There is a great stop that is a MUST right before you get to Rolla. The Route 66 Motors and Nostalgia Gift Shop, take lots of money or credit cards. There is a great selection of Rt 66 stuff, along with Coke and car collectibles. The guys that work there are very knowledgeable and friendly & are happy to take the time to chat awhile. I was able to follow up on my research here. The Chain of Rocks Bridge was so named because there used to be a large shoal bed that crossed the river there and they built the bridge over it. We followed the old route through Rolla, pretty interesting.
I feel I should mention at this time, probably should’ve sooner, we are using a Missouri Route 66 map in addition to Tom Snyder’s book to follow the route, it’s great! It is available from the Missouri Association and some shops along the way. Makes it very easy. All states should have one of these. Missouri has all sections that we went on well marked with signs.
From Rolla we went through Doolittle, Arlington and Hooker. We went to Devil’s Elbow, which is a very scenic area. While on the bridge there we met a man whose family had bought the original Munger Moss (it is still standing on the right just before the bridge, going south) and turned it into The Elbow Inn. It is now apartments.
From here we had to get back on the four-lane and return to our base. Once there we packed up and moved our base to Springfield, MO. Here we stayed at the KOA, it is very close to Main Street USA. We arrived here late in the afternoon, so our main exploring will be done tomorrow. We did go into town and follow the route, it was dark already so couldn’t see much. We ate at a place called El Taco on Kearney (an alignment of Rt 66); it wasn’t bad, but no margaritas.
In the morning we decided to make a trip over to Buena Vista’s Exotic Animal Park, neither of us had ever been to a drive-thru park. It cost $18.84, which we thought was a bit steep, but goes towards the breeding and feeding of the animals. It is a 9 1/2 mile drive, we only went halfway. I was mostly interested in the big cats, we saw 5 tigers. We saw plenty of buffalo, deer (at least 6 varieties), llamas, African cattle, horses (including zebras), and goats. It was kind of fun for about the first mile, they come right up to the window and look in to see if you have any food, some even lick the vehicle. But after that it got a bit boring, and we were a bit pushed for time. So off we went.
We took the Interstate to the border and then went north to Galena, KS. My husband had this brilliant idea that it would be easier to just drive sections of Route 66, instead of backtracking. Good in theory, but terrible in reality. We missed some of the Kansas route, you just can’t make any quick, sharp turns if you miss them in a bus style motor home towing, we’re at least 52’ long. We followed the old road into Oklahoma. Through Riverton, Baxter Springs, Quapaw, Commerce, and into Miami. I made sure that my husband was driving all this time; we got back on the turnpike at Miami. It’s just so much easier to do it by car, when driving an RV there is too much stuff you have to pay attention to, more so than a car, there’s no time for much looking when you’re on two-lane roads. My husband told me to make him read this if he ever wants to do it his way again.
We made our next stop at the KOA in Catoosa, right on Route 66. Unfortunately, it is Christmas Eve tomorrow and there is a frigid cold front moving into the area, so we will save Tulsa, Oklahoma City and all points in between for our next trip. And besides, it was time to do laundry. It was Interstate all the way to Canute, OK, and another KOA, also on Route 66.
This photo is along old 66 in front of the KOA, Elk City/Clinton, Oklahoma; from a trip in June 1991 while in route from Boone, NC to Los Banos, California. I do not believe that Cheryl was keeping our trip diaries back then.
The next day, Christmas, we headed east on the four-lane to the Hinton exit. We explored Bridgeport, a ghost town with residents. There are weeds and dirt roads a plenty here. It was fun though. I should mention that we have been using Oklahoma Route 66: The Cruisers Companion mostly, in conjunction with Tom’s book. It’s very informative and has excellent maps of the cities it goes through. Then it was on to Hydro and Lucille’s service station, we were hoping to talk with her, but seeing as it’s Christmas most everything is closed; next time. On through Weatherford. Clinton was our next spot, where we checked out Pop Hick’s and Jiggs Smokehouse, and cruised through town. Then we were in Foss, another ghost town, more modem than Bridgeport, at least the roads were paved. Then into Canute and Elk City. Back to camp for Christmas dinner and festivities.
U DROP INN CAFÉ - Shamrock, Texas
The next day we were Texas bound. We traveled the four-lane until Shamrock, TX, where we spent a little time exploring the U Drop Inn. It was closed for Christmas holidays. Pretty nice place, hope to eat there next time. It was back on I-40 until McLean. We figured that with the holidays the Route 66 Museum would probably be closed, to our delight it was open. We spent a couple of hours there talking with Delbert and Ruth Trew, they are such nice people, and very enthusiastic about their museum. We could’ve stayed longer; they are such a joy to talk to. But we must move on, on to Amarillo, where we stayed at the Overnight Trailer Inn.
