The Roy’s Motel and Cafe complex in Amboy, California, has seen a lot of fashion photo shoots over the decades. But last week saw a particularly notable one by Cindy Crawford, one of the most popular supermodels in history.
According to SI Lifestyle and other media outlets, the 57-year-old Crawford was participating in a project with photographer David Yarrow.
Here are images and a brief video from Crawford’s Instagram account:
Crawford wrote:
Can’t wait to share the final images. And what makes it even more meaningful is that the sale of these images raises money for The American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin where my brother was treated for leukemia. Can’t think of a better way to honor him.
The Roy’s Motel account on Facebook also posted a few of its own photos:
Crawford grew up in DeKalb, Illinois, which is only about an hour’s drive from Chicago and other Route 66 towns in that area.
Roy’s in Amboy opened in 1938 through owner Roy Crowl. But the most well-known owner of Roy’s was Buster Burris. By the late 1940s, Roy’s garage, motel and restaurant were open 24 hours a day to serve Route 66 travelers.
The property’s business declined after the opening of Interstate 40, and Burris retired in 1995. Burris died in 2000.
Albert Okura, known for his Juan Pollo chain of restaurants, bought the entire town of Amboy in 2005. Roy’s cafe building reopened as a convenience store, and the gasoline pumps still work after being idle for many years. Okura died in January at age 71.
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