The Urban Sprawl at the End of Route 66

CALIFORNIA LEGENDS

Urban Sprawl at the End of Route 66

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Though you actually meet the beginnings of the urban sprawl in San Bernadino, from there forward, it gets worse. From San Bernadino to the Santa Monica Pier, much of old Route 66 has disappeared as roads changed and Los Angeles and its suburbs continued to build and expand.

When Route 66 began, it’s purpose was to connect the small towns between Chicago and the Pacific Coast and at that time, many of the Los Angeles suburbs were small towns, filled with mom and pop diners, motels, roadside fruit stands, and curio shops.

But in the rush to California, for which Route 66 was partially responsible, the area boomed as travelers escaped the dust bowls of the Midwest, attracted to the climate and opportunities that the Golden State provided.

Los Angeles, California

However, die-hard Route 66 fans can still travel along various alignments of the "original" road, as the path continues to exist along a number of throughfares all the way to Santa Monica, snaking through suburbs that pass seamlessly one into the other. From Pasadena, Route 66 is eighty miles of city streets through a number of Los Angeles suburbs and streets variously known as Foothill Boulevard, Colorado Boulevard, Huntington Drive, Sunset Boulevard, and Santa Monica Boulevard until you reach the western end of the Mother Road at the Santa Monica Pier. If you plan to drive the original route, estimate a full day of frustrating traffic bogs and traffic lights before reaching your destination.

On the other hand, if your goal is just to make the end of America’s Main Street USA, you can take I-10 from San Bernadino all the way to Santa Monica. Or, better yet, try a combination of streets along the outskirts, transferring to a highway when your frustration level has reached its peak.

If continuing the original route towards Pasadena through the suburbs of Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Azusa, Monrovia and more, there are several remaining vintage icons, if you know where to look between the strip malls and fast food restaurants.

As you begin your trek along the old route, you’ll first come to the San Bernadino of suburb Rialto that was once known for its many lemon groves. At the city’s edge is the infamous Wigwam Motel, that used to rent its rooms by the hour with a sign displaying “Do It In a Teepee.” Serving Route 66 travelers since 1947, these teepee style cottages have recently gone through a total makeover, including improvements to both the buildings' interior and exterior as well as the motel's landscape. The Wigwam Motel is located at 2728 W. Foothill Boulevard.

You can still stay at the Wigwam Motel in

San Bernardino, California. December, 2005, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Continuing along, you will soon reach the suburb of Fontana that presents a couple of vintage roadside peeks. At the southwest corner of Foothill Boulevard and Sultana Avenue sits a classic Italian restaurant called Bono’s. Unfortunately, as of this writing, Bono's is closed and the building is for rent. Right next to it, however, you can see the last of many orange juice stands that once dotted all of California's Route 66.

Rancho Cucamonga was once known for it’s many vineyards and orange groves which have since been replaced by numerous businesses as the city has become one of the fastest growing suburbs in the metropolitan area. However, this suburb does provide a couple of Route 66 era opportunities. At Haven Avenue is one of California's oldest wineries, the Virginia Dare, and at the northwest corner of Foothill Boulevard and Archibald sits the 1920s Richfield Oil station. Dating back to time when Route 66 passed through nothing but country side and vineyards, this place stands out among the more modern views of the road.

During Route 66 heydays, these popular oranges stands

dotted the Mother Road. Today, this is the last surviving

one. Kathy Weiser, December, 2005.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Rancho Cucamonga also sports the historic Sycamore Inn that once stood as a San Bernadino Stage stop. Located at 8318 Foothill Boulevard, this old place has been offering great food and friendly service for almost 150 years. While in Rancho Cucamonga also be sure to visit the Route 66 Visitors Center and Museum at 8916 Foothill Boulevard.

Soon you will arrive at Upland, which features the vintage Buffalo Inn where buffalo burgers have been served since 1929. Here, in this frontier saloon atmosphere, you can enjoy a burger and brew in a laidback atmosphere before continuing your journey westward. The Buffalo Inn is located at 1814 W. Buffalo Boulevard.

Next you’ll come to the city of Claremont, where you can can see the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden on the right side of Route 66 just before the intersection with Indian Hill Boulevard.

As you continue on, pay attention as Foothill Boulevard curves slightly to the right entering Pomona, California, home to vintage Wilson’s Restaurant at the northwest corner of the intersection with Garey Avenue.

From here, the route takes you through La Verne and San Dimas, before arriving in Glendora. In Glendora is the Golden Spur Restaurant that has a history dating back more than eighty years. There is also a 1940’s gas station at the intersection of Alosta Avenue and Loraine. Glendora also sports a quaint downtown district where several of its buildings haven’t changed for more than a century.

Kathy Weiser, December, 2005.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

As you continue along Route 66 you will soon come to Azusa, home to the vintage Foothill Drive-in Theatre. The last historic drive-in on Route 66 west of Oklahoma , the vintage theatre was designated as a California historical resource in 2002.

As you continue on, you will pass through Irwindale and Duarte, before arriving at Monrovia which provides numerous views of yesteryear. One block north of Colorado Boulevard on Shamrock is a vintage gas station left over from an earlier alignment of Route 66.

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Los Angeles, California,

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Route 66 Postcards - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected numerous postcards for our Route 66 enthusiasts. For many of these, we have only one available. To see this varied collection, click HERE!