Rail Haven Route 66 Motel

We found an interesting place to stay overnight on our trip home in Springfield, Missouri. 

The Rail Haven Route 66 Motel, now a Best Western, is a little off the beaten path of the interstate, but once was located on a very busy road, Route 66.

The Motel was built in 1937, and much of it still looks the same.  The rooms are all located in the traditional “longhouse” style of older motels.  Inside, the rooms are small, the beds are full size instead of queen or king, and the bathroom fixtures are older, but all is very clean and well kept.

This photo collage was hanging in our room, showing how the facility and grounds looked in 1937 and after an update in 1950.

Elvis stayed here in 1956, according to the marquee.

Vintage autos are parked out front, and the original gas pumps still stand by the front door.

 

If you’re curious about the black can holder showing in most of the above photos, our nephew owns Red Oak Designs in Lexington, KY and features photos of the can holders in various locations on the company Facebook page, and we thought this was the ideal place for some photos for him.

Kingman and Oatman, AZ

Our last stop before heading south to Yuma was in Kingman, AZ, where we stayed for a week. Kingman holds the proud title of "Heart of Historic Route 66". Citizens of the area have been responsible for preserving the longest section of Route 66 still in use.

We enjoyed our stay in Kingman, dancing at the local square dances (both in Kingman and Lake Havasu City), making new friends, experiencing the Andy Devine rodeo; and making a side trip to Oatman, AZ.

The drive to Oatman was worth the trip in itself. Traveling Route 66 with its narrowness and curves, up and down the steep inclines was captivating.

New friends, Ron and Linda, accompanied us. Linda, a history buff, made a great tour guide, pointing out many of the old mines along the route, and providing intriguing history tidbits.

Oatman was a gold mining community, and has been preserved much as it was in its heyday. It's biggest tourist draw today is its wild burros.















The burros have learned that if they wander in from the hills mid morning, they can expect a free lunch from the tourists. The local merchants sell carrots just for that purpose, a dollar a bag. Most of the shops keep their doors standing open. If a burro happens to wander in, it's just shooed out with a broom.

For more pictures of Kingman and our trip to Oatman, click here: