Yesterday I went on a mini road trip with my buddy Matt. We left O’Fallon, Missouri and headed for St. James, Missouri to spend some time with a dear friend. Since I am not from the St. Louis area, I can always count on Matt, who is a history buff, to introduce me to fascinating historical information. In this case, I learned that I knew very little about the historic Route 66. I figured Matt (who is always the navigator and tour guide) would lead me on some great site seeing adventures. We’re definitely two different kinds of nerds, but a big chunk of our nerdiness overlaps a bit. If it weren’t for the horrible sleety/icy weather, this post would probably have been quite a bit larger. (But since I forgot my “play clothes”, that’s probably a good thing.) The trip made me want to take the entire Route 66 tour someday (well… almost).
The Bourbon Hotel (Bourbon, Missouri)
If you know me, you know that I think this building is beautiful and fascinating. It has so much character, and I’m here to tell you that when you’re on the porch walking by the windows, you can just feel that someone is keeping an eye on you! It was sleeting and raining on us in these shots, with a dash of lightning and thunder.
The Bourbon Hotel dates back to the 1890s and actually faces railroad tracks.
The back of the Bourbon Hotel. (This is the Route 66 view.)
Check out that amazing Mansard Roof! (Totally just learned that term, by the way.)
I dare you to walk past those front windows. (Matt off in the distance.)
For more info on the Bourbon Hotel, click HERE.
John’s Modern Cabins (Newburg, Missouri)
This place has a fascinating and strange history. Clearly, this landmark is in pretty bad shape. From what I hear, it has really gotten worse in just the last couple of years.
From this great shot, taken by Matt, you can really see just how close to the road this place really was.
It’s at this point (right in front of the cabins) that old Route 66 disappears for a while…
Love the outhouse.
For more information on John’s Modern Cabins, click HERE.
For more information on Ghosts and Hauntings on Route 66 in Missouri, I encourage you to check out the following book:
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March 18th, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Love this and Love Route 66 haunted and historic. I have done quite a bit of it From Los Angeles through most of Arizona. Studied a lot of the history. We also did a lot of off road work looking for old alignments of Route 66 in California. I use to lead historical 4×4 trips in the East Mojave Desert we followed alignments of the Mojave Road which was the original route of travel into California which eventually became Route 66. Great History and some isolated old desert cabins and old mines.
March 19th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
I’m sure there are some major differences on Route 66 between there and here. I need a tour guide for sure.
March 20th, 2013 at 12:35 am
Thanks for the very good photos! Brave of you to be out in the inclement weather. That is true dedication!!!
April 12th, 2013 at 10:24 pm
Well it’s not really near me, so if I was going to see this place, I was going to HAVE to be brave while we were there. 🙂
April 10th, 2013 at 9:14 am
That first place is haunted…for sure…There’s a lot of energy there. I feel like it’s an older male protecting his place.
April 12th, 2013 at 10:27 pm
It’s funny, Brandie… locals don’t seem to know much about this place, apparently. At least they aren’t talking. And no one has seemed interested in taking pride in it. I wish you could have been on that front porch with me… wonder what you would have picked up then!
April 12th, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Oh my! That WOULD be interesting 🙂