This morning my son played a baseball game on the Westside in San Bernardino on Mount Vernon Avenue. Seeing the signs for Route 66 gave me an idea to travel on the historic highway this afternoon and get some photos of all the historic motels and restaurants that were a big part of American life before the freeways took over. I expected to get all the way to Santa Monica; however, there were so many stops to photograph and so many fun things to do, that I only made it to Fontana before the sun started setting. So, this will have to be a series of photoessays. It's fun to have some exciting day trips on the agenda.
The freeways caused the Westside of San Bernardino to deteriorate over the years since the tourists no longer travel this road regularly.
This hotel is still in business but I wouldn't recommend it to family or friends. This sign used to say "Beer" - which I am sure was a welcome sight after traveling through the hot and dusty Mojave Desert.
I love photographing these little unique motels and Mount Vernon Avenue was full of them.
I thought this Motel Holiday Inn was really funny. I wanted to go in and look around, but the characters loitering around the OK Liquor store next to it, made me stay close to my car.
The Mitla Cafe is really famous for delicious Mexican food and I love how the Route 66 is well marked with signs telling of the historical significance of the attractions.
On that corner, everywhere you turn, there are tempting Mexican restaurants. I'll have to come back here when I'm hungry and try them all.
This Santa Fe smokestack on Mount Vernon Avenue is evidence of San Bernardino's important historical role as a major transportation hub.
As we turned onto Foothill Boulevard, the highway is lined with motels for tired travelors:
The Wigwam Motel is the best of all! Until a few years ago, the sign used to read: "Do it in a Teepee" and the motel would rent rooms by the hour. New ownership has worked very hard to restore these unique buildings to their original quirkiness and the sign now reads: "Slept in a Teepee lately?" This was the highlight of the trip for my daughter - she was completely fascinated.
To continue driving down Route 66 with us, please visit the next installment to this series: Route 66- Rialto.
Happy Motoring!
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Comments: 30
I'm so surprised you have never driven down there being a San Berdoo person! You know how much of a roadside attraction junkie I am... You shoudl totally post this to Roadside Wonders!!! (roadsidewonders.gather.com)
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A Scandalous Overture
Apryl, those teepees do look like they belong in Cars! I love stuff that reminds me of those carefree days of the 1950s.
Rick, I'll have to come out to New Jersey one of these days and travel those roads. I read so many stories that have that as a backdrop and it would be fun to really see that part of the world. I think anywhere that was catering to the working class back in the 1940s-1960s was big into these road-side attractions. I love those little restaurants that are shaped like donuts or icecream cones or hot dogs. I wish more of them were saved. You should post pictures!
Mike, miniture golf would be fun there! The Indian pointing to the Tee-pees is pretty tacky but from what I've been reading, native american symbols were used to entice Easterns to come out West and all these stereotypes were used for marketing the idea of a Wild West. Go do a photoessay of Route 9W - I want to see it!!!!
Thank you, Necee! And good luck to your Daughter In Law in the contest!
Thanks, Jay!
Michele, that IS hilarious! I saw photos of the sign that used to be up, so that's no urban legend. Coupled with the fact that adult businesses are surrounding the Wigwam Motel, I can only imagine how sleazy this place was until it was bought by new owners and renovated a few years ago. I took a peak in a tee pee on Sunday when they were opened up for cleaning, and they do have bathrooms inside. I was wondering about that - and wagon wheel headboards on the beds. Very cute!
Denny, I love Disneyland and of course you have to visit that when you are out here. Next time you should try seeing some of the National Parks like Sequoia and Yosemite and Kings Canyon. They are all bunched together in the Sierra Nevada mountains and you can see all three in two days - absolutely breathtaking! I am hoping to go there in November so I'll be sure to do a photoessay so you can see. That's my very favorite part of all of California.
Thank you so much, Casey! I didn't know you come to San Bernardino! That is totally cool!!!! Oh, I love your new icon too!
Madame Donna, it's such a fun way to spend a weekend. There is a lot of traffic and stoplights on literally every block so it is very very slow going. I might have to cheat and only go one way on the Route 66 when I get closer to LA and then zoom back on the freeway so I don't have to spend the night somewhere. I can't believe it took me all afternoon to get through Rancho Cucamonga when it's a quick 15 minutes by freeway. I think you would LOVE the Magic Inn Restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga - it is very elegant and very cool looking.
I like seeing the Tee Pee motel too - we had a Tee Pee restaurant in Indianapolis. Us kids begged and begged to go there but I was only there once as an adult just before it closed. They tore it down after sitting empty for years and years, I still miss seeing it when we go to the State Fair - corner of 38th and Keystone.
Thanks...S
I hope you don't mind that I lag a few behind on your photo essays, this way there is no way I could offend one of your previous commentors.
I really love your photos, but I can't believe how that part has changed, we used to go through there in the evenings hoping to get through the desert in the cool of the night,,, glad nobody "gotcha" while you were out venturing for your photos...thanks!!!
Thank you so much, Kathryn.
Randee, this area truly is dangerous. I didn't really realize it because I'm always going through on Saturday and Sunday mornings or afternoons when a lot of people are out and about, but I keep reading of all kinds of murders in this area. I'll have to be more careful! I bet this has changed so much, and not in a good way. I think the city will eventually come back from its long decline, but it will certainly take a long time. They are hoping to renovate this westside when they fix the 215 freeway.