"“It’s the people you meet on Route 66 that make the experience what it is,” said Rhys Martin, Tulsa, Okla.-based manager for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Preserve Route 66 initiative."
"“There were no giants.” Fiberglass giants, that is. So she commissioned a space cowboy (Buck Atom) in 2019. Now he is joined on the property by Stella Atom, the Cosmic Cowgirl, both standing more than 19 feet tall."
"“this little gas station was for rent. And I said, 'Oh, my God, a souvenir shop in a historic gas station on historic Route 66!' I couldn't have created a more perfect scenario.”"
Route 66 experiences are shaped by the people travelers meet along the way. Local roadies emphasize slowing down and engaging with others despite modern American commerce. Examples include a Tulsa retailer who found a historic gas station for rent through Facebook Marketplace and transformed it into Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios, adding oversized fiberglass space-themed figures. In New Mexico, a treasure-hunt winner shares stories tied to the route’s surprises. In Arizona, a barber offers personal insights from serving travelers. On the Santa Monica Pier, a collector of road wisdom preserves and passes along experiences connected to Route 66.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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