The Eastern California route begins with a cruise down the Cajon Pass
on an old section of Route 66. Traveling this old road near Hesperia
is like a flashback to the past. Next, in Hesperia, the historic
Summit Inn welcomes all travelers off the Interstate 15.
Summit Inn Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Summit Inn is a vintage eatery welcoming Route 66 travelers as they
get to the top of the hill.
Green Tree Inn Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Bob's Big Boy
Hesperia, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Nearby, right off of Route 66 lies a Bob's
Big Boy complete with Bob smiling as guests arrive at the door.
This appears to be one of the newer Big Boy restaurants.
Travel up the interstate another 15 or 20 minutes
and you enter the town of Victorville and the Green Tree Inn.
Victorville is a great Route 66 town with highway markers and signs marking
Route 66 historic points of interest.
Stop and have breakfast at Don's Coffee Shop or grab a snooze at the New Corral Motel. As you make your
way towards the Northern edge of Victorville, on your left you'll see
the historic San Bernardino Fair sign.
Don's Coffee Shop Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
New Corral Motel> Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
San Bernardino Fair Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Mahan's Half Acre Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Route 66 Museum Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Next on the agenda is a stop over at the Route
66 Museum, formerly the First Bank Building. In the museum
are exhibits and films from the old road's glory days, including the actual
sign from the Hula Girl. Don't forget to grab a map or two
before you leave.
Zamora's Body Shop Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Next
to the museum are the historic Barrel House and Wonder's Bakery,
the latter which was once a former Circle K. A bit up the street
on the right-hand side is Desert Motors, an old used-car lot with
old signage. Continuing along the road, you'll encounter Hollandsburger
Cafe, a throwback to the Mother Road's heyday. Finally, before
leaving Victorville, visit Zamora's Body Shop, a car garage that
also does smog checks.Many thanks to Mike Lepker for
Wonder's Bakery/Circle K info
Barrel House Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Wonder's Bakery
(Formerly Circle K) Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Desert Motors Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
After Victorville along Route 66 comes a town called
Oro Grande. A nice place to stop and shop or even just stretch your
legs is the Oro Grande Implement Co. A bit farther down is
an old abandoned Mohawk Gas Station and the Route 66 Bar and
Grill, the latter still open for business. Over the next 10
mile stretch of highway, you'll encounter many abandoned buildings
and houses, some barely left standing. (If any of you know what
these ruins were, don't forget to drop me a line!) Especially of
interest are some ruins on the left side of the road, one which looks
like a house with no roof.
Route 66 Bar and Grill Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Old Gas Station? Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Abandoned Bulding Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Lenwood Market Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Soon you will encounter the town of Lenwood, a
city just before Barstow. The Lenwood Market (which was Joe's
Food Spot up until a couple years ago) is a good place to stop and grab
ice, drinks, or something to snack on before you continue on your journey. Many thanks to Mike Lepker for info
on Lenwood Market/Joe's Food Spot
Steve's Barber
Shop Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Need a haircut? Then drop by Steve's Barber
Shop before you leave. A great Kodak moment would have been
a shot of the Lenwood Drive-in Theatre screen, abandoned for years after
the I-15 was built. Unfortunately, the screen has been bulldozed
and no sign of it was left.
Do Drop Inn Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Right down the street is the Do Drop Inn,
an interest place that appeared to be closed. The walls invite you
to stop and have chili.
Next on the agenda is the old railroad town of
Barstow, full of activity and Route 66 life. Hungry?
Stop and eat at the Burns Brothers Restaurant or grab a slice of
pizza at Pizza Palace. Pizza Palace started out as Shakey's,
then became Straw Hat and finally Pizza Palace.
UPDATE : The Burns Bros. sign at
the TA Truck Stop is now gone. Update, Barstow Mural, and Pizza
Palace info courtesy Mike Lepker.
Barstow Motel( Formerly the Goldstone Bar) Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Burns Bros. Restaurant (Removed) Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Pizza Palace Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Desert Lodge Motel
Barstow, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Desert Lodge Motel and Nites Inn are just two of the many
places to stop for a sleep over in Barstow.
Nites
Inn Motel
Barstow, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Although the marquee for the Nite's Inn is rather plain backlit plastic,
it's still a motel alongside Route 66.
Whiting Bros. Motel
Postcard and info courtesy Mike & Terie Lepker
The postcard below of Whiting Bros. Motel was located right next to the Desert Lodge. Unfortunately, like
other vintage motor courts, Whiting Bros. was razed about 10 years ago.
(Below) For food of an international nature, you will come
upon the Palm Cafe Restaurant for American-Chinese food and Carlos
and Toto's for Mexican food (formerly Sander's Oasis Cafe.
Torches Motel
Barstow, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
More motels then show up along the route such as
the Torches. Right down the street is the Katz Restaurant
for steaks and sports diamond shaped lettering.
Katz
Barstow, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Here are a couple more Route 66 motels in Barstow, including the Route
66 Motel and Downtown Motel.
A definite must see is the historic El Rancho
restaurant and motel with its towering sign located across the street
from The Katz. Although signs signal that the restaurant/motel
is for sale, Route 66 is literally painted all over the walls. On
your way to the Beacon Bowl, now called Paradise Lanes, an interesting
looking liquor store, Swiss Liquor, with bottles of liquor wearing
little siesta hats beckon out to you. However, Swiss Liquor was
once called Pet Castle.
Paradise Lanes and Swiss Liquor
predecessor info courtesy Mike Lepker
El Rancho Motel Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Swiss Liquor Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Beacon Bowl Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
More Barstow motels soon come up on the Route 66
stretch include the Stardust Inn, Brants Motel, and Sands
Motel. Travel a bit down the road and you'll encounter an abandoned
gas station.
Stardust Inn Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Brant's Motel Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Sands Motel Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Top Hat Liquor Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Next up are the Top Hat liquor store and
the former site of the Bar-B-Que House. This building was the "Steakeaters
Restaurant" for many years, whose owner did catering for many a movie.
A new AutoZone store will sit where the Bar-B-Que House once fed a happy
belly. The Golden Dragon Restaurant a bit down the road was
a former Denny's. At the end of this stretch is the and Terrible
Herbst Gas Station. Many thanks to Mike Lepker for the
above info.
Bar-B-Que House (Demolished) Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Golden Dragon Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Terrible Herbst Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
But before you get there, don't forget to pay a visit to Barstow Station.
Barstow Station is actually a new structure built at the site of an original
McDonald's, and now also houses a Taco Bell and a gift shop.
Especially endearing is the McDonald's signage, a must see if you are
in the area. Curious to see what Barstow Station, a site that has
been through three configurations, looked like in the past? Check
out Vintage
66 for a look at three old postcards.