Route 66 - 66 Ghost Towns & Abandoned Places 

I don't know how many people my age who are still with us and remember driving the mother road in the 1950's and 60's, Ive eaten in so many of those old cafe's along the road west of Texas And burnt many tanks of gas Between Santa Monica and Texas in my late youth.Those who remember those wide spots in the road with 3 or 4 cafes, a couple dive motels, and a half a dozen gas stations and auto repair shops, Back then they had what was known as "Gas Wars" where stations competed with each other for the tourist and trucker $ with lowest gas prices many of those mom & pop settlements had 4-6 gas stations one on each corner at the main crossroads and one or two at each end of town on both sides of the highway. I remember paying 19.9 cents a gallon then looking across the street noticing gas was 18.9 cents per gallon with a free breakfast with fill up, So $2.40 to fill my 20 gallon tank and paid .49 cents for a steak and egg breakfast which included 3 eggs, potatoes toast, coffee and orange juice at the higher priced station. Hard to believe it does not seem that long ago We would buy a $50 car or truck in LA, One that ran and had some tread left on the tires and with $100 between us take a month long road trip throughout the southwest always taking US 66 as our route out of LA or returning to LA. Needless to say we left many cars broken down along that highway & buying another beater just to get us home..

I made 6 trips between 2006 and 2012 exploring Route 66. An amazing experience creating some wonderful memories. However, I have one bit of advice, or perhaps a warning is more appropriate. When exploring the inside of these abandoned buildings be aware that there is a considerable population of rattlesnakes in the area and they like to go inside these buildings to get protection from the midday heat. I’m not trying to discourage anyone from going inside these buildings, just watch where you step.

I was stationed at Fort Leonardwood and when we received an off base pass, I spent the day at Route 66 cafe. 15 years later, we took a family trip across the country and I took my family there. The magic had died. But I took the time to take the historic Route 66 and a regular gas stop had large single page maps showing the original Route compared to modern maps. I am currently building a 64 Chevy truck and am planning to drive up to Chicago and follow as much of the original Route as allowed all the way to Cali. I will be taking my daughter for the trip. I expect it to be about 5 years from now. (When she is 16 and has a learners permit so she can be a part of the drive) I fully plan to hit every single stop you made in this video too. We will have modern follow cars along for the trip for added security/safety. Over night lodging will be tents on the side of the road in some cases when local motels are either too dangerous or the crime rate is just on Democrat levels. So far we have a 65 and 69 mustang, 64 chevy C10 truck, and maybe a 70 Nova lined up for the trip.

All of those dreams long faded... now only whispered on the wind and in the sound of the tumbleweeds. It sure would be fantastic to hear the stories of the dreamers, and learn what became of them. Mesmerizing, thanks for sharing your journey.

I travelled route 66 when I was young. It really hurt when I-40 replaced it. Those days gone forever. The innocence is long gone and no way to restore. And Sir, you gave us an epic journey. Grammy material. Thank you for the memories.

Woud be awesome to see some old vintage photos when all these places were thriving..

Chris, I'm a Canadian who has been living in America since 2014, I'm very appreciative of your unbelievably comprehensive video! I most recently drove parts of Route 66, when in mid-December I drove from San Diego to Chicago. I saw several of the places that you have highlighted. Thank you for your hard work!

If I was an artist I would definitely paint those abandoned stores and those beautiful cliffs.

In the late 60s and early 70s. My father and my mother and I am my youngest brother made several trips across country and made a few visits to Arizona to see my older brother. Seeing those places out in the desert before you get to Arizona brings back a lot of old memories I spent Time there has a 16-year-old maybe 17. But those places some of them I do remember. There’s a lot of cool places in Palm Springs to that were still there now. I really enjoyed traveling with my mother and father and seeing all the sites in the United States, 1971 we ran across country in a motorhome what a blast, I’ve traveled a lot sure miss it. I’m 70 years old now and both of my parents are gone but she knows bring back memories. Thanks so much for such great videos. Have a beautiful day.👍🏼😁❤️ Sure miss those good old days❤️👍😎

I will never understand why people smash the windows of the buildings and cause random damage.

Best on you tube a must watch

TY for this wonderful video , in 1972 my family moved from Kentucky to San bernardino just off Norton Air Force Base and we took RT.66 on part of that journey and i remember well Fort Courage and man was it full of visitors and vacationers. it was a very busy place,of course F troop was a very popular tv show back in the day. TY soooo much for the return of my childhood memories with my family. Well done Sir, God Bless

Watching on a drab, dreary, Sunday afternoon in the UK, our mood is lifted seeing this video. Envy the comments made by those who have been fortunate enough to travel this route and 'live the dream'! Something my wife and I would love to do, but alas, age and funds prevent this from happening! Thank you so much for your tour!

I can count on one hand how many vids over 30 mins that I have watched in their entirety on RU-vid. This is one of that elite group. Thank you for a fantastic video.

thanks for tagging us along your journey virtually I enjoyed this vid

Thank you, i loved the road trip you made, much appreciated, watching frm Australia.

Excellent Route #66 video, Chris. Rode Route #66, on my Harley motorcycle, 20 years ago, and old-school. No GPS, old cellphones, on bottom of T-bags. Paper map clipped to luggage, in plastic rainproof bag. So, this video is extra special - it's a wonderful collection memories of traveling "The Mother Road", as done in Easy Rider. More graffiti than I remember. I hope the 100th Anniversary, in 2026 encourages many to tour Americana. Your video is a great preservation of this historical treasure.

Some of the places have really cute mayors! 😺

My family drove from SoCal to visit family in Indiana every summer in the 50s and early 60s. Sure looked different then! We always loved that trip. Thanks.

This is one of the best video on RU-vid! I love the stories behind the scenes! So nostalgic. So entertaining.

I love how you don't dwell on stuff, nor exhaust us with history. Simple details... and next. Perfect style for this viewer. 👍

i knew an old 49er (miner) who lived in one of those old mining towns. Once the mine was closed the town lived off from the income of the route 66, after the I40 opened the town turned into a ghost town. The old guy lived his entire life in that town and couldn't separate himself from his home. He was the last person living there. In the end social service removed him cause he was old and 6 months later he died from depression. Nothing could break this guy. He lived trough the craziest stuff imaginable. But ripping him out of his hometown totally crushed him. After they removed him the town was bulldozed over and erased from history. I forgot the name of the town though, its been 30 years ago. RIP Frank

It's a great piece of been history now! So much nostalgic feeling for a place where I never have been to.😢 Loved your video man... awesome.👏🏻

Thank you for this. While driving for a major trucking company, I traveled Route 66 frequently. Never had the chance to stop and explore

I've watched quite a few videos on this subject but thought your coverage of the abandoned places along route 66 was especially wonderful! Great job!

I really enjoyed this Chris, thanks for sharing! In the 1980's my wife and I made the same journey. I was amazed to see how many things I remember and how many things that were there in the 1980's are not there now. Most things that were destroyed or barely standing were still intact in the 1980's. I even remember eating at a couple of restaurants along the way shown in your video. In the 1980's parts of these abandoned locations were still open and VERY HAPPY to see you. I wish I had video of those spots, but only memories and a few crappy photos!

Brought so many memories

Chris you did a really great job on your video

Great video. I appreciate that you showed some of the lesser visited types of places on Route 66.

Hi from UK, i find this kind of stuff fascinating, so much history and mystery its no wonder people from outside the U.S have so much interest with America, it just makes one wonder why with 21K views already and only 339 likes of it 🤷

An amazing mini documentary on the route 66. I stayed for the entirety of it and loved the nostalgia. Unfortunately I have only ever seen int in its dilapidated state. But it would've been nice to have something like this in my own lifetime. Glad to have a taste

Brilliant video. Found it really interesting. Cheers.

When I was little 1966 on Route 66 going to California from Chicago well, Aurora Illinois ,all the way out to Los Angeles and Bel Air. Ca. that was quite a trip .I've seen these structures in my childhood at least 5 trips in the back seat of mom and dad's car kind of neat seeing them now looking as they do. . Great video. 🙋

When I lived in Arizona-Quartzsite the locals told me that the route 66 is the most dangerous road in the US. As most people go missing goes through here or were abducted from the road and found in nearby bushes. And, that I should not ever stop from anyone standing on or near the road. The post office was filled with thick phonebook-looking books with wanted persons inside them with rewards.

Thanks for sharing this video with us! I made the trip in 1967 at the age of 18, with two other ladies, from central Arkansas to Fresno, CA where three of my brothers lived at the time. We spent one night in Tucumcari, NM. I loved seeing it again, at a time when I no longer travel. Awesome job, Chris!

This is a very poetic and also a very moving video. This is the first video I have seen to illustrate a more human side of not just Route 66, but also you can tell all places are alive. People who established themselves in these places breathed all their hopes, their dreams, their fears, and their optimism into them. People came west to establish and invent a life that really existed /exists nowhere else on this planet. I like the fact that artists renovated buildings and even built something that mirrors the Ghost theme of route 66. Not as something grim, but as something like the renovation of a painting. All places along Route 66 are as those paintings. All these places need artists to come along and, like a Phoenix, make all places along Route 66 express the dreams of those who lived years ago. Some places are not meant to be touched. But, I like those cars standing up right where anybody can take a can of spray paint and put their own mark on them. And this is the idea. One set of artists do their work. A second, third, fourth, etc, artists come along and put their impressions on the original established art work. Idea, the life of the Western U.S is forever shifting and redesigning itself. That is, the West is as a person who is always dreaming. Those who encounter the art work, are also part of that unspoken conversation that can only exist along Route 66 to the Pacific Ocean.

Fun stuff. There is still a lot of magic in these places along Route 66. My family and I absolutely adore the Route 66 legacy, and what is left of it. That was handed down to me... by my parents, who are still basically obsessed with it. Route 66 was pure America, and the remnants are still part of the fiber of this Country.

Absolutely fantastic Chris! This is the kind of America I would love to visit, both now and when these places were still alive, it is also extremely heartbreaking to see the changes

Super Video, Dankeschön! 🙂 Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland

Thanks for that wonderful tour of Route 66!! I always wondered what was or is still on that Route! It looks like mostly abandoned historic buildings! That is almost breathless. And thanks for some elevated drone shots!!

Man, I needed that, Chris. Thank you. Brought back a lot of good memories

Thanks for this sensitive and well researched tour. You've captured the spirit of our fragile pride set against the passing of time. Beautiful work. Keep it up. Thank you!

This was a wonderful break from watching regular TV thank you

Just watched the whole thing in one seat. Great video, i felt like i was travelling along.

So cool to see the places my Grandparents traveled though as Dutch immigrants in 1936. And to see the town my father in law grew up in, Galena Kansas! Thank you so much for the You Tube Posts.

I guess this video saved me a trip to the USA because now I can remove "travel along route 66" off my bucket list. :) Thanks to the creator for making this video!

Thankyou for sharing, I would never get to see any of this without it,

Excelente recorrido mi amigo. La fama de la ruta 66 trasciende fronteras y hasta por aquí soñamos con viajar por ella una vez en la vida al menos. Pregunta; es todo o falta otra parte? Desde ya muy agradecido por el video. Lo he disfrutado mucho. Saludos !!!!🇦🇷

Thank you, Great video about Route 66.

Chris, I really enjoy seeing all these old deserted buildings and relics of yesteryear. Nostalgic Americana, so iconic. Great videos.!

Very cool video. I’ve always dreamed of visiting Route 66. Good work. Thank you 😊.

Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed your video. ❤😊

Wow, what a memory rush. I miss the old days, my folks always follow the old 66 to our places to visit. Thank you. I enjoyed watching. God Bless you, I

Awesome job Chris very well done. I love Route 66 this bar none is one of the best video of Route 66 I have seen thanks 🛠️🇨🇦🛠️🇨🇦

Tnx for the tour - very enjoyable. P/Sweden.

Great video, great photography!! Thanks, Chris!

I have been in Tucumcari many times during the mid 70's and many of these building were in business, there was many motels then, also a livestock yard for horse and cattle A person by the name Best owned this.

That was a wonderful interlude, following along as you checked out so many of the abandoned towns and buildings along the famous Route 66. It was fascinating to see so many of the sad, derelict buildings, along with some information on them. Also, to see so many of the wonderfully restored ones, too! By the way, I love how you sometimes feature the "mayor" of a town in your videos. 😊 Thank you so very much, Chris!

My family moved from Santa Cruz, Ca to Altoona, Pa in December of 1968. Our first overnight stop was at a motel in Erick, Oklahoma. Many, many, great memories as the oldest son in a family of seven that had everything we owned in a Chrysler Imperial that "just" made it to Pennsylvania.

Amazing!!! 😍 Your energy and style are just magical. Thank you for cheering me up

Awesome video!! I really enjoy watching videos of abandoned / historic places. You are an excellent narrator!!

We feel like we're traveling both through space and the decades when this road was alive. Congrats on really nice video, you know how to make people want to come visit it ! I wish i will one day even if i need to cross the Atlantic for that. Road 66 is truly a fantasy all around the world !

Wow, nice video! Sometime I wanna visit that places!

Your voice added that something extra to make a really great doc. You really care And enjoyed the process🤩

Fascinating! Thank you for your video the southwest is so beautiful.

What beautiful places! Amazing!

Thank you very much for your time and efforts to share this historic journey and experience with us all. Much appreciated.

A lot of broken dreams, really sad.

That was interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing.

Probably the best route 66 Video I,ve seen Great job Chris

Great job..im almost 73 good.old day's..we didn't know how good.life was

What a great video. Thanks for posting so much content on this.

I’m sorry you missed seeing the Painted Desert Trading Post, just outside of the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest National Park. It’s a great 👍 field trip along an abandoned stretch of old Hwy 66. Nice video presentation here. You’ve done your homework and have created an enjoyable video. Great drone work.

Thank you for sharing. It was very interesting😊

Wow! Thank you for this! What an amazing archive of ghost towns and abandoned places! 2 million views! You deserve this!

Wow love it ❤ first time seeing a video of this magical route 66 😊Thank you for sharing!!!

It would be great if you could show pics of what these structures used to look like as well.

Sad to see all the graffiti ,but your trip was awesome thanks for taking us along.

So great and fascinating ! Thanks a lot for this incredible job you have done. Greetings from Belgium

Dude! Thank u so much this awesome video! 10/10

Thanks for sharing great stories of route 66. 👍 Great video❤ Much❤❤❤from 🇨🇦 🙋‍♀️ 🐕‍🦺 🐾 🐾 👏💪✌️🫶🌞😇🙏☀️🕊

Worth noting: The Spencer Store near Halltown, Missouri is one of perhaps a half dozen places on Route 66 where you can drive on the original concrete pavement. The concrete was mixed in a big round vat about knee deep. A mule turnred the mixer . I lived about 2w0 miles tomthe west in a sandstone house that I stands.

I was lucky enough to drive Route from 66 in the late 90's. It was a great experience. So many nice people. Very welcoming, and gave me a place to get some minor repairs done. And the mechanic didn't rip me off.

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen. Its so artistic that I can't stop watching. GREAT job!

Thankyou for the interesting video . America has its own ruins .

I absolutely fell in love with your channel after watching this video. Amazing upload thank you for bringing us along on your Route 66 Adventures. Bet this video took a lot of time editing and filming. Appreciate all the hard work you did to bring this video to life. I get a chuckle for some reason how you pronounce Processing lol Great job huge fan.

Ur audio depuction of ur video, was uplifting, and.in my opinion excellent. Thank you for taking 6s along on ur journey. Im disabl3d now, and.can not travel, but I felt like I was there.with you. Blessed be to Our Father, for you. ❤😊

I grew up less than two miles south of this highway in Bethany, Oklahoma. In 1980/81 rode my horse along it . Many times across the steel bridge across the North Canadian River, it had a wood deck then and dome boards had pieces missing. I could see the water below from on my horse as we crossed. There was lots of space to ride along 66 between Bethany and Yukon, Oklahoma. It was all I had then.

Thanks for sharing !

You're a little ways away from Route 66. But I really do appreciate it. I am new to your channel and will have to look to see if you have done any travelling in Washington. Your videos are so well done and extremely informative. And very appreciated! ❤

I remember this road... Driving from California to Santa Fe a couple of times. I remember when many of these towns were alive. Those were good days.

42:33 looks like where we stayed as I moved away from NM. I can see the cleaning lady in the parking lot and how pretty and small the town was in 2000. I thought she lived in such a quiet town. Thank you for the video.

I'm old enough to recall some of those structures when they were still in use. In 1987 I drove from Denver to San Diego and took I-40 for part of the trip. It was a wonderful drive and the days of the 55 mph national speed limit. Your narrative was very enjoyable and thanks much for sharing. It was a walk down memory lane for me.

What a great video!!!Thank you!

Travelled from Arkansas to California to see family with our parents on Route 66 in the 60's. I remember driving through Arizona and wind blown sand being piled up on 66 in the middle of town and seeing the occasional sage brush blowing across the highway in the desert. We sometimes slept in our car on the side of the road when dad got too tired to continue driving at night. Hung burlap water bags on the car in front of the radiator to help cool the motor. Great adventure for a young boy.

Great tour, thank you for taking us along!

Graffiti is just a form of vandalism.

You have a thing for cats.. 😂l enjoyed watching

Ive lived in the states my whole life and been to most of them, but never made it to route 66. Very cool, informative video. Thank you for taking the time to put it together.

That's so cool seeing Grey Summit on a video instead of just seeing it on IS 44 in my daily life. Just East of it is Eureka- the West side of town used to be Allenton, but it became abandoned and was torn out. The Route 66 park is pretty nice, too!