Amboy Update !

In 2005, Albert Okura, the founder of the restaurant chain Juan Pollo, purchased the historic town of Amboy. Numerous obstacles have prevented him from realizing his goal of reopening the gas station and its adjacent convenience mart.

However, these obstacles have not prevented Mr. Okura from doing something for the Route 66 travelers who stop at Roy’s in Amboy. As of this writing, (December 2007) the restrooms have been re-opened, and they have flush toilets and running water to wash your hands; however, the water is not potable –meaning it’s not safe to drink. They also have gas at some pumps.

Vending Machines with snacks and cold drinks are available in front of the Post Office across from Roy’s, but there is no other food, lodging or gasoline available in Amboy. Amboy T-shirts are also available for sale in a quasi visitor center inside Roy’s lunch counter. Much of Amboy’s charm is related to its 1940s and 1950s buildings, and its remote location in the Mojave Desert. This remoteness lends itself to individualism and eccentricity, as the visitor center is not open and staffed on a specific schedule. All we can say is when it is open; it will be during the day—most likely, from mid-morning to late-afternoon, or by chance.

Kelso Depot
now open in the Mojave National Preserve

The newly remodeled Kelso Depot is now open as a visitors center for the Mojave National Preserve. The Visitors Center is open every day from 9:00 AM to 5 PM except Christmas. Most of the former dormitory rooms contain exhibits describing various aspects of the surrounding desert. The old baggage room, ticket office, and two dormitory rooms have been historically furnished. An excellent 12-minute film on the preserve is shown in the theater on request. They have restrooms and water. No other facilities are available. The Lunch Room has been restored but no food or beverages are served at this time. There is a gift shop and staffed information from the NPS is on hand.

The Greystone Cafe is Torn down

On March 25th 2007 the Greystone Café located at 31317 E. Main in Barstow, CA was torn down. The unique structures were built from river rock in 1918. This was before Route 66 was even named National Trails Highway. The road was dirt at that time. Today this section of road runs parallel to the freeway by the Marine Base. People from the sixties will remember it as a bar. The cabins and main structure are now lost forever and remain only in pictures and memories.

When the Greystone was built it served as a way station for Mormons on their way to the lower LA Basin area. It had a store, overnight rooms and a garage for automobile repair. Horses were still the primary mode of transportation but the number of automobiles was growing fast. The property if for sale through Coldwell Banker.

Plan your Route 66 Trip with AAA info

Desert Dispatch staff writer Kelly Donovan reports the AAA team photographer Todd Masinter and travel writer David J. Brackney stopped at the Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow Monday June 6th. They were traveling on Route 66 to update the AAA Great Hits map, "The Best of the Mother Road," which includes Barstow.
Check the AAA web site Route 66 Road Trip Update . Day 21 tells about Barstow and Victorville. Also, see the Photo Galleries for more pictures. The Excellent photo journals provide useful information to plan your Route 66 road trip

New wayside exhibit in the Mojave Desert

Travelers have noticed that an old rest stop on Route 66 about three miles east of Cadiz Summit has a new exhibit in the making. Thanks to the BLM, the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation, and others the wayside exhibit will be an informative stop to pause and take in the surrounding beauty.
An attractive rock base surrounds the sturdy steel structure. Progress toward completion of the renewed rest stop can be observed west of Danby and Essex, and east of Cadiz Summit and Chambless.