Dustbowl Highway Staff

Latest stories

  • The Beetles Have Landed: Slug Bug Ranch Relocates to Amarillo

    For fans of the weird and the whimsical, we’ve got some news: the Slug Bug Ranch has rolled into a new home along the Mother Road. Now located in East Amarillo, The Bug Ranch pays homage to the more famous Cadillac Ranch which lies just 15 minutes west on Interstate 40. Instead of copying the […] More

  • Gemini Giant: Route 66’s Space-Age Icon to Launch to a New Home

    Nestled in the small town of Wilmington, Illinois, the Gemini Giant has stood as a towering testament to America’s mid-century captivation by space travel and the open road. Until now, that is. This 28-foot-tall fiberglass colossus has been a quirky landmark on Route 66 since the 1960s. The Gemini Giant not only captures the spirit […] More

  • Amboy Crater: A Black Volcano Rising from the Mojave

    Rising from the Mojave Desert like a mysterious mountain from another planet, Amboy Crater is a nearly perfect volcanic cinder cone just off Route 66. Amboy Crater isn’t just a roadside oddity. It’s a geologic marvel. This cinder cone volcano last erupted over 10,000 years ago. Perfectly symmetrical and hauntingly beautiful, this National Natural Landmark […] More

  • History of Barbed Wire: Devil’s Rope Museum

    By now you know that 66 is full of unusual, quirky, and eccentric attractions celebrating American kitsch – and of all the offbeat museums found along the Route, the Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean, Texas, might be the most unusual—at least at first glance. Dedicated to the history of barb, or barbed, wire (also known […] More

  • Midpoint Cafe – Halfway Mark of the Mother Road

    True to its name, the midpoint cafe lies exactly 1139 miles from 66’s origin in Chicago, and 1139 from its end point in Santa Monica. Thus, this café’s slogan aptly states, “when you’re here, you’re halfway there.” Established in 1928, in Adrian, Texas, this gas station and café grew in popularity as Americans set out […] More

  • Forbidden Cave Dive: Blue Hole

    This dive destination has become world famous amongst scuba divers and travelers. Located along Route 66 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, the Blue Hole is a natural pool that extends down over 80 feet. The pool is fed by the Ogallala Aquifer which pushes 3,000 high pressured gallons of water per minute (!) up from […] More

  • Style: Architecture of Route 66 (Top 5)

      Imagine Route 66. What comes to mind? These 5 architectural styles will help define that “look” you know so well. 1. GOOGIE architecture: After winning the second World War, America was more optimistic than ever. With its sights set on the future, this architectural style captures the fascination with space-age technology and progress. From […] More

  • Remains of Roy’s: Population Zero

    West of Needles and east of Ludlow lies a desert community without a population. Today, Amboy, California consists only of a single gas station. However, the remains of Roy’s Motel and Café stand like a mirage against the breathtakingly bleak backdrop of the Mojave Desert. Established in 1939 by Roy Crowl, Roy’s started from humble […] More

  • Seat of Power: The Rocking Chair Rivalry

    Until 2015, the Fanning 66 Outpost held the record for the largest rocking chair in the world. Standing at an impressive 42 feet tall, this iconic structure weighs in at 27,500 pounds. Built out of steel and wool, this is not your average grandma’s rocking chair. However, another rocking chair took the world record when […] More
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