Carthage, Webb City, and Joplin, Missouri

Carthage, Missouri, was once an important stop along Route 66. Because of its lovely Kellogg Lake and Spring River, it was a holiday destination as well as a stop for those traveling through.

Carthage, like many towns along Route 66, saw several “alignments” of Route 66 over the years. We generally prefer seeing older alignments. So, when we drove through in October 2021, about 2 miles east of Carthage we turned left off MO 96 onto County Road 118, then made an immediate right onto Old 66 Boulevard.

In about a mile we saw the old Red Rock Apartments.

Former Red Rock Apartments in Carthage, Missouri

This was once White’s Court, built in the 1930s. There were signs of construction when we visited. It looked like the buildings were being enlarged into bigger apartments.

Just past the Red Rock Apartments, the 1926-1953 alignment of Route 66 turns left onto Esterly Drive. Esterly drive passes Kellogg Lake.

Kellogg Lake near Carthage, Missouri (from mdc.mo.gov)

It’s easy to see why this was a popular stop and destination for Route 66 travelers.

Esterly Drive deadends at Spring River—the bridge that once crossed the river is gone—so we backtracked to Old 66 Boulevard and continued to the intersection with MO 96, which is the newer Route 66 alignment through Carthage. There are several vintage motels at this intersection from the days when Kellogg Lake was a vacation destination.

We continued west on MO 96, which becomes West Central Avenue. Route 66 turns left (south) on Garrison Avenue. Just south of this intersection is a Route 66 treasure: the 1939 Boots Court Motel.

Boots Court in Carthage, Missouri

It was built in 1939, and I’ve heard that it’s the only Streamline Moderne motel along Route 66. The original neon sign is still out front.

Boots Court sign

Boots Court has two buildings. The front building, built in 1939, has carports between the rooms. The rear building, added in 1946, has garages underneath the rooms.

Boots Court 1939 building with carports in front, and 1946 building in rear

Close-up of one of the carports in the 1939 Boots Court building

While I was wandering around, I met and chatted with a man painting the trim. How I wish I’d gotten his name! He explained that the motel was recently sold and he was associated with the group that bought it. He told me that it would be closing it over Winter 2021-2022 for renovations, with reopening planned for Spring 2022. (We visited in October 2021.) I later saw articles on their plans here and here.

He showed me the room that Clark Gable stayed in!

Clark Gable stayed in this room at the Boots Court!

The man I spoke with said plans are to restore the motel with its original features, which means radios in every room but no televisions, for example. (UPDATE 11/2022: The Boots Court has been restored! See this article in Route magazine. for more information.)

Across the street from the Boots Court is a bank that was once the Boots Drive In.

An old photo of the former Boots Drive In, now a bank (from Facebook)

The man I spoke with said that the group that bought the Boots Court would eventually like to buy the bank building and restore the Boots Drive In.

We were enchanted with Boots Court and want to stay here when we return to Carthage.

We next saw the Jasper County Courthouse a few blocks away.

Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, Missouri

The courthouse was built in 1895 in Romanesque Revival style.

We headed out of town on Oak Street, which is Route 66. In a few blocks we crossed a bridge over railroad tracks. The bridge is a bit more peaked at the top than it should be and, when you drive over it at a reasonably fast speed, you’ll understand why it’s called the Whee Bridge.

On the western edge of Carthage, Route 66 forks left off Oak Street. About a mile later is another Route 66 gem: the 1949 66 Drive In Theatre.

66 Drive-In in Carthage, Missouri

The 66 Drive In is on the National Register of Historic Places. Note the cool neon sign and the art deco ticket booth.

About a mile after the 66 Drive In, Route 66 turns right, crosses MO 171, then turns left (west). In about 2 more miles, it turns left (south) on North Pine Street into Carterville. In the center of Carterville, turn right (west) on Main Street to stay on Route 66. Continue about a mile into Webb City, Missouri, where Main Street becomes East Broadway.

In the middle of Webb City, at 112 West Broadway at the corner of North Webb Street, a 1950s gas station has been converted into a visitors center.

Former 1950s service station in Webb City, Missouri, now a visitors center

Here Broadway—and Route 66—dogleg, going a block south on Webb Street and then right (west) again. But we took a quick detour to the intersection of North Liberty and West Daugherty Streets. On the northeast corner is a former gas station.

Former post office gas station in Webb City, Missouri

This little gas station, across the street from the Webb City post office, was built in the 1920s to serve post office vehicles. I’ve read that Webb City’s post office was the only one to have its own gas station.

Route 66 had three different “alignments” between Webb City and Joplin. We chose to take the 1937-1945 alignment, so we stayed on Broadway, which becomes Powell Drive. At the end of Powell Drive, we turned right (west) on MO 171, which becomes MacArthur Drive. In about a mile, the 1937-1945 alignment of Route 66 turns left (south) on North Main Street Road.

On the northwest corner of North Main Street Road and Fountain Road are a 1930s Phillips 66 gas station and garage.

Former 1930s Phillips 66 gas station and garage north of Joplin, Missouri (from Google Maps)

On the southeast corner of North Main Street Road and Fountain Road is the 1946 Westport Inn motor court.

1946 Westport Inn north of Joplin, Missouri (from Google Maps)

We then continued south into Joplin’s historic district, centered at the intersection of Main and 5^th Streets. Past 6^th Street, on the left, is a small Route 66 Mural Park with two large tile murals.

Route 66 Mural Park in Joplin, Missouri (from VisitJoplinMO.com)

At the next intersection, turn right (west) on MO 66 to continue into Kansas.