Volunteer work days to help the owner clean up the long-closed but photogenic Roadrunner Retreat restaurant near Chambless, California, have been set for Nov. 3-4, and a GoFundMe page has been launched to help defray its expenses.
Beth Murray, organizer of the GoFundMe page, has set a relatively modest goal of $500. She wrote on the page (lightly edited for clarity):
Every year Ryan Anderson who is the grandson of the last owner (Murphy) of the Roadrunner Retreat Restaurant goes out to the Restaurant’s location and cleans up, paints and repairs what he can to keep this iconic Route 66 treasure viable for travelers to enjoy. This year we are looking to rent a dumpster, have some wheelbarrows, and Ryan hopes to repair the fence and paint over any graffiti that vandals may have done to the property. The Cleanup weekend is November 3 and 4, 2018, and would love to have you there physically. If you can’t, your contribution of one dollar, five, whatever you feel like doing would be appreciated. Ryan has done all of this out of his own pocket before, and so by helping him, you are not only preserving a legacy of Route 66, but helping the next generation know the power of the road and what can happen when a group of like-minded individuals get together, they can make things happen. Your help is greatly appreciated!
In case you’re wondering, Accuweather reports typical conditions in early November in that part of the Mojave Desert are highs in the mid-70s. So it might be a time when volunteers could work much of the day without worrying about heatstroke.
This website states it was built by Roy and Helen Tull in the early 1960s:
Roy Tull was a truck driver and built the cleverly named Roadrunner’s Retreat as a truck stop. Helen managed the restaurant with the help of several local women who helped as waitresses, one of whom was Lola Joyce Nelson from Cadiz. Although Roy and Helen continued to own the property, they apparently leased or rented the restaurant to Duke Dotson for a period of time. The exact dates that the cafe was open is uncertain, but the business closed in the mid 1970s when Interstate 40 was opened between Needles and Barstow; all of the roadside businesses on this stretch of Route 66 through the Mojave Desert between Essex and Ludlow died almost overnight. Businesses that depended on tourist and commercial traffic – service stations, restaurants, motels, car repair – were forced to close.
After it had been closed for some time, the Roadrunner’s Retreat and the adjacent service station were eventually sold to Mr. & Mrs. Bill Ross Murphy who still own the property today. Mr. Murphy never intended to reopen the restaurant; his interest was more toward maintaining the site for its historic significance on old Route 66. Unfortunately Mr. Murphy was not able to fulfill his goal before he passed away, but he was able to enjoy many memorable weekends on the property with his family.
UPDATE: I received some clarification on the work days from Murray:
Ryan will be out at the property on Friday night Oct 2, but if folks want to come Sat and Sun the hours would be from 9 in morning till dusk and Sun from 9 to about 2 . There is 30 acres of property out there and there are 175 tires from the old service station if someone wants those. He also said there are old car skeletons and various old car parts, some old bottles. This is an opportunity for folks not only to help preserve the property but get to explore it. Ryan hopes to paint over graffiti, the fence does need to be mended, we do need a dumpster, wheelbarrows. Folks should have gloves, hat, sunscreen. Tools needed are garden tools, rakes, wirecutters, pliers, screwdrivers. clippers, Lunch will be provided, folks are welcome to bring their own of course. Water will be available. There will be a motor home on site with electricity and Ryan will be bringing generators. Folks can tent camp or bring their own motor home. Rooms 10 are available at the Ludlow Motel for single $49.76 a night double $52.43 a night. Week end dates are Nov. 3 and 4.
For more information, email ryananderson2000(at)gmail(dot)com or calitochicago(at)gmail(dot)com.
(Image of Roadrunner Retreat near Chambless, California, by Steve Walser via Flickr)
Isn’t Rt 66 closed in that section? Should volunteers drive around the road blocks?
You should be able to access it from the Kelbaker Road exit from Interstate 40.
I’d really like to see a neck and head on that Roadrunner. Can we please get a GoFundMe campaign going to fix that sign? I’ve longed to see that sign repaired since I first saw it in June, 1996. Really, let’s fix that awesome sign!