Route 66 centennial spurs tourism in historic small towns
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AMARILLO, Texas – As US Route 66 turns 100 years old, travelers are looking for the shiniest motels, most unique attractions and tastiest eateries to celebrate its centennial.
The things Route 66 travelers seek today are the same things that drew people here in the road’s heyday.
“[The] “The trucking industry grew about 700% between 1939 and 1964. In 1964, 80% of people were taking vacations by car,” Route 66 writer Jim Hinckley told Fox News.
Historic Route 66 passes through dozens of towns; Some have grown into larger cities, while others are now the bones of what they once were.
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Many towns became ghosts after Route 66 was decommissioned in the 1980s. (Chelsea Torres)
“Think back to 1939, a million cars pass through your town a year. After the war, it goes up even more, and it’s like someone suddenly turned off the tap,” Hinckley said.
That vision becomes clear as travelers pass dilapidated businesses in dozens of small towns across eight states.
Along this stretch is the Texas town of Adrian, which has been called the “geographic midpoint” of Route 66, according to Gary Daggett, president of the Texas Old Route 66 Association.
“It’s nostalgia, you know, there’s so much American history in Route 66,” Daggett said.
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Daggett is also the gift shop manager at Midpoint Café in Adrian; This place is hard to miss as it is marked by a sign that rises into the sky.
Owner Brenda Hammit Bradley purchased the cafe in 2018 and is still known for her endless pie flavors, such as her green Chilean apple pie and Elvis, which is made with chocolate, peanut butter, and banana.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s not hard because it’s a job, but it’s just fun, I meet great people,” Bradley told Fox News, adding that more than 70% of his clients come from abroad.
Business owners and Route 66 experts say the historic highway is still alive thanks to international travelers. (Chelsea Torres)
Bradley said Midpoint Café inspired Flo’s V8 Restaurant in the Disney-Pixar movie Cars.
Just 15 minutes east is Vega, Texas, a small country town sprinkled with Route 66 memories. One block away from the historical route is Dot’s Mini Museum.
“Our town is crossed by I-40, but you know, there are a lot of people who travel, who love to go into town, meet people, see places,” said Keila Bain, Dot’s granddaughter.
Bain said his grandmother’s small antique museum was free to enter and the door was never locked.
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“The thing that’s missing most from Dot’s mini-museum is Dot herself, because she was so lively and so much fun,” Bain said, adding that her grandmother inspired one of the characters in Cars, allowing her to attend some of the film’s events.
Small museum on Route 66 filled with 20th-century antiques. (Chelsea Torres)
Although Dot is no longer around, the guestbook inside the small museum is filled with names from dozens of countries. These little books are featured at various Route 66 attractions around town, keeping track of the thousands of people who stopped by.
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“From the beginning, it’s been about people. It’s always been about people,” Hinckley said. “That’s what gives it that infectious magic and enthusiasm.”
