Photo Essay: Refuel With Old-School Americana
photo by: David Kafer
The word shamrock dates all the way back to the 1570s. It is derived from the Irish word, seamróg, a plant native to Ireland and an emblem of the North Atlantic island.
How about a gallon of Americana, unfiltered?
This photo tour of dimly lit vintage motels, trailer parks, and throwback gas stations along Route 66 will give you a taste of the simple life on the road. America's Main Street has some twists and turns, and many of them are worth exploring.
You never know what you might find on this strip of blacktop. Let's see what's just around the bend.
photo by: David Kafer
First paved with gravel in 1921, the US Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District in Texas maintains much of The Mother Road’s history. With elements taken from Spanish Revival, Art Deco, and Art Moderne, its structures reflect the evolving architecture of early 20th century suburban America.
photo by: David Kafer
The Missouri town of Spencer is one of the few places to retain the original 1926 alignment of Route 66. This authentic stretch of highway features a cafe, barbershop, and (of course) service station.
photo by: David Kafer
Memories of the Mother Road come in surplus at this vintage gas station. Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Illinois is the perfect spot to search for Route 66 collectibles—or to make some new furry friends.
photo by: David Kafer
Built as a trading post in the 1940s, the Enchanted Trails RV park in New Mexico offers a Mother Road experience like no other.
photo by: David Kafer
The RV park’s unique blend of curiosities and memorabilia combine some of The Mother Road’s most compelling elements: an impressive selection of Native American crafts, delicious southwestern cuisine, and kitschy souvenirs.
photo by: David Kafer
Visitors are welcome to bring their own RVs and, with 135 sites available, there is plenty of space for travelers to enjoy the vintage atmosphere and campground.
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photo by: David Kafer
This vintage Missouri service station is a beautiful re-creation of a gas station circa-1930. Its inspiration, a station in Paris Springs, Missouri, was active until a 1955 fire put it permanently out of business.
photo by: David Kafer
Over 90 years ago, Henry Soulsby left the mining industry due to injury and opened the Soulsby Service Station in Illinois in 1926.
photo by: David Kafer
Lexington local Norm Hiser makes a stop at the historic Cities Service Gas Station in Illinois.
photo by: David Kafer
Wigwam Village #7 in San Bernardino, California, was the final Wigwam Village of seven built by Frank Redford.
photo by: David Kafer
Each whimsical teepee unit stands at 32 feet tall and 20 feet wide on its base. It was featured as the Cozy Cone Motel in the 2006 film, "Cars".
photo by: David Kafer
Positioned along the eastern slope of the rugged Black Mountains, Arizona's Cool Springs Station has been catering to parched travelers since its creation in the 1920s.
photo by: David Kafer
The rooms in this 50-unit, 1953 Tulsa, Oklahoma, Motel were aligned diagonally to allow large rooms to be constructed on a small amount of land.
photo by: David Kafer
Known as one of the Southwest’s most iconic hotels, the Hotel El Rancho became a hotspot for Hollywood stars to stay when film crews came rolling through this New Mexican town.
