Amboy, California
Tribute by Jeffrey Sward
 
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Amboy California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Amboy California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Amboy California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward Amboy California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward
Amboy California Photograph by Jeffrey Sward  
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Amboy is a small mostly vacant town on historic Route 66 in California. Amboy was founded around 1860 as a railroad stop by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. The ATSF named a series of railroad stops between Barstow California and Arizona alphabetically from West to East. The towns are:

  • Amboy
  • Bolo
  • Cadiz
  • Danby
  • Essex
  • Fenner
  • Goffs
  • Homer
  • Ibis
  • Java

When Route 66 was first built, it often was routed close to existing railroad tracks. Hence, historical Route 66 passes through all of the ATSF towns listed above. Historic Route 66 still exists mostly intact from Barstow to Needles. It is possible today to travel through what remains of the ATSF railroad towns by automobile. Route 66 has been superseded by Interstate Highway 40.

During the prime of Route 66, many of the railroad towns had cottage industries catering to the drive-through road tourist trade. Once such business was the iconic Roy's Motel and Cafe located in Amboy. Roy's Motel and Cafe was opened in 1938 by Row Crowl. The opening of Interstate Highway 40 in 1972 spelled the doom of most of the Route 66 businesses, including Roy's Motel and Cafe. With Roy Crowl's death in 1977, Roy's Motel and Cafe was operated by his son-in-law Buster Burris. With Buster's death in 2000, Roy's Motel and passed to Bessie Burris, Buster's widow. Bessie sold the property to two rather ill-spirited partners, who eventually lost the property back to Bessie in a foreclosure.

Roy's Motel and Cafe has acquired by Albert Okura in April 2005. Albert Okura also owns the Juan Pollo restaurant chain. Albert has formed a partnership with the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation is restoring and operating Roy's Motel and Cafe. The gas station reopened in February 2008. The official relighting of the iconic neon sign occurred in November of 2019.

Visit the official web site devoted to Roy's Motel and Cafe at Amboy, California.

 

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