This report from the Arizona Republic does a good job of why it’s important the old, abandoned gas stations are being cleaned up along old Route 66, especially in a stretch between Holbrook and Winslow.
The Department of Environmental Quality program is sparking new interest in development along the Mother Road. Before, no one was willing to even touch these properties because of the liability involved of cleaning up those stations’ underground fuel tanks. This program eliminates that problem.
It’s good to see Arizona working to eliminate obstacles to renovation and adaptive reuse along 66.
But this line caught my eye: “And there’s Holbrook’s park at Hopi Drive and Navajo Boulevard, the only 90-degree turn Route 66 makes in its 2,448-mile length.”
I can think of several examples of 90-degree turns just off the top of my head — the south end of Chandler, 11th & 193rd East Ave in Tulsa (although it was a banked turn back in the day), 23rd and Lincoln in OKC. Am I misunderstanding the significance of Holbrook’s corner?
I’ve seen that reference for the “only” 90-degree turn for Holbrook several times, and I wish they’d quit claiming it. It’s wrong.
I can think of several other places in Oklahoma’s Route 66 where a 90-degree turn exists — Bristow, Vinita, Miami — just off the top of my head. I’m sure there are dozens more along that highway.
I don’t know why Holbrook claims it. I’m familiar with that corner, and it’s just another right turn along the route. I’m not aware of anything else significant about it.
I know of two 90-degree turns in Vega, TX and three in Amarillo, TX. At one time, there were at least two places where 66 crossed the railroad between Amarillo and Vega. (four 90-degree turns in all)
One of the crossing points, which snaked below the railroad bed, was notorious for being a death trap. Vic Plunk, who lives near the location does a good job of talking about this location when the highway was still a gravel road and steam engines were still in use on the Rock Island.
Vic tells the story on a video clip I produced a couple of years ago which you can view at https://captiveimage.us/Gallery/Photos/thumbnails.php?album=55
Look for the clip titled “Steam Locomotives along Route 66”.
Vic tells a couple of other good stories about The Mother Road in the same section too.