Day Four

This little cactus represents everything in the desert. Survival is a struggle for every animal and plant. This little guy has made his home on the deck of a bridge.

Cool tombstone, Kingston, New Mexico.

View from Emery Pass on the Black Range Highway, New Mexico, 8,000 feet.

Black Range Highway, New Mexico.

Vacation Day Three

I rolled out of Elk City, Oklahoma, this morning. First stop was the old Britten Truck Stop in Groom, Texas. Despite it's seemingly precarious angle, this water tower was placed like that intentionally to attract attention. As you can see, it worked.

The legendary Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo, Texas. Graffitti artests are welcome, just bring your own paint. Every few years the cars are whitewashed to allow for fresh 'art'. Despite no connection whatsoever to Route 66, it is still a must-see attraction

This crispy critter was in the parking lot on of Russell's Truck and travel Center in Springer, New Mexico. 

 Abandoned church in Newkirk, New Mexico.

Old building, Newkirk, New Mexico.

Deserted school house, Cuervo, New Mexico.  Keep an eye out for a follow-up post abouth this little town.

Sign at a car museum on Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Unfortunately, it was closed.

Santa Rosa, New Mexico. No, I don't know what it is. Any guesses?

The La Mesa Motel, Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

Not a lot of text tonight. Ready for a good night's sleep in Albuquerque. Tomorrow? Silver City, New Mexico and Safford, Arizona!!

Picher, Oklahoma: Death of a Modern Day Mining Town

As with all journeys, there is the occasional detour that alters the route. This is such a detour.

When I initially drove through Picher, I thought the local employer was a massive gravel pit. Towering piles of gravel were clearly visible on both sides of the highway. The town itself had an incredibly eerie feel. Empty houses missing doors, windows, signs of life. Not really run down or unsound, but average middle class brick  'starter'-size. Just south of these houses was an area of overgrowth. No buildings there, but streets leading to nowhere in particular, just to more empty streets. The trees in the area even look strange. A bit farther south was where I started getting a bigger picture. There was heavy equipment and concrete forms consistent with mining operations. At this point, I consulted Google, then Wikipedia and other sites, for more information. In a nutshell, the area was heavily mined for lead and zinc. Soil and water contamination was wide spread. The gravel piles are actually contaminated mine tailings. To further complicate the situation, much of town was undermined. This literally means that mining had removed enough subterranian structure that the town was at risk of caving in. The EPA came in and provided funding to the residents for their relocation. Evacuation was mandatory and the area was declared uninhabitable. The massive contamination also claimed the nearby towns of Cardin and Treece. The explanation for the areas with no houses whatsoever would have been the 2008 mile-wide F-4 twister that took out 20 city blocks. This town that boasted 14,000+ inhabitants had plumeted to 20 by 2010. Today, I am not sure there was a single person left. Anyone want to buy a Superfund site??

Vacation Day Two

Another fantastic day on the road! I got to bed late last night so I didn't get the early start that I had hoped for, but since I am not punching a clock, it's no big deal. 

I rolled into Springfield itself and caught Route 66 right away. The first stop was the Gillioz Theater. This beautiful building celebrated it's 86th birthday (built in 1926) earlier this month. Don't let the narrow facade fool you. His little beauty seats 1130 (690 on the lower level, 440 in the balcony). 

It's hard to see in the head-on shot, but this stained glass is in the center of the arched window behind the marquee.

1928
[Cinema Treasures]

It is unknown what this building was during its useful life. Some type of business, perhaps a hotel. But these days it grows trees and houses critters.

Later research on TheRoute-66.com revealed that this building was a store on the lower level with living quarters and a social area upstairs. The structure was among the last surviving remnants of the town of Plano, Missouri.

I visited Baxter Springs Cemetery just across the line into Kansas. HERE is more information about the history of this national cemetery.

Miami, Oklahoma is the home of the Goodman Theater built in 1929 by George Coleman and is on the National Register.

A 1929 postcard 
[Route 66 Mother Road Postcards]

The Mother Road.

This segment of road is original 1922 construction near Afton, Oklahoma. The single lane is nine feet wide and has a concrete base and curbs. The road is still in regular use by locals, but is quite rough. 

Another night, another hotel. This time in Elk City, Oklahoma. Looking forward to what adventures tomorrow bring!!

Vacation Day One

Day One of vacation was fairly successful. I started the morning with breakfast with an old high school friend. Funny how two people can be separated for 20 years or more and just take up like it has only been days???

So I got a late start out of Terre Haute. I suppose one can't really leave 'late' when they don't actually have a schedule. It was cold and gray for the rest of the morning. Blue sky didn't make an appearance until I got to St. Louis, just in time for a visit to the arch.

I travel through or around St. Louis with some regularity, but spending time in town really isn't an option. Making time to take in the sights was a must. Historic buildings are one of my passions. St. Louis is a candy store for a fat kid.

I caught Historic Route 66 west bound on the west side of St. Louis. I picked up a fantastic travel guide at AAA that is PRICELESS for enthusiasts of the legendary asphalt.  My first stop actually pre-dates Route 66 construction by several decades. The old Pond Hotel has witnessed thousands, or more likely, millions of drivers traversing Ol' 66. I look forward to doing a bit of research on this structure, so keep your eyes open for a follow up post!!

Sadly, sometime prior to March 2021, this structure was destroyed.

The Mission Revival structure was originally the Big Chief Cabin Hotel and later B Donovan's Steak House in Wildwood. Today's sign reflects it's historic identity. Here is a great article about the Big Chief.

Originally the site of the Diamonds Restaurant at Villa Ridge (burned in 1948), this unusual building was most recently the Tri-County Truck Stop. At the time of it's construction, it claimed to be the world's largest roadside restaurant. It has been abandoned since at least 2008.

The Sunset Motel, also in Villa Ridge, was built in 1937 and seems to be open for business 

Bourbon, Missouri.

The Wagon Wheel Motel is still bright-eyed and bushy tailed in Cuba.

And to think some people thought it was Roger Miller. Now we know.

More Route 66 adventure planned for tomorrow along with the burial place of the Father of Oklahoma!!