What stretches 2,400 miles, spans eight states, and brings back memories of midcentury glory?
Of course it’s Route 66, which is turning 100 this year. “The Mother Road” is celebrating its centennial with a massive nationwide celebration.
In Southern California, the roadway stretched roughly from Needles on the Colorado River across the Mojave Desert, over the Cajon Pass and into the San Bernardino Valley, before continuing west to Santa Monica. The iconic route played a major role in Southern California’s development during much of the 20th century.
Before Route 66 was established, the pathway through San Bernardino County for early motorists dealt with harsh conditions, dirt roads, and limited services.
This early route, established in 1912 was known initially as the Santa Fe-Grand Canyon-Needles Highway and in 1914 it became part of the National Old Trails Road, which aimed to connect the East Coast to Los Angeles.
By 1916, however, the road from Barstow to San Bernardino had been largely paved, making it a viable route for the growing number of tourists exploring the desert by automobile.
In November 1926, the U.S. numbered highway system incorporated most of the National Old Trails Road and commissioned a new highway — U.S. Route 66.
Ah, Route 66!
A hit song and a popular TV show and nicknamed the “Mother Road” by author John Steinbeck, this highway extended 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica.
Along its long path numerous mom-and-pop garages and Depression-era stores dotted the landscape. The forerunners of today’s motels — auto courts — were plentiful and cheap.
San Bernardino County became home to some of the most iconic landmarks along Route 66, many continue to be popular today.
A train station and the El Garces Harvey House Hotel, which served as a crucial oasis, greeted travelers entering from Arizona into California and the city of Needles.
A vital stop in the Mojave Desert in the small town of Amboy, now owned by the family of the late Albert Okura (founder of Juan Pollo restaurants) was Roy’s Motel and Café.
In Barstow was the Casa del Desierto Harvey House, which now serves as the Mother Road Route 66 Museum, preserving the history of this vital railway and highway hub.
Continuing on to Victorville, Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Cafe began serving travelers in the 1940s.
After crossing of the desert, Route 66 meanders through the Cajon Pass before making its way into San Bernardino along Cajon Boulevard. The road follows Mount Vernon Avenue and turned right on Fifth Street before leaving the valley for Los Angeles County by way of Foothill Boulevard
Traffic became so heavy in the San Bernardino area, that a Business Route 66 — along Kendall Drive and E Street — was needed.
During the highway’s heyday, the Summit Inn at the top of the Cajon Pass was a popular stop.
The Blue Cut district in the Cajon Pass was also a draw. Popular places of respite were the A Frame Eatery and the Blue Cut Garage. And for those stopping by to stretch out from the long drive, a gem shop was a frequently visited stop.
As the weary traveler entered San Bernardino, there was Pic’s Coffee Shop in Devore before meeting up with several businesses near the intersection of Cajon Boulevard and Kendall Drive at the Junction Cafe. Five bus lines and 42 buses made stops there daily. The Buckeye Inn is also where hundreds of burgers were dished out every week, and Leo’s Italian Restaurant served generous portions.
Along this well-driven path were motels like the Mission Auto Court and the Wigwam Motel. Eateries like the Cocky Cactus, Mother Massetti’s, Bono’s restaurant and the Sycamore Inn, as well as orange-shaped juice stands and the Virginia Dare Winery in Rancho Cucamonga, all made wonderful stops along the route.
Things were indeed looking good for Route 66. Then the freeway came through in the 1960s and life took a detour.
For years, business along the route was great. But when the freeway opened, a number of establishments started to face challenges.
By the 1970s, Highway 40 had replaced much of the road through the Mojave Desert, bypassing towns like Amboy and turning them into ghost towns. In 1979, the state decommissioned the highway, and in 1985, it was removed from the U.S. Highway System.
But the old road is alive and well and celebrated. Thanks in large part to the popular car shows that have taken place along the route, including the annual Route 66 Rendezvous, held in downtown San Bernardino during the 1990s and early 2000s and known today as Rendezvous Back to Route 66.
Information about the historic route is also eagerly shared by “Mother Road” historians at the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville and the old Cucamonga Service Station and Route 66 Museum.
Today, you can still get a hearty breakfast at places like Emma Jeans in Victorville or at the former Pic’s Coffee Shop, now known as Jerry’s Café in Devore.
You can also stop for a tasty bit of nostalgia at Mitla’s Café in San Bernardino or the Sycamore Inn in Rancho Cucamonga before driving down Foothill Boulevard, while pretending you are riding with Martin Milner and George Maharis on the Route 66 TV series.
Contact Nick Cataldo at Yankeenut15@gmail.com and read more of his local history articles at Facebook.com/BackRoadsPress.