Days 15 & 16 Route 66 goes to Joplin, MO

So, if you've been following this blog, you know that I've fallen behind in posting.  Partly, because we're having such full and fun days.  Partly, because campground wifi has narrow bandwidths that make loading photos a painfully slow process.  So, Joplin, MO will be a quick photo essay in my effort to make some catch-up progress!  

Route 66 mural - downtown Joplin, MO. 

Route 66 mural - downtown Joplin, MO

Don't we look great in our hair nets?  Ready for a chocolate tour! 

Candy House Factory tour

Wouldn't you just love to stick your hand into this kettle? 

Lucy and Ethel would love to work here! 

From the movie, "Cars" on Route 66 in nearby Galena, KS

This abandoned gas station serves meals and a healthy serving of "Cars",
the movie, memorabilia. Route 66, Galena, KS

The buildings of Galena, KS helped to inspire the fictional
Route 66 Radiator Springs community in the movie, "Cars". 

Nick got in on some of the fun with the "Cars" crew. 

Owners claim this home  in Galena is
the haunted bordello in which  murders occurred. 

Another highlight in Joplin was to visit Cunningham Park, a park designed to be a healing place after a devastating F5 tornado destroyed a wide path through the city in May of 2011.
The park is a moving tribute to those who died and those who helped. Joplin has been an important stop of our 60 day Route 66 trip --- full of fun, and memorable for its resilience.

Days 13 & 14 Route 66 - Springfield, MO

Route 66, the first transcontinental highway in America, was created in the late 1920's at a time when Big Rigs had not yet been imagined.   But, whenever possible, our Adventure Caravans Route 66 tour takes us on the historic Route 66 highway.  Two lanes, narrow by today's standards, and little or no berm.  This photo shows the Tom and Pat Whittaker's RV traveling on one such section of The Mother Road in Missouri.  Unfortunately, they had some mechanical difficulties that day.  Once tail gunner Rick had assessed the situation, the Whittaker's drove very slowly to a Flying J, where they hoped to get repairs.  But little happens in repair shops on Sunday.  On Monday, they were able to get needed repairs in Rolla, MO.  

While Tom and Pat were in the repair shop, the rest of our group traveled Route 66 through Springfield, MO to see the sites with out the concerns for driving  big rigs in city traffic.  this fine motor coach was perfect for our day that included Bass Pro's flagship store, this history museum in the downtown square's Fox Theater, the Guilloz Theater and the Pythian Castle.  

First stop, Bass Pro's original store, the largest Bass Pro of all at nearly 500,000 square feet, which is just about enough to walk off the huge buffet we were about to eat!   There are so many water features in this store that they have 7 full time workers just to tend to the waterfalls, tanks, and water critters!  The store also includes the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum and the Archery Hall of Fame.  


We headed to Hemingway's Blue Water Cafe for an amazing breakfast buffet----sausage and gravy, pancakes, eggs, fried catfish, bacon, bread pudding, fruit, yogurt….and more!  No one left hungry!   

And then we went to see the Bass Pro wildlife!  One of those wild things is known as JW Hurdle.   




There were also eagles, deer, alligator gars, and more. 

Downtown Springfield is home to the Fox Theatre (1916-1982) and the HIstory Museum on the Square.  Our guide met us there to tell us the history of Springfield.  Apparently, Springfield was a wild west kind of town, with shoot outs on the square. 

The Gilloiz Theatre was built in 1926 by M. E. Gilloiz, a bridge builder.  Using his construction expertise, the theatre is built of steel and concrete --- which probably guaranteed its survival during the few years it became home to the homeless and their oil barrel heating.  In 1990, a group headed by Bass Pro founder John Morris began to form a preservation organization and the theatre has been returned to its former glory.  

Interestingly, the director tells us, when the theatre was built, there was insufficient land available on Route 66.  this was so important to Gilloiz that he bought one storefront on the new highway to serve as the narrow lobby for his magnificent theatre.  





Shake 'n Steak's first restaurant began on Route 66 in Springfield, MO in 1962.   Of course, we needed to check it out!  Good burgers and fries, but the shakes are GREAT! 

Actually, Steak 'n Shakes burgers are referred to as "steak burgers" by the company because their original burgers were made from a mixture of T-bone, sirloin, and round steaks.  I wonder if they are continuing that tradition?   





Next, our bus took us to the Pythian Castle.  It was built in 1913 to serve as a home for orphan children and widows of the members of the Knights of Pythias fraternal organization. Once social security began to provide for widows, there was reduced need for the home.  In the years since, the castle basement has served as quarters for Italian and German prisoners of war.  The US military occupied the building and used as offices.  The castle was then purchased by a family who lived in the castle but made little or no maintenance upgrades.  Today the castle is owned by two ladies who offer historical tours, wedding venues, and mystery dinner theater events.  We came for the Ghost Tour! 

It seems strange that the Pythians would build a castle type structure, complete with all the features of mythical castles (except, perhaps, a moat!). 

Returning orphans have reported that while living in the home, they were well cared for and that there were lessons in manners and how to properly set a dining table

The Ghost Tour was fun, and the castle really has been found to have paranormal activity present. This, however, is created by the owners in the castle's theatre.  

Before we had seen even the first "ghost",  Liz was biting her lip. Scared, Liz?  

After such a full day, Gunther began his (sugar-coma?) napping, even before we returned to the campground!  Thanks, Springfield, MO for a most interesting day!

Days 11 & 12 Big Surprises in Cuba, MO

Though we are less than two weeks into a 50 day jaunt on Route 66, this writer suspects that the tiny town of Cuba, MO will be remembered as one of our favorite towns on America's Main Street.  

First, let's share our drive from the St. Louis area to Cuba, MO.  

Our first en route stop was at the Jessie James Wax Museum in Stanton, MO.  Wild west outlaw Jessie James was murdered in his home in 1881…or was he?  Still there are folks who believe that his "death" was a hoax and that he lived under another name until his final death in 1951.  Though the museum allows no photographs, we saw wax figures of James in a hospital type bed…and he was wearing a shirt and tie!  Strange.  

In the nearby Meramec Caverns, this humble cabin is thought to be one of several hideouts of Jessie James. 





But what was even more interesting in Meramec Caverns, was that this great ballroom within the cave, was used for dance parties. Cars from the Route 66 heyday were driven into the privately owned cave and hundreds of people partied there.  Even today, there are chairs and serving counters inside the cave…ready for the next party, concert or movie. And this is where our guided tour began.  



The Meremec Caverns remain at a constant year round temperature of 60 degrees or less, so jackets were appreciated for our hour and a half walking tour.  Our guide was able to tell us about the various formations within the cave system that continues for miles.  

Lighting within the cave was strategically placed to highlight the natural formations.  The tour culminated with a beautiful light show on the cave's geologic features. Definitely a memorable morning!  




Then it was on to Cuba, MO.  First on the itinerary, a bus tour of the town's murals! 
Our campground's bus doubles as a canoe livery bus, but it was a fun way for us to tour the small town with a most enthusiastic guide. 




Cuba, a town of 3,500, decided it could disappear as Route 66 was decommissioned, or it could put itself on the map as the officially designated "Route 66 Mural City."  Twelve official murals were painted throughout the downtown, and many smaller murals were added as the town's enthusiasm for the project grew. 

   The Frisco Mural…..

The Battle of the Huzzah mural commemorates the 1864 Civil War battle that took place nearby.  

The Amelia Earhart mural is on the side of a car wash building. 

The Largest Rocker mural is the artist's rendition of a local attraction -- a rocking chair that is 42' 1" tall and 20' 3" wide. The Fanning 66 Outpost invites all to stop by to see the Guiness Certified World's Largest Rocker…and to shop in their Route 66 souvenir shop.

In the interest of full disclosure, we made a stop at the Fanning 66 Outpost, and some of us just had to have a sip of their moonshine!  Bottoms up!  

We ventured a short distance to the neighboring small town of St. James, home of the Vacuum Cleaner Museum and Factory Outlet on Route 66.  Now, many of us were not excited to be headed for a hour of learning the history of vacuum cleaners --- but here was another surprise --- It was one of the most interesting and enjoyable tours ever!  Two great guides who knew their stuff and used humor in their presentations can make even cleaning up dirt a fun topic!  

The first vacuum was invented in 1908.  This museum claims to have one of every vacuum cleaner model ever made in its collection. The engineers in the vacuum factory in the museum's second floor use information from the many vacuum to design their own vacuum models.  They question the museum curator:  Which model has the best beater?  Which one is the lightest weight?  Which vacuum has the best suction?  Then they evaluate the winners in each category to design and build their own best vacuum sold under the Simplicity and Riccar labels--- designed and built right here in America --- St. James, Missouri.  

So, after a fun tour, Gary Weiss just had to give their vacuum a go.  Don't you just love the hip action he's putting into his "work".  Actually, though Gary's efforts with the vacuum were fun to watch, curator Tom Gasko gave Gary a few tips…like, "slow down so the suction has a chance to pull up the fibers and grab the dirt"!  


In the end, after a few vacuums were purchased, we decided that this had been a perfect gift shop for men!  


What's next on Route 66?  The Wagon Wheel Motel!  

 Many of the motels on historic Route 66 are the court type motels, but the Wagon Wheel is multiple buildings, each with several motel rooms.  The motel, with its original ozark stone buildings,  has been recently purchased and refurbished, with a shabby chic gift shop in the registration/cafe building.  We were able to visit several of the rooms, and found them to be so very nice.  The shaded grassy areas and comfy lawn furniture, the Wagon Wheel Motel is a wonderful place to relax while traveling Route 66. The Wagon Wheel Motel was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.


If all this was not enough in Cuba, MO, there was one more surprise in the area -- Bob's Gasoline Alley!   Bob's Gasoline Alley is not necessarily open to the public, but our Adventure Caravans group had been invited to visit Bob and Darlene, and their fantastic collections. What a treat!  





Bob and Darlene are collectors  --- large metal signs, neon signs, retired gas pumps, cookie jars, John Deere toy tractors, and so much more.  And every sign, every toy, every cookie jar was artfully displayed and immaculately clean!  This building houses much of their sign collection as well as a wonderful banquet hall where Darlene had prepared a delicious and generous ham dinner and a huge assortment of pies and desserts.  

Bob has a collection of car models.  Darlene has 800+ cookie jars. 



                                                                                                                                 

Together, they are Bob's Gasoline Alley.
A most delightful surprise on Missouri's Route 66!  Thank you, Cuba, MO for two wonderful days!