To read an otherwise-good article by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, you’d think Route 66 had been languishing for decades until the “Cars” movie came out this summer.
And it’s true the Mother Road got quite a boost when Pixar’s film rolled into theaters, says author Michael Wallis.
“It’s been [a] huge shot in the arm for Route 66,” says Michael Wallis, the Oklahoma historian who literally wrote the book on the famous road — 1990’s “The Mother Road: Route 66.”
“Businesses on the road are reporting increases. Places like the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., all through the summer people started coming in with their families. The road is really reviving,” adds Wallis, whose expertise landed him a job as a consultant on “Cars.”
And from my own vantage point and talking to many Route 66 business owners, the summer of 2006 was a remarkable one because of “Cars.”
But to imply that Route 66’s comeback is a recent one isn’t true. The renaissance began over 15 years ago, with the publication of Wallis’ aforementioned best-selling book (the correct title is “Route 66: The Mother Road,” by the way). Until that time, ask any old-timer. He or she will tell you that the road was languishing like a terminally ill patient, waiting around to die.
After that book, towns tried harder to preserve their historic structures, and the once-ignored people of the road became cult stars.
Route 66’s renaissance hit a bump in the road after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks because of a double-whammy of tightened foreign travel and an economic recession. But David Knudson of the National Historic Route 66 Federation says he saw signs of a recovery in the last couple years.
So to set the record straight: Wallis’ book began the revival. “Cars” is the booster shot.
This is interesting! Although I haven’t seen the movie, I had heard that a lot of the movie is “based” on things along 66. I have been traveling the old road off and on since 1983 at about the time intrest was starting to climb. In the last few years I have been looking for signs that intrest was starting to wane, a lot of the highway icons (both human and man-made) that were around when I first started are gone, and, well….you can’t expect people’s intrests to stay focused forever. Well, anyway I’m glad things have picked up a bit along the Motheroad.
Thanks for writing, Jerome. The disappearance of historic icons along the road is inevitable. The idea is to preserve what’s there the best we can. I think Route 66 is doing a much better job of this now than in, say, 1990.
I’ve always loved Rt 66. I was born in Stroud and, in fact, my parents owned a house in Stroud on the main drag. I’ve moved away and don’t get back to the area as often as I’d like. But when I do, I take advantage of the opportunity to travel like we did before turnpikes and interstates. Here’s to the Mother Road; long may she be a source of pleasure for all traveler’s.
Ron, you absolutely nailed it as to what the driving factor behind the renewed interest in Route 66 really was. I can remember traveling US-66 as a child. When the road was decommisioned in 1984 there was barely any mention of it in our home state through which it passed.
Desiring a little nostalgia, I purchased Michael Wallis’ book and began to learn more about the Mother Road. This was around 1994. Shortly after reading his book I joined the Route 66 Association in our home state.
Shortly after joining the association, I began to travel the Route that I had often bypassed as an adult, my interest and fascination with this American landmark has continued to grow since reading Michael Wallis’ book.
With the renewed interest I’m hoping maybe the road will be recommisioned or at least be classified a Scenic Byway.