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As you continue your journey of
Route 66
from Rolla,
you’ll soon enter
Pulaski County,
the self-proclaimed Heart of the Ozarks. Through this area, the
Mother Road
cuts through large rock bluffs, over streams, and through lush
valleys, as well as providing numerous peeks at vintage restaurants,
auto courts and service stations. One of the most scenic drives
on
Route 66,
you’ll soon pass over a pristine four-lane section of the
Mother Road that was built to carry traffic to and from Fort Leonard Wood during
World War II. The first twisting, narrow stretch of
Route 66
through Devil’s Elbow was obviously not adequate for the many moving men
and equipment and the new four lane stretch was completed in 1943. Today, most of this old four-lane is still original and is in very
good condition considering its age. Passing through the steep
bluffs of the Big Piney River, the Hooker Cut was one of the deepest
road cuts in the nation at the time of its construction.
Interestingly, the curbs along this stretch
of road are inclined towards the roadway. This was a common
building practice at the time, as it was believed that such a design
would keep cars from going off the road. However, they soon
found out that the curb design actually caused cars to overturn and
was soon discontinued.
Devil's Elbow - A
Sharp Bend in the River
Turn
left just before crossing the Big Piney River to take the older
alignment through
Devil’s Elbow.
This community began around 1870 as a
lumberjack town when logs were floated down the river. During
those old timber days, a large boulder situated where the river bends,
was constantly causing log jams, hence the name
Devil’s Elbow. Later, when
Route 66 was built through
the area, the settlement became a resort community with cabins, inns,
service stops, and canoe rentals.
In this small community, you truly feel as if you have
stepped back in time as you drive this endearing piece of the old
Mother Road. Sheldon’s Market, which also houses the post office, first began as
Miller’s Market in 1954 and was later called Allman’s Market. The Elbow Inn Bar and Barbeque Pit was established in 1929 and is one
of the oldest original buildings on
Route 66
that still operates as the same type of business. The Elbow Inn was
the one time home of the Munger Moss Sandwich Shop which moved to
Lebanon
in 1946 after the highway was realigned through the Hooker Cut.
An old still truss bridge, dating back to 1926, crosses the
Big Piney River in
Devil’s Elbow
and a McCoy’s Store and Camp, built in 1941 still stands. Though no
longer open, it once had a busy store on the lower level and rented rooms
to
Route 66
travelers during its heydays.
Continued Next Page
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Route
66 Signs 
