Search Results for: San Bernardino

Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino featured on “CBS Sunday Morning”

The fabled Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino, California, was featured this week during a four-minute segment on “CBS Sunday Morning.” One little-known angle the network explored was the Route 66 restaurant became an organizational meeting place for desegregation efforts for public swimming pools in San Bernardino. As with Black people across the nation, many municipalities … Continue reading Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino featured on “CBS Sunday Morning”

Real-life gang fight in San Bernardino inspired “West Side Story”

The play and film “West Side Story” is well known as the story of a fictional turf war between white and Puerto Rican street gangs in Manhattan. However, “West Side Story” was inspired by a real-life gang fight in 1955 in San Bernardino, California, about a half-mile north of Route 66. The historic Mitla Cafe … Continue reading Real-life gang fight in San Bernardino inspired “West Side Story”

Demolition begins on Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge in San Bernardino

The razing of the historic but closed Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge in San Bernardino, California, began a few weeks ago. Though it’s not on Route 66, many travelers heading to and from the Mother Road undoubtedly used the railroad viaduct over the decades. The span lies immediately south where Route 66 turns west onto West … Continue reading Demolition begins on Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge in San Bernardino

Mitla Cafe of San Bernardino finishes in Final Four of tortilla tournament

The historic Mitla Cafe along Route 66 in San Bernardino, California, recently advanced to the semifinals of the rugged KCRW Tortilla Tournament in the corn tortilla division. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin columnist David Allen, who noted the restaurant dates to 1937, passed along these details about the competition: While first-timer Mitla was entered in both … Continue reading Mitla Cafe of San Bernardino finishes in Final Four of tortilla tournament

California closes bars in Los Angeles County because of coronavirus

California’s governor on Sunday ordered the closing of bars in seven counties, including Los Angeles County, because of an upsurge in coronavirus cases. State officials also have urged eight other counties, including San Bernardino County, to close their bars, reported the Los Angeles Times and other news outlets in the region. The order came two … Continue reading California closes bars in Los Angeles County because of coronavirus

Train derailment near Ludlow closes Route 66 indefinitely

The derailment Wednesday of a freight train east of Ludlow, California, has closed National Trails Highway (aka Route 66) “for an unknown duration” due to a hazardous liquid spill. The Victorville Daily Press reports the accident just east of town shortly after noon involved 25 to 35 railcars. San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesperson Tracey … Continue reading Train derailment near Ludlow closes Route 66 indefinitely

Century-old picnic table returned to Camp Cajon site

A 100-year-old concrete picnic table that once stood at Camp Cajon, a former Route 66 rest stop in Southern California, was returned to the site last month. According to an article in the San Bernardino County Sun, the table stood for 80 years at Lytle Creek Park in San Bernardino. It also had this history … Continue reading Century-old picnic table returned to Camp Cajon site

Fire destroys long-closed Goffs General Store

A suspicious fire Tuesday destroyed the landmark but long-closed Goffs General Store in the Mojave Desert village of Goffs, California. Here’s the initial report from San Bernardino County Fire: Numerous 911 callers stated smoke and fire showing from a vacant store. Crews arrived to find a vacant building approximately 50% involved. The building, formerly the … Continue reading Fire destroys long-closed Goffs General Store

Was “Sleepy Joe’s Cafe” by Bruce Springsteen based on a Route 66 restaurant?

In the last few weeks, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin columnist David Allen has tried to track down the inspiration to the Bruce Springsteen song “Sleepy Joe’s Cafe,” off the new, fascinating “Western Stars” album. It’s easy to see why the opening lines of the song intrigued Allen: There’s a place out on the highway ‘cross … Continue reading Was “Sleepy Joe’s Cafe” by Bruce Springsteen based on a Route 66 restaurant?

Bridge failure closes Route 66 indefinitely from Ludlow to Amboy

More bridges on Route 66 apparently have failed in recent days east of Ludlow, California, closing the historic highway to the hamlet of Amboy, California. That’s on top of the closed portion of Route 66 from Essex, California, to Amboy. That leaves no direct Route 66 access to Amboy the east and west of the … Continue reading Bridge failure closes Route 66 indefinitely from Ludlow to Amboy