Historical marker added to Road Runner’s Retreat site near Chambless

The Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus recently added a big historical marker at the defunct Road Runner’s Retreat restaurant and gas station near Chambless, California.

The chapter describes itself as a “fun-loving, irreverent group dedicated to the preservation and documentation of the history of the west including native Americans, early settlers, the Gold Rush and early 20th Century memoire.”

Ryan Anderson, owner of the property, posted a photo of the marker:

I blew up one of the photos of the marker. It reads:

From Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 was dotted with roadside cafes and gas stations. These stops provided a respite for those traveling the Mother Road, offering a refreshing soft drink, a burger and fries, or an eye-opening cup of coffee as well as a tank of gas. Between Amboy to the west and Chambless to the east stood the Road Runner’s Retreat with its iconic neon sign. The upswept canopy over the gas pumps was in the style of “Googie” architecture — an architectural movement heavily influenced by the space age, jet aircraft and the car culture. Road Runner’s Retreat was somewhat of a latecomer on the Route 66 scene. It was built in 1962 by Roy Tull and his wife Helen. Shortly after opening, the Retreat was purchased by “Duke” Dotson and his wife Virginia. They and their children moved into a mobile home behind the restaurant and gas station and began serving customers. The Dotson kids attended school at Amboy and later Needles during the 1960s. Many of the Dotsons’ employees were itinerant; traveling along Route 66, a husband and wife team would phone ahead to the Road Runner’s Retreat asking about employment. Upon arriving, the husband might work as a cook or in the gas station while the wife waited tables. After a few weeks or months, they would move on, to be replaced by other wanderers of the West. Duke Dotson also started a towing service and was given the Auto Club contract for the area. The tow trucks were built on-site, and Duke boasted that he and his crew could fix anything. The Road Runner’s Retreat and the Dotsons served thousands of travelers until Interstate 40 was opened in 1973. According to Duke’s son, Duke Jr., the opening of I-40 was like “shutting off a faucet” on Route 66. The next day, there was no one. Lake mahy other Route 66 gas stations, cafes and attractions, the Road Runner’s Retreat closed shortly thereafter. The Dotsons sold the property to the Murphys, whose family carries on the legacy. The restaurant burned down in 2020; however, the Murphy family has plans for the site, including renovation of its world-famous sign.

The Road Runner recently held its annual cleanup day on the site.

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