Neon to Neon
Comment via blog
Prev
Next
|
Day 8: September 22, 2026 Neon to Neon Comment via blog |
Prev Next |
|
|
|
It was still dark when I awoke on Tuesday, and it occurred to me that I
had not yet taken any nighttime pictures of the Boots on this visit. Would
the neon still be lit? I was super happy to find that it was, and
proceeded to snap a few images.
|
|
|
There was a sign dedication scheduled for later in the morning, but rather
than drive back to Joplin, I headed east toward home. Fred checked out a
few minutes later and also headed home. Mike Curtis, a.k.a. 2 lane
traveler, completed a 35 day drive of Historic Route 66 just before
arriving at the conference. I really recommend checking out the set of
daily videos from the trip
here. As he passed through here headed west, he had
breakfast at the Hangar
Kafe just a few miles north of Sixty-Six. I'd not previously heard of
the kafe, and now intended to make my first visit.
The path is well marked, I arrived almost exactly at opening time. A trio of Studebakers greeted me. There is no way to miss the connection with airplanes either outside or in. That's apparent in the view from my table both with and without breakfast. |
|
|
Back on Sixty-Six, I made a rare entrance into Spencer from the west.
Great progress has been made in over the last couple of years. Just before
I moved on, a van pulled in with ten or so tourists from Germany. I
exchanged a few words, and was assured they were having a great time, but
that was already quite obvious from their behavior.
Driving over this shield while eastbound doesn't happen very often for me either. It's in front of Gay Parita where a couple from Mississippi and a small group from parts unknown were chatting with Barb and each other. I spoke for quite a while with the Mississippi lady who was bubbling with excitement about everything she had seen or was planning to see. I'm not at all fond of the stickers covering the windows but am guessing that Barb and George are OK with it. I said hi to Barb and really wanted to ask about the stickers but she was talking with customers so I saved it for another time. |
|
|
I've not paid a whole lot of attention to Halltown in the past, but this
time the big stone building with evidence of activity caught my eye.
Apparently fine dining is on its way to Halltown. Perhaps even soon.
|
|
|
A light rain was falling as I did drive-bys of the Rockwood Motor Court
and College Street Cafe in Springfield, MO. Queen's Gate 66 near the Rail
Haven Motel is new to me. It was dedicated May 1 of this year. It is near
the start of a musical highway version of America the Beautiful. I
heard it properly on the third try, but recording it proved more
difficult. I then grabbed a drive-by shot of the Rest Haven sign on the
way out of town.
|
|
|
Between Springfield and Lebanon, I captured a decent illustration of the
difference between a road that cooperates with the land and one that
doesn't. The traffic level is kind of different, too. On the east side of
Lebanon, I snapped pictures of the former Wrink's Market and Munger Moss
Motel as I drove by.
|
|
|
In December, I got
both day and night shots of some of the signs in the
Saint Roberts Route 66 Neon Park . Today, I walked to
the east end so I could photograph a few from the other side.
|
|
|
What do Indiana and Missouri have in common? They're the only states where
Uranus makes money. I don't think Indiana currently has Uranus Liquors
though.
|
|
|
Here I'm entering Devil's Elbow eastbound. The building is the original
Munger Moss Sandwich Shop. The shop and the name moved to Lebanon with th
owners and grew into a motel. The sandwich shop was before my time, but I
do remember the Elbow Inn that operated here until closed -- maybe
temporarily maybe not -- by flood.
|
|
|
I'm sure glad I took this picture with the Corvair as soon as I arrived
at Shamrock
Court because the owners turned out to be the couple leaving the
office as I was walking in. Of course, if I hadn't taken the time to snap
the other pictures, I might have been able to talk with them. I had been
thinking of photographing the phone booth on arrival because I was last
here when it was sitting on a pallet and the concrete base was uncovered.
Pictures from that visit are
here.
After more than four years of intense refurbishing, Rich and Christina Dinkela opened the motel in May, and I've been looking forward to staying here ever since. The result of all that work is phenomenal. The place oozes 1950s charm on the outside while being packed with 2026 comfort on the inside. Friends have stayed in and reported on the Neon Room, which is sort of the star accommodation here. I'm in the less flashy, but still impressive Room #6. |
|
|
Here are a few of the same subjects after the sun's gone down. That 1950s
charm I mentioned is definitely oozing.
|
|
|
| [Prev] [Site Home] [Trip Home] [Next] |
