Needles hopes for more rail tourism

The Route 66 town of Needles, Calif., hopes that its future includes more railroad tourists after its historic Harvey House, El Garces, is restored by a team that refurbished another Harvey House in Winslow, Ariz., reports the Reuters wire service.

A number of towns like Needles, which based much of its business on Route 66 after railroad passenger services dried up until Interstate 40 meant travelers bypassed town at speed, have languished like their former Harvey Houses.

The El Garces, named after Father Francisco Garces, a missionary who visited the area in 1776 – faced destruction until locals persuaded the town council to buy it in 1999.

Now, with $9 million in federal and state grants, El Garces is the focal point of a plan to bring visitors back to Needles. It includes reopening the town theater and renovating another building in town to house a community college.

“After Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985, Needles didn’t have a plan,” Needles’ Mayor Jeff Williams said. “This comes very late, but at least we now have a plan.”

It is a very good plan. The fellow leading El Garces’ restoration is Alan Affeldt, who brought back La Posada in Winslow to one of the best lodging establishments in the Southwest.