Speedy's Truck Stop and Fort Courage Tower

Above, Fort Courage's lookout tower. Will it be incorporated
 in the new Speedy's truck stop? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I posted the blog about the demolition of the late Fort Courage, I and the fine folks at Jack Rabbit Trading Post (of St. Joseph, Arizona) learned that the site is a planned Speedy's truck stop. There's a Speedy's truck stop next door to Tee Pee Trading Post in Lupton, Arizona. I got gasoline there yesterday.

If this is the case, I welcome such an establishment. Having driven along the Hauck, Arizona on Interstate 40 vicinity several times over the years, another place to fill the gas tank would be a good use of the site. 

As the "lookout tower" of Fort Courage seems to have been spared demolition, it would be nice to see it incorporated with the truck stop. At least that would be a great nod to roadside kitsch history. How they do it (if so) would be interesting to see. 

Roadside America has a page dedicated to Fort Courage. To see it, go here.

Roadside Kitsch

 After about a two hour drive (and some stops), I am home from Arizona.

One stop was for some breakfast (Monument Valley enchiladas) at the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup.

Prior to that stop, I did stop for a coffee break and to take some photos of the kitsch art at the Painted Desert Indian Center trading post on Historic Route 66. I also had some texts with Asya on WhatsApp that I had to take care of. The Painted Desert Indian Center wasn't open yet when I stopped. It is just as well, I saved some money.

Here's some photos at Painted Desert Indian Center:

At the Arizona-New Mexico border in Luption, Arizona, I took this shot of the Indian shops:

7 Pixar's "Cars" Location Inspirations

Above, the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe that Pixar's Cars was released back in 2006.

Many locations, some of which are on Historic Route 66, served as inspirations for some of the movie's features. 

Roadtrippers has listed seven iconic Route 66 locations that inspired the movie.

They begin with:

Nearly two decades after its debut, it’s almost impossible to travel along any portion of Route 66 and not see several references to Disney Pixar’s 2006 animated movie Cars. Inspired by director John Lasseter’s real-life cross-country road trip, the film still draws families and fans to iconic attractions featured (or riffed on) in the movie, including the remaining Wigwam Villages, trading posts, curiosity shops, and vintage filling stations. 

Here are seven real-life locations that inspired the makers of Cars. 

To see what they are, go here. 

Roadtrippers: 6 Steps To Planning A Successful RV Road Trip

Above, The Beast in Seligman, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RVing for the first time? (Either your own or in a rental.)

There's a few things that newbies should know before heading out on the road to make that RV road trip a successful one.

Roadtrippers has an article on "6 Steps To Planning A Successful RV Road Trip".

It starts with:

When I bought my first RV more than a decade ago, it wasn’t because I loved camping. Rather, I was a dedicated roadtripper who spent all my vacation time driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway in the east, the Pacific Coast Highway in the west, or any scenic byway in between. As I entered my 30s—with a couple of babies in tow—I still desperately wanted to be a road warrior. However, I also wanted to bring some of the creature comforts of home along on the adventure. Enter the RV road trip. 

Why road trip in an RV rather than a car?

Eleven years after that first RV purchase I can say the big bet paid off. My family has spent hundreds of days roadtripping around the country exploring national parks, historical landmarks, kitschy roadside attractions, urban destinations, and beach resorts. Here are the reasons why I choose to plan RV road trips more than any other type of travel.

Above, the Roadkill Cafe in Seligman, Arizona, a kitschy diner (they do have good food). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Holbrook's Wigwam Motel

Above, vintage vehicles parked at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While I was in Holbrook, Arizona yesterday, I drove around town looking for a supermarket to pick up a few things. While doing so, I came across an old relic of historic Route 66: the Wigwam Motel.

Above, the Wigwam Motel office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At one time, before the interstates were built, there was a chain of Wigwam Motels where guests can spend the night in a kitschy way. They aren't wigwams, but tee pees. I've read about them in the Roadside America website.

According to Wikipedia:

The Wigwam Motels, also known as the "Wigwam Villages," is a motel chain in the United States built during the 1930s and 1940s. The rooms are built in the form of tipis, mistakenly referred to as wigwams. 

It originally had seven different locations: two locations in Kentucky and one each in Alabama, Florida, Arizona, Louisiana, and California. 

They are very distinctive historic landmarks. Two of the three surviving motels are located on historic U.S. Route 66: in Holbrook, Arizona, and on the city boundary between Rialto and San Bernardino, California. All three of the surviving motels are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Wigwam Motel in Cave City, Kentucky, was listed in 1988 under the official designation of Wigwam Village #2; the Wigwam Motel in Arizona was listed as Wigwam Village #6 in 2002; and the Wigwam Motel in California was listed in 2012 as Wigwam Village #7.

Above, one tee pee being cleaned. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I stopped to take a few photos. The Wigwam Motel is still in use and along with the tee pees, there are vintages vehicles parked around the property. I have seen so many 1950s cars since I was in Cuba two months ago.

Above, an old car in front of the office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fortunately for me, there was a Safeway market across the street from the Wigwam Motel. 

Jack Rabbit Trading Post

Above, the famous jack rabbit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On the way home from the Lost Dutchman Chapter's Spring Clampout, I decided to make a stop at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post near Winslow, Arizona (where people do some "standing on a corner").

Above, the sign describing the trading post's history. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is a famous landmark along historic Route 66 and next to Interstate 40. It opened in 1949.

According to Wikipedia:

The Jack Rabbit Trading Post is a convenience store and curio shop located on former U.S. Route 66, five miles west of Joseph City, Arizona city limits off of Exit 269 on Interstate 40. The trading post hails from Route 66's glory days, and is currently in operation. With a large fiberglass jackrabbit that can be mounted (for pictures), the facility is considered a major Route 66 attraction by enthusiasts. It was famous for numerous billboards up and down US 66 (and in some other locations) which had the silhouette of a jackrabbit and the distance from that sign to the trading post. In front of the store was another such billboard with "HERE IT IS" written underneath it. Jack Rabbit is owned by the Jaquez family. 

In the 2006 film Cars, the trading post's 'HERE IT IS' signage is depicted with a Model T Ford in place of the jackrabbit and "Lizzie" (a 1923 Ford) as the store's proprietor.

Unfortunately, I got to it too early as it opens at 10:00. I decided not to wait and headed back on I-40. I'll stop there again some other time.

Above, the trading post. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But I did take a few photos of the trading post while I was there.

Above, the welcome sign on a side of the building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To access their website, go here.

Charles Phoenix: The Ambassador of Americana

For those who like to travel and see various landmarks of historical places and roadside kitsch, check out the website of Charles Phoenix.

He has an interesting website filled with videos of many places where people can visit and marvel at.

About Charles Phoenix:

CHARLES PHOENIX is a showman, tour guide, food crafter, and author. He is known for his live comedy slide show performances, madcap Test Kitchen videos, “field trip” tours, and colorful coffee table books, all celebrating classic and kitschy American life and style. On TV, Charles has appeared as a judge on Food Network’s Cake Wars: Christmas. He’s also guested on Storage Wars, Jay Leno’s Garage, Conan, and Martha Stewart, and is often heard on NPR. The Los Angeles Times says, “Call him the King of Retro,” and LA Weekly anointed him “the Kodachrome King.” 

GROWING UP IN ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA Charles was educated at theme parks, shopping malls, and his dad’s used car lots. As a teen he discovered thrift shops, which led to a lifelong vintage shopping spree. He calls thrift shops “schools of style, museums of merchandise, and the perfect place to study the underbelly of our mass consumerism culture.” 

After moving to Los Angeles and enjoying careers as a fashion designer and classic car dealer, his life changed forever — in a thrift shop — when he discovered a shoebox full of vintage Kodachrome slides marked “Trip Across the United States, 1957.” Collecting orphaned vintage slide photography soon became an obsession that inspired his retro slide show performance career, beginning in 1998. He calls his found, vintage Kodachrome slides archive the “slibrary,” and he even employs a “slibrarian.”

To visit his website, go here. 

An Itchy Elk and Roadkill Cafe

Above, the itchy bull elk. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, our trip to New Mexico and Arizona ended.

On our way out of Grand Canyon National Park, we spotted a bull elk next to the road. He appeared to be using a bush to scratch himself or scrape off some skin from his antlers. Whatever he was doing, we stopped to watch for a bit and snapped a photo.

Above, the Roadkill Cafe in Seligman, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After leaving Grand Canyon National Park, we headed south on Highway 64 to get to Interstate 40 in Williams. After heading down I-40 for about a while, we stopped at "the next burg", which happened to be Seligman.

Above, the front of the Roadkill Cafe. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There, we found the Roadkill Cafe. The name of the restaurant didn't sound appealing to Jes, but we stopped in for breakfast anyway (which wasn't bad). I parked The Beast in a big lot next door to the restaurant. It was either their lot or some abandoned "Wild West" attraction.

Their motto: "You kill it, we grill it!"

Above, where I parked The Beast while we had breakfast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The choices on the menu were funny, they included such items as "Splatter Platter", "Smear of Deer", "Guess That Mess", "Awesome Possum" and other culinary delights. I like a place with a sense of humor. This one had it in spades!

Above, the Roadkill Cafe's hot sauce. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I just had to buy a magnet with their logo for The Beast from their gift shop.

After breakfast, we were back on the road again for Los Angeles.

The Bates Motel of Vale, Oregon

Above, the Bates Motel sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Not long after entering eastern Oregon from Idaho, I drove through Vale, Oregon looking for a RV park for an overnight stay.

Unfortunately, there were none on Highway 20, so I drove on and eventually stayed in Juntura. Before leaving Vale, I noticed the Bates Motel. I stopped to take some pictures of its sign.

I found out this morning that this Bates Motel earned a coveted spot in RoadsideAmerca.com.

Here's what they said about the Bates Motel:

There's a noticeable paucity of offbeat attractions in western Idaho and eastern Oregon, a patch of white when compared to the lush red pushpin fertility of other regions. So the Bates Motel, just over the border in Oregon, gets included as a stop out of desperation. The sign may conjure the murderous motor lodge from Hitchcock's Psycho, but the building doesn't resemble it.

To see more, go here. 

Old Malibu Eateries

Above, Gladstone's 4 Fish in Pacific Palisades. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A Facebook discussion on Gladstone's 4 Fish in Pacific Palisades jogged a memory of the old Sea Lion Restaurant in Malibu today.

I do remember the Sea Lion off of Pacific Coast Highway when it had a tank of sea lions. This ended when the restaurant burned down in 1964 and was re-opened without the sea lion tank. The restaurant kept its name, though.

I found a website of old Malibu eateries that brought back even more memories. According to it, the Sea Lion is still there, except it is now known as Duke's Malibu Restaurant.

Above, Asya at Gladstone's 4 Fish. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The website starts with:

The golden era of roadside attractions is long gone, but there was a time when Cape Cod cottages and Tiki kitsch were a key part of Malibu’s mojo.  

The restaurants and hotels are all gone, or remodeled past recognizing, but ephemera like postcards, matchboxes and menus preserve a record of Malibu’s gloriously goofy past, and in many cases, TV and films shot on location offer a glimpse of vanished local landmarks.

To view the website of old Malibu eateries, go here. 

One Year Ago: On The Way To Yosemite

Above, The Beast at Blackstone North RV Park in Fresno. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sometimes it is hard to believe how fast time flies.

One year ago today, Sierra and I headed off for a few days at Yosemite National Park. I decided to go about 3/4 of the way up and spend the night at Blackstone North RV Park in Fresno and then drive to Yosemite the next morning.

Above, The Beast at Bravo Farms Cheese Factory. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I liked Blackstone North. It was a quiet and clean RV park. We did have some rain that evening. It rained off and on in Yosemite for the next few days.

Before reaching Fresno, I stopped along the way for some food at Bravo Farms Cheese Factory. It was a kitchy roadside stop with western style buildings. It was definitely put there to get travelers to part with some of their money. They did have a burger stand that served excellent hamburgers.

I wandered around there a little bit before heading off to Fresno.

When I reached the RV park, it only took about five minutes to check in as they had my paperwork all ready at the office.

It was a nice relaxing stop with fast food restaurants across the street.

I was looking forward to camping in Yosemite Valley at the North Pines Campground. It was the first time I camped at Yosemite. I had previously visited Yosemite twice, but those were day-trips.

Here are some photos from the first day:

Above, Bravo Farms Cheese Factory. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Bravo Farms gift shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Bravo Farms hamburger stand. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a cigar store Indian, but there was no cigar store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Bravo Farms patio area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a sign over the men's room urinals. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Blackstone North RV Park in Fresno. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Blackstone North RV Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Last Stop: Vanishing Rest Stops of the American Roadside

During my three-week trip to Metropolis, Illinois, I saw a number of rest stops with unusual designs.

Unfortunately, I did not stop to take any pictures of them, but somebody else did and there's a new book out with plenty of photographs.

It is The Last Stop: Vanishing Rest Stops of the American Roadside by Ryann Ford. It is a coffee-table photo book and if one is fascinated by roadside kitsch, then this book is what the doctor ordered.

RV Life has an article on the book. It begins with:

If you’ve traveled by RV in the last decade, you know that RV rest areas are disappearing. These permanently shuttered pit stops dot America’s highway system. But a few of these concrete sentinels continue standing tall as symbols of another time in America. A new photo book called “The Last Stop” shares their stories and preserves their legacy before they disappear altogether. 

As RVers we have all the conveniences of home when we roam. But even the most hard-driving need an occasional pause from the blacktop at rest areas and welcome centers. Oftentimes when we find ourselves a hundred miles in the middle of nowhere and in desperate need of a break, a highway rest stop suddenly appears on the horizon. When architecture at resting places  can be seen from a mile away, pulling over for a few minutes isn’t a hassle. It’s irresistible.

I will be ordering a copy this coming week. The price is $45.00 for a copy signed by the author.

To read more, go here.

Asakusa: Mecca For Nippon Kitsch

Above, a film crew near Nakamise Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of my favorite Tokyo hang-outs is the Asakusa section of Tokyo.

Last year, I took an additional step by booking a room in Asakusa. Nakamise Street and Senso-ji were within easy walking distance, as was a great sushi restaurant, Sushizanmai.

The Japan Times provides a little history of Asakusa along with what visitors can expect there while wandering around.

They begin with:

Every once in a while, the Japanese have to remind themselves that they’re Japanese. We feel the need to reconfirm that we are part of a long and enduring traditional culture — one which includes kimono, samurai, ninja, eels on rice, and other weird items. Many like to pretend that these particular oddities have nothing to do with being a modern Japanese, they prefer to believe that their culture begins with Studio Ghibli and ends with AKB48. But, when our guard is down, few of us are immune to the call of old Nippon. It goes straight to our hearts and stirs us to action — and I’m not just talking about visiting lofty noh performances or taking part in intricate tea ceremonies. When the Japanese hear the call, where do they go? More often than not, we haul ourselves over to Asakusa, and join the hordes of foreign tourists soaking up the culture, gawking at the sights and stuffing themselves with treats. We can’t help it — it’s in our blood.

To read more, go here. 

The Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant Are Gone

Above, the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restarant in 2009. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It had been about May 2009 when I last drove through Oxnard. At that time, I stopped at the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant the famous kitschy landmark off the 101 freeway. It was closed and in a state of disrepair. I blogged about it back then.

Above, the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant during much better days.

Efforts were made to save the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant and the nearby Wagon Wheel Bowling Alley, but those efforts failed.

Above, another view of the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The bowling alley was demolished last year and the motel and restaurant were demolished in 2011, two years after I stopped by.

Above, the familiar sign to Ventura County residents. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On Thursday, I noticed that the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant were gone (I didn't follow the story over the legal battles to save it) while en route to the Ventura Beach RV Resort.

Above, the Wagon Wheel Motel rooms. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

However, thank goodness I still have the photos of the former Oxnard landmark.

Cabazon's Dinosaurs: Roadside Kitsch

Above, "Mr. Rex". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While on my way home from Joshua Tree National Park today, I stopped off at Cabazon's dinosaurs to photograph them.

Back in the 1960s, my grandmother retired to 29 Palms and we would pass the dinosaurs on Interstate 10 while en route to visit her. Each time we passed them, we noted the progression of their construction. The first dinosaur built was the big Brontosaurus and then the Tyrannosaurus rex was built later.

Above, "Dinny". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The dinosaurs were featured in Pee Wee's Big Adventure around the "Large Marge" segment of the movie ("Tell 'em Large Marge sent ya!").

According to Wikipedia:

The creation of the Cabazon dinosaurs began in the 1960s by Knott's Berry Farm sculptor and portrait artist Claude K. Bell (1897–1988) to attract customers to his Wheel Inn Restaurant, which opened in 1958 and has been closed for a long time. Dinny, the first of the Cabazon dinosaurs, was started in 1964 and created over a span of eleven years. Bell created Dinny out of spare material salvaged from the construction of nearby Interstate 10 at a cost of $300,000. The biomorphic building that was to become Dinny was first erected as steel framework over which an expanded metal grid was formed in the shape of a dinosaur. All of it was then covered with coats of shotcrete (spray concrete). Bell was quoted in 1970 as saying the 45-foot (14 m) high, 150-foot (46 m) long Dinny was "the first dinosaur in history, so far as I know, to be used as a building." His original vision for Dinny was for the dinosaur's eyes to glow and mouth to spit fire at night, predicting, "It'll scare the dickens out of a lot of people driving up over the pass." These two features, however, were not added. With the help of ironworker Gerald Hufstetler, Bell worked on the project independently; no construction companies or contractors were involved in the fabrication. The task of painting Dinny was completed by a friend of Bell's in exchange for one dollar and a case of Dr Pepper. 

A second dinosaur, Mr. Rex, was constructed near Dinny in 1981. Originally, a giant slide was installed in Rex's tail; it was later filled in with concrete making the slide unusable. 

The Wheel Inn Restaurant is still closed and the area surrounding the dinosaurs looked run down during today's visit. But despite this, it appears that the dinosaur attraction is still open for business.