The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader published a review of a restaurant on Route 66 of which I was unfamiliar. It’s the Rockwood Court Cafe at 2204 W. College St. in Springfield.
The reviewer summed it up as: “Delicious home-style food at great prices in an eclectic atmosphere make the Rockwood Court and Café stand out on an old, but not forgotten, Route 66.”
It appears to be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day but Sunday on Friday and Saturday. It’s open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday, and closes Sunday. The phone number is 417-863-0500.
The motel it’s attached to looks old, but I can’t find any mention of it in the late Skip Curtis’ “The Missouri U.S. 66 Tour Book.” Is the Rockwood the motel’s original name? Does anyone else have any information about it?
UPDATE: I overlooked the listing for the Rockwood Court in Curtis’ book. On Page 200, it says the Rockwood was built in 1931 and “stayed the Rockwood until 1969.”
Tommy Pike, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, said in an e-mail:
The Cafe part has changed names several times but is now back to Rockwood. And I think part of the house in the postcard has been torn down, but there is still a wooden end on the rock cafe building. It is a couple blocks east of Melinda Court (the old Rock Fountain Tourist Court) that is on the National Register. Same type of field/sandstone construction.
Pike added that he wasn’t sure whether the motel is open for tourists or for only long-term rentals.
Ron,
A closer look at the link you provided indicates that Monday thru Thursday, they’re only open for breakfast and lunch.
On Friday and Saturday they stay open for dinner.
Mon-Thu: 6am-2pm
Friday: 6am -8pm
Saturday: 7am-8pm
The days and hours under “Just the Facts” aren’t formatted very well.
Thanks for the correction, Bob. I was in a hurry to get out the door when I wrote that, which you can probably tell.