I just returned from an Epic trip across America on Historic Route 66. Joined by three of my photographer friends, we traversed Old Route 66 from Barstow, California, to Chicago, Illinois. Along the way, we made many stops and photographed many things along the route. It was a great trip, and I look forward to telling the stories in photographs over the next few months. One of our first stops on Day 1 was Amboy, California, and Roy’s Motel.
Amboy, California halfway between Barstow and Needles on National Trails Highway (Old Route 66). First originated in 1858 as a mining camp, and was named in 1883 when the first railway tracks were being built through this part of California. 1930’s through the 1940’s, Amboy had a population of 200 people. Amboy had 13 businesses, three service stations, two cafes, three motor courts, four garages, a post office, a church, and a school. Through 1800’s – 1900’s Rail cars started to deliver water to Amboy, every business had their land water tank.
Roy’s Motel & Cafe was first opened as a gas and service station in 1938, on Route 66. It was first known as Roy’s Garage, then was changed to Roy’s Garage and Cafe, and is now known as just Roy’s Motel & Cafe. Roy’s son in law Buster decided to build a store room next to the garage to keep spare parts. Roy’s daughter Betty then turned the store room into a Cafe, right after it was built. The famous Roy’s Motel & Cafe is one of the few buildings that are still operating until this day. Roy and his wife Velma operated Roy’s until they retired in 1959. Roy’s Motel & Cafe was later than owned by his daughter Better and his son in law Buster through 1959 to 1978. In 2003, Roy’s Motel & Cafe was sold to a philanthropist.
