Albert Okura, longtime owner and founder of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain who purchased the Route 66 town of Amboy, California, in 2005, died last week. Okura also owned the first original McDonald's -- also a popular Route 66 stop in San Bernardino, California. He purchased that location in 1998, stocked it with McDonald's memorabilia … Continue reading Albert Okura, a restaurateur who owned the town of Amboy, dies
Tag: Roy’s
Bridge failure closes Route 66 indefinitely from Ludlow to Amboy
More bridges on Route 66 apparently have failed in recent days east of Ludlow, California, closing the historic highway to the hamlet of Amboy, California. That's on top of the closed portion of Route 66 from Essex, California, to Amboy. That leaves no direct Route 66 access to Amboy the east and west of the … Continue reading Bridge failure closes Route 66 indefinitely from Ludlow to Amboy
Roy’s of Amboy makes an appearance in new Nissan commercial
If you've watched any NCAA basketball tournament games on television in recent days, you might have spotted the Route 66 landmark Roy's gas station, cafe and motel in Amboy, California, in a Nissan ad. The Roy's footage, which features the Nissan Z sports car, begins about the 15-second mark; https://youtu.be/yR6mx_VkXEk I went back more than … Continue reading Roy’s of Amboy makes an appearance in new Nissan commercial
Road Runner’s Retreat mulls full sign restoration after brief and partial relighting
A whim on the night Roy's neon sign in Amboy, California, was relighted led a successful partial relighting a portion of the nearby Road Runner's Retreat sign and considering a full restoration. The Facebook page for the long-closed Route 66 restaurant posted this Wednesday: I asked Ryan Anderson, owner of the property and administrator of … Continue reading Road Runner’s Retreat mulls full sign restoration after brief and partial relighting
Roy’s neon sign in Amboy should be relighted in mid-November
The neon in the iconic Roy's Motel and Cafe sign in Amboy, California, will glow again in mid-November, according to a roadie who contacted the complex's manager. Frank Gifford posted the news on the route66 yahoogroup a few days ago: According to a phone conversation with Roy's manager Manny Lopez, the sign will be re-lit … Continue reading Roy’s neon sign in Amboy should be relighted in mid-November
See Michael Wallis, Desert California and Two Guns from early 1990s
A new batch of Anthony Reichardt films from the 1990s shows Two Guns, Arizona; a long stretch of Route 66 in the California desert to Oatman, Arizona; and Michael Wallis, author of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road." Below is Wallis in 1993 during a meeting of the California Historic Route 66 Association at … Continue reading See Michael Wallis, Desert California and Two Guns from early 1990s
“Breaking Dad” road-trip program on British TV has Route 66 stops
A new program, "Breaking Dad," on the British television channel ITV features at least one Route 66 stop and another that's a common side trip for Mother Road travelers. The program stars actor Bradley Walsh (a companion on the current "Doctor Who" series) and his 20-year-old son, Barney, who travel about 2,000 miles from Los … Continue reading “Breaking Dad” road-trip program on British TV has Route 66 stops
How not to treat Route 66 tourists
This strange and unfortunate incident happened in Amboy, California, in November, but it surfaced earlier this week on the Historic Route 66 page on Facebook. The incident also largely was confirmed by Carlos Aceves, who was the town's manager, including at Roy's. Here's the Nov. 5 story by KCDZ, a community radio station that states … Continue reading How not to treat Route 66 tourists
Flying into Amboy
This recent video answers a question: Can the air strip at the Route 66 town of Amboy, California, still be used by airplanes? The answer: Yes, indeed. Matt Guthmiller, who's been flying since age 16, took a video crew with him in his small airplane on a trip from Lake Havasu to the Amboy air … Continue reading Flying into Amboy
Restaurant inspired by Roy’s of Amboy opens in Barstow
Roy's Cafe, which features a neon sign inspired by another sign at the historic Roy's of Amboy, California, recently opened on Route 66 in Barstow, California. Here's the sign for the original Roy's, for comparison's sake: Carlos Aceves, Amboy town manager, wrote to the Route 66 yahoogroup Saturday: Roy's Cafe is now open in Barstow … Continue reading Restaurant inspired by Roy’s of Amboy opens in Barstow