Azusa Drive-in Theatre
Azusa, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Our starting point for this Central California
route begins in Azusa, home of the Azusa Foothill Drive-in Theatre,
one of the few last remaining drive-in theatres in Southern California.
Here, the marquee beckons the last of the ozoners to the "real"
big screen movie in town... one even on 66!
Just west of the theatre are two motels with distinctive
"retro" signage, the Colonial and the Stardust, the
latter with its two-way signage with one side saying "Stardust"
and the other "Motel".
Colonial Motel Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Stardust Motel Photo courtesy Sal Garcia
Stardust Motel Photo courtesy Sal Garcia
Alta Dena
Glendora, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Foothill Boulevard then turns into Alosta Avenue
in Glendora, and you pass by an old Alta-Dena Dairy sporting multi color
paints and a distinctive T-shaped modernistic rooftop. The paint
scheme looks like something straight out of the Partridge Family.
UPDATE :
The reason why the paint scheme is so darn funky, is because ABC-TV
filmed some of that BEACH BOYS movie in late '99. The
scene where you really see the dairy in the TV movie is when "Brian
Wilson" talks with "Al Jardine" standing by his black late
50's Corvette about joining the band. Many thanks to Jayson Wall for the above info on this dairy.
Kimura Nursery (Demolished)
La Verne, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Leaving Glendora, the town of La Verne beckons
with a multitude of Route 66 businesses and marquees along Foothill Boulevard.
The Kimura Nursery (closed 9/15/98) and its unique googie sign
is located on the right side of Foothill.
UPDATE 12/08 : Here's another shot of the old Kimura Nursery sign off of Route 66. Off to the left of the sign are cars traveling down the Mother Road. This section of the 66 is full of strip malls these days. 12-08
La Paloma Restaurant Photo courtesy Georg Balandran
On the left side of the street, the distinctive
yellow, green, and red colors of La Paloma Restaurant invite you
in for a hearty lunch or dinner.
Continuing eastward, you can visit the Village
Car Wash to clean off your car. While there, visit Coates
Schwinn and more of the route 66 signage. Across the street,
the Hi-Brow 66 Lounge reminds you that yes, you are indeed on the
old route 66.
Village Car Wash Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Coates Schwinn Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Hi-Brow 66 Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
After
traveling down for a few miles, you then enter Rancho Cucamonga. Established
in 1957, the Magic Lamp Inn has been a stop for travelers for over
40 years. Further along Foothill Blvd., is the 7 Star Liquor Store,
a good example of the type of stores that used to dot the old road in
past times.
Bono's Historic Orange
Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
An interesting site to stop at in Rancho Cucamonga
is Bono's Historic Orange, one of the last remaining orange stands
in the area still shaped as, you guessed it, an orange!
Bono's Food to Go Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
A few feet away is Bono's Food to Go (since
1936), serving Italian meals and breakfast.
The next major town with a distinctive Route 66 feel
is Upland, as you remain on Foothill Boulevard. The Buffalo Inn,
established in 1929, is a restaurant/tavern serving burgers by the multitude.
On the right side of the street, an old familiar name calls out, a building
with famous golden arches.
The McDonald's in Upland is one
of the original McDonald's (this is not one of the originals after all, see update below), still preserving the old architecture of the
past. This McDonald's is now called "Classic" McDonald's.
UPDATE 10/06 : The original McDonald’s was built several blocks east of Euclid Avenue on Route 66. While all McDonald’s were built alike in those days, the Architectural Commission and City Council refused to give it a building permit, considering it inconsistent with the City’s image. An alternative design with white brick was also turned down, as looking too much like a “white tooth”. I think the original McDonald’s is still in operation, and I think this “retro” McDonald's was built sometime in the 90’s. It is ironic to see, considering that they could have had an original. You can spot the few remaining originals by their sloped roof, something not found in this re-creation. Many thanks to Bob Wood for update. 10-06
Winchell's Donut House
Upland, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Another food/snack stop is the Winchell's Donut
House on the north side of Foothill Blvd. This Winchell's sports
an old retro sign on top of the roof with the donut shape. Unfortunately, the Winchell's was torn down several years ago.
Rancho Market Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
A bit further down is the Rancho Market with its swooshing arrow.
And, don't leave the area without a drive into the Taco King parking
lot, very important no matter how much time is left in your day.
Taco King Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
El Rey Motel Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
In the sometimes windy city of Fontana, check into
the El Rey Motel, another Route 66 lodging point. While in
town, look
for the Fontana Bowl. If you're lucky, you can still find
its rapidly eroding signage and building standing. Update - The
building has now been painted with metallic looking paint.
Fontana Bowl Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The last towns on Roadside Peek's Central California designation
are the cities of Rialto and San Bernardino. On the left side of
Foothill Blvd., is the Orange Bowl, another ten-pin alley
that has become an empty ghost location.
Orange Bowl Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Nearby, one of the last remaining vestiges of the "wigwam" architecture
era is the aptly named Wigwam Motel of Rialto/San Bernardino.
With many cozy wigwam dwellings and even sporting modern conveniences
such as color TV and air conditioning
(unfortunately not central), the Wigwam Motel is a must-see stop or layover
in your travels.
San Bernardino
Motel
Rialto, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Last, but not least, is the San Bernardino
Motel and its familiar "astro" looking signage.