Barstow, California

Throughout our Route 66 experience from Illinois through California, we’ve seen numerous towns that have embraced their Route 66 heritage and tried to make their town attractive to visitors. In California this has been harder because the harsh desert conditions and—closer to Los Angeles—urbanization have left fewer remnants of Route 66. We saw just three towns in California that clearly celebrate their connection to Route 66: Needles, Amboy, and Barstow. Main Street—Route 66 in Barstow—is marked with pillars celebrating Route 66, and there are a number of interesting buildings and signs that once catered to Route 66 travelers.

One of the Route 66 pillars along Barstow's Main Street

At 916 East Main Street is the 1950s Cactus Motel. Its neon sign is original.

Cactus Motel sign in Barstow

The former Village Hotel & Café at 201 East Main Street still has its neon sign. It’s now a Chinese restaurant.

Village Hotel & Cafe neon sign in Barstow

On the southwest corner of East Main Street and 2^nd Avenue is the site of the former El Rancho Motel (not to be confused with the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico). The motel was built in 1947 out of old railroad ties. Sadly, much of it burned in July 2022, a few months before we visited.

Remains of the El Rancho Motel in Barstow as of October 2022

Shortly after our visit, the El Rancho was demolished.

 Across the street from the El Rancho site is a very nice mural that pays tribute to the Old Spanish Trail that once ran through Barstow.

Mural of the Old Spanish Trail in Barstow

Behind that mural, on Cozy Street, are two more murals. The one on the right (east) is a tribute to General Edward Beale, who surveyed a wagon road that eventually became Route 66.

Mural honoring General Edward Beale in Barstow

The mural on the left (west) is a map of the southern route of the Mormon Trail. 

Map of the southern route of the Mormon Trail in Barstow

We turned right (north) on North 1^st Avenue. In about half a mile we reached a gem: the beautiful Casa del Desierto railroad depot.

Casa del Desierto in Barstow

Casa del Desierto is one of the Harvey Houses built for the Santa Fe Railroad. This one was built in 1911-1913 after the previous depot burned. It was designed by the remarkable Mary Colter. My post on Winslow, Arizona, shares more on Mary Colter and the Harvey Houses. Today Casa del Desierto houses the Route 66 Mother Road Museum. Unfortunately, it was closed when we visited.

We returned to Route 66, turning right to keep going west. The New Life Fellowship at 134 Main Street was once the Barstow Garage, built in the 1920s.

Former Barstow Garage

At 195 Main Street is the Route 66 Motel with a great neon sign. Its cabins were built in 1922.

Route 66 Motel in Barstow

At 201 Main Street is The Torches Motel. This was once the Hollon Motel, built in the 1940s.

The Torches Motel in Barstow

The Torches’ cool neon sign was probably added in the 1960s.

The Torches Motel sign

As you can see, Barstow is a true desert oasis. Probably because it's home to a significant railway hub and the Marine Corps Logistics Base, it's a large town. There's plenty to see and also lots of restaurant and hotel options. 

After seeing Barstow, we continued west on Route 66 (CA 66), back into the desolation of the Mojave Desert, heading toward our next stop in Helendale.