Traveling historic Route 66 is one road trip that is on most travelers' bucket list. The route is full of rich history that is sure to attract anyone. The road spans.2,448 miles and eight states, meaning there is no shortage of roadside attractions. This list is just a few of the many unique roadside attractions located on the Main Street of America
66 Drive-In - Carthage, MO
Today there are fewer than 350 drive-in theaters left in the United States, but the 66 Drive-In Theatre is still going strong. This drive-in theater had its first showing on the night of September 22, 1949 when it showed a musical comedy called Two Guys in Texas. Admission only cost 50 cents per person. The theater is located on nine acres of land just outside of Carthage, Missouri. It was built by W.D. Bradfield and V.F. Narramore out of 65,000 pounds of steel in about two months. Because of the rising popularity of the VCR and movie rental stores, the theater shut down in 1985. However, it was renovated and reopened on April 18, 1998. Today you can go there to see a double feature at a reasonable price. Ages 13 and older are $8, Ages 4-12 are $4, and 5 and under is free. Their typical season is April through mid-September and they show movies Fridays-Sundays. Drive-in movie theaters are a fun experience that everyone will enjoy, and this one happens to be located on Route 66.
Address:17231 Old 66 Blvd, Carthage, MO 64836
Phone Number: (417) 359-5959
Website: http://66drivein.com/
Blue Whale - Catoosa, OK
This landlocked whale was built by Hugh S. Davis as an anniversary gift for his wife. He began construction of the whale in 1970 and officially finished building it in July 1972. Davis' friend, Harold Thomas, welded the iron skeleton for this animal and it took him about 100 hours of work to complete. Davis spent around 3,000 hours applying the concrete, one five-gallon bucket at a time. The whale ended up being 20 feet tall and 80 feet long. Davis intended for the whale to just be enjoyed by his family, however its popularity spread throughout the community. Not too long after it was built, the whale opened to the public so families could go there to swim, fish, and have picnics. After Davis and his wife passed away, the whale began to fall into disrepair. The pond was covered in scum and many vandals targeted it. In 1997 the city of Catoosa worked to refurbish the whale and it was opened back up for the public to enjoy. Many people have stopped to visit this nostalgic attraction, including Paul McCartney. Today you can stop by and explore the whale, fish in the pond, and have a picnic. Swimming is not allowed anymore, but it is still roadside attraction that is well worth the visit. There is a concession stand, gift shop, and restrooms on the property and admission is free. The Blue Whale is a top attraction on Route 66 that can't be missed.
Address: 2600 Rte 66, Catoosa, OK 74015
Phone Number: (918) 266-2505
Cadillac Ranch - Amarillo, TX
This unique ranch was created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Doug Michels, and Hudson Marquez. The three bought ten used Cadillacs for around $200 each froma junkyard. The oldest was a 1949 and the newest model was from 1964. The cars were buried nose down in a line from oldest to newest. The ranch was located 10 miles southwest of Amarillo. In the 1990s the cars were moved two miles west from where they were originally to to make room for the growing town. People began to paint the cars and steel pieces as souvenirs. Eventually the cars got down to only their frames. The creators of this unique attraction encouraged visitors to express themselves and create art on the vehicles. When you visit today, the smell of spray paint hits you instantly once you get out of your car. Each car is covered in inches of spray pain. Make sure when you visit that you are armed with cans of spray paint so you can leave your mark.
Address: 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX 7912
Wigwam Motel - Holbrook, AZ
This Wigwam village was built in 1950 by Chester E, Lewis. Lewis ran the motel until 1974 when Interstate 40 was built. After Lewis passed away his children renovated the motel and opened it back up in 1988. It is one of seven Wigwam Motels that were built in the United States and is one of the three still in operation today. There are 15 Wigwams, made out of steel and concrete, that guests can stay in. The motel is a square layout with the 15 Wigwams on three side and the main office on the fourth side. There are vintage cars scattered throughout the parking lot, adding the the nostalgic feel. Each room has original furniture and either two double beds or one queen sized bed. The rooms are also equipped with heat, air conditioning, cable, and a bathroom. There are no ice machines or telephones and there is not WiFi available either. If you are looking for a unique place to stay while traveling Route 66 be sure to stop at the Wigwam Motel. It is a nostalgic motel from the heyday of Route 66 that you are sure to fall in love with.
Address: 811 W Hopi Dr, Holbrook, AZ 86025
Phone Number: (928) 524-3048
Website: http://www.sleepinawigwam.com/index.html
Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch – Oro Grande, CA
While this roadside attraction is fairly new and not original to Route 66, it is still a unique place to visit. Elmer Long is the creator of the bottle tree ranch. He built his first tree in 2000 using old bottles that had been collected by his father. There are now over 200 welded trees with an old glass bottle on every branch. Most of the bottles on the trees are either beer or liquor bottles and many are sorted by color, brand, or age. Eventually Elmer began including other 'junk' in his art including old radios, typewriters, and appliances. When the wind is blowing you can hear the bottles whistling. The gates to the ranch are open from dawn to dusk and visitors are free to wander around the area. There is no admission fee, however they do collect donations. This roadside attraction is something you can't see anywhere else. People young and old are sure to enjoy a visit to Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch.
Address: 24266 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368
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