Resurrecting the Ghosts of Route 66. (original) (raw)
Like many Americans, I�ve long had an infatuation with the mystery and freedom of the open road; the insatiable desire to simply get in your car, head out on the highway, and _drive_�to see what you can see, to embark on an adventure that takes you to places you�ve never been and didn�t even know existed. In this vein, Route 66, the mythical �Mother Road�, has long held a particular fascination for me, with its unique roadside attractions, the art-deco & googie style architecture of her buildings, and stretches of unparalleled scenic beauty.
It was with this spirit in mind that I set out on a three-day adventure to drive and photograph the stretch of Route 66 between Oklahoma City and New Mexico. Of course, since I specialize primarily in night photography, almost all of the images from this three part series were taken after dark, and I hope that you find, as I do, that these old decaying roadside spots take on a new, special beauty when captured by moonlight.
ROUTE 66
Between Oklahoma City and New Mexico
A three-day adventure - in three states - in three parts
PART I -
El Reno, Oklahoma to Shamrock, Texas
MAP >
All that�s left of the El Reno Drive-In Theater in El Reno, Oklahoma. The screen building is now home to a collection of random junk.
Lucille Hammon's Filling Station in Hydro, Oklahoma.
On the National Register of Historic Places
A well-restored Phillips 66 gas pump at Lucille Hammons Filling Station in Hydro, Oklahoma.
The Route 66 Drive-In Ticket booth, Weatherford, Oklahoma
The Route 66 Drive-In Concession stand and screen
In the Red (at the Route 66 Drive In)
Kobel�s Place, Foss, Oklahoma
Kobel�s Place was a well-known fuel stop along the old �Mother Road�. Located in Foss, Oklahoma, it now stands rotting away, with several large areas of the wooden floor already missing from years of decay and neglect. So many old places like this one along Route 66 are slowly fading into history, forgotten stepping stones to the conveniences we enjoy today when we travel our modern super-highways.
Texola Crossroads (Route 66 and Grand)
"Zapped" Abandoned Station in Texola
Restored by the city of Shamrock, the magnificent art-deco �Tower� Conoco Station in Shamrock, Texas looks exactly as it did during it�s heyday, complete with the U Drop Inn Caf� signage at the right side of the photo. Sadly, the old station no longer sells gas or food; it�s now the Chamber of Commerce building for the city of Shamrock.