to beg her attention for any subsequent beverages.  Hungry?  Well guess what, she "aint cookin nuttin."  Even though they have a kitchen, she's not about to lower herself to serving up a frozen pizza to some uppity tourist. Quick Note: Most 66 tourists carry lots of cash and are very eager to spend it during the eastern portions of the trip as they are just embarking on their journey.

I know you think I'm trying to paint a picture here that may seem slightly biased or exaggerated, but this experience has been virtually 100% duplicated personally for me the 3 times I attempted to patronize The Luna Cafe.  So here's how I see The Luna through the eyes of an entrepreneur:  The Luna sits smack dab in the middle of blue collar, industrial area of granite city, but not too far away from the limits of Edwardsville, Illinois.  Lots of hungry, thirsty workers are on tap for lunch and after work get togethers Monday through Friday.  What other sources of income are around???  How about a giant college less than 5 miles away!  Yes....  Students from SIUE that love to be social are just around the corner.  To top it off, The Luna Cafe sits right on top of an alignment of Route 66.  This particular alignment is heavily traveled although there's not a whole lot of draw to it.... besides just the little ole Chain of Rocks Bridge. - You know that bridge everyone traveling Route 66 has to see?  Yep.  What do you find going to the Chain of Rocks bridge almost daily during the travel season? You may have guessed tours. That's RIGHT!!! - Lots of motor tours and bike tours hosting people from all over the world are coming right past The Luna Cafe.... past it, not stopping at it. 

For Pete's sake! - The bold, beautiful neon arrangements beacon people from interstate at night time.  You can't miss this place.  All it needs is a thorough cleaning (very thorough), some owners or management that understand what they are sitting on, and some innovative themes and hospitality put into place designed to draw both locals and tourists.  I could go on and on.... I think I have mentioned enough to provoke a full on intervention here.  - At least I hope.  #JonTaffer #BarRescue

SECOND on my list:

This Old Gas Station just east of Hazelgreen, MO.  I think its a Phillips 66 or maybe a Texaco.  One of you old dogs jump in there and let me and the other couple dozen readers know.  For you fellow road geeks, here are the coordinates:  37.766739,-92.418352

I remember seeing this place lit up  when I was a child, riding in my parent's car on one of our many trips back and forth from Forsyth, MO.  I was always enamored by the Googie Style canopies that the old Phillips gas stations were famous for in the 1960s.  You don't see too many surviving today and this station has one... well bits and pieces.  I'm not sure if its too late....  Speaking of which, I recall discussing with Melba Rigg how I thought there was no hope trying to save the old brothel across the street from Cars On The Route.  BOY! - Did a lot of effort, passion, and truck loads of money prove me wrong!  I'm convinced.  If the old brothel in Galena, KS can be saved and put back to serive (no more women for hire), surely somebody can put to use this old gas station that literally sits on both Route 66 and I44.

It would just be too cool to see this place as a museum or some sort of interpretive center designed to pique the interest of the average interstate traveler' maybe even plant a Route 66 seed in a few of them ;) .  There's also an old cafe or restaurant right next door.  There's not much close to here and the town of Hazelgreen, MO nearly eradicated when I44 was put right through town.  This would be a great way to stop people and have them put a little bit of money into the local economy. 

Hopefully, my kids (oldest daughter pictured in the bay with me) will be able to pass by this place and explore it, or better yet, patronize it.  

LAST (on this blog post) but not really last on my personal list:  The EPIC, Diamonds Restaurant / Tri County Truck Stop

I can't say enough about the potential this place has.  It has I44 and Route 66 exposure.  Its big enough to accommodate the largest tour groups.  It's built like a brick.... well you know.  You could do exhibits, mini theaters, cafes, gift shops, and whatever else tourists want to see.  All sorts of great events could be had here.  This could be that first great stop out of St. Louis.  Really, between Staunton, Illinois and Cuba Missouri, there's not a BIG attraction that makes every tourist stop and check things out.  I could really see this place emulating the museum in Clinton, OK.

It needs big bucks though.... just to purchase the place.  Rehabbing it would be another endeavor.  Somewhere out there amongst us roadies is someone lurking about with the drive and resources to make it happen.  If Connie Echols can resurrect the Wagon Wheel Motel from near death, The Diamonds Restaurant can live on again.  Alright McJerry, time to unearth that buried treasure full of money you have out there near PDTP.  :)

Thanks everyone for reading along.  I hope you liked my point of view and maybe it will inspire some of you to get out there and be apart of the revitalization of Route 66.  All of the photos contained herein are property of myself, the photographer (lol I know... I am not a photographer).  All rights reserved.  Roamin' Rich Dinkela - Hooked On Route 66

http://www.hookedonroute66.com/

During my adventures through Texas earlier this year, I ran across a stash of some very desirable cars.  All of them were littered about the ground just off this old historic highway I was traveling.  All decades were represented.  Check out some of the photos and my video I took.

Take a look at this beauty of a bridge. - An old wooden bridge believed to possibly serve motorists as early as the nineteen-teens on the National Old Trails Road.  Nick Gerlich carefully guides Roamin' Rich to the site of the old bridge east of Grants, New Mexico just off of modern Route 66.  #"Route 66"  #"old roads" #"Roamin Rich"

https://www.facebook.com/MilesFromNowhereBlog 

http://nickgerlich.tumblr.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/rich.dinkela

Great views on #route66 in New Mexico 2014

What an honor to have the Smithsonian highlight one of my shields, and none better than one of the two shields I painted on the sidewalk Highway through Oklahoma.

http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/sc/web/video/titles/19134/traveling-route-66 

I've painted these shields up and down Route 66 from Illinois to California. 

Dennis Purschwitz, at the Midpoint Cafe (https://www.facebook.com/MidpointCafe) commissioned me earlier this year to come up with a design to help aid in his project of defining the Midpoint finish line.  Dennis had a great idea of defining the actual Midpoint with a giant solid bar painted across all 5 lanes of Route 66 in Adrian, Texas.  To compliment the bar, my classic "Route US 66" stencils were employed in partnership with a custom "MIDPOINT" stencil.  What a great addition to the Midpoint of Route 66.

Deborah Sue Glass McDonald, from Oldham County was put in charge of purchasing the Stencils and also purchased an additional stencil for Oldham County to use in marking their alignments of Route 66.  Thanks to her, thousands of travelers will have no doubt of where they are when traveling through Oldham County, Texas.

Take a look at the stunning HD footage of the old MacArthur Bridge in St. Louis.  This Old bridge was once part of highway Route 66.  Soon the Terminal Railroad Association will completely remove the old highway deck from the bridge permanently.  

Multiple trains can be seen crossing the river in this video including Amtrak and Union Pacific.

Click the image below or the link above to see video.