Get nostalgic at rest areas

Missouri Route 66 theme at rest area - photo Lindsay Godfree

Rest areas are an intrigal part of life on the road. When I started trucking I began looking forward to the areas that had walking trails, flowers, and some interesting elements to break up the long drive each day. I also started tracking the best ones, photographing them, making sure to stop at my favorites. There are some really great rest areas, but even more rest stops are needed that provide walking trails for truckers and travelers to get out and exercise by walking or throwing a ball around.

The economic turn of events that has caused existing rest stops to be closed is a sad state of affairs for truckers and travelers alike. One hurdle for defenders of rest stops is that the facilities haven’t inspired nostalgia. Poets and novelists have written far less about rest stops the than diners, motels and other attractions that dot the highways such as on the historic old Route 66. Historians do not seem to be interested in tracking the development of rest areas.

Some states and travel bureaus have recognized their importance and realized that for some people, what they see at the rest stop is their introduction to the state they are traveling through. The first impression of a place, and maybe the only chance they have to make a good impression on the travelers. Some of the more ambitious rest areas incorporate tepees, adobe huts, windmills, oil rigs, and bits of historic past like bridges, wagons, or markers into their designs.

Fortunately, a historical consultant in Chicago, Joanna Dowling broke new ground in 2007 with a master’s thesis on the development of interstate rest areas. She laments, “People don’t see it as an academic thing because it’s a bathroom.” And hoping to add more weight to a preservation movement, Joanna has launched a Web site for buffs, www.restareahistory.org. You can also follow on facebook and twitter.

One of my favorite rest stops is in Missouri on Hwy 44 at Exit 110, offering new information on an old theme, the Historic Route 66 Byway. Missouri has gained renewed nostalgic interest by promoting business and tourism at the new welcome centers. The rest areas have their own neon signs that are replicas of the Munger Moss Motel located in Lebanon, that has become internationally famous. The picnic area incorporates designs from the area in a cute village for families for rest and relaxation. Inside are vintage gas pumps and neon signs that inspire visitors to see more of the real historic places.

I learned that the Historic Route 66 in Missouri ran from downtown St. Louis at the Mississippi River to the Kansas state line west of Joplin. The current highways covering several miles of the former highway include Route 100, Route 366, Route 266, Route 96, and Route 66. Interstate 44 approximates much of US 66 between St. Louis and Springfield. At the welcome center they provide a map with easy on and off ramps from the highway to see the sites of Route 66 in Missouri.

photo - Lindsay Godfree

More states should consider making use of their rest areas as a symbol of their state pride and unique contributions to travelers as well as providing needed parking for tired drivers and truckers. If you are a fan of rest stops, be sure to stop in and sign the guest books at the welcome centers, put in a good word supporting rest area preservation.

One new resource for finding rest areas: Interstate Rest Area Guide USD $ 9.99

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